Notes from 05/03/10

In today's lesson we looked at key terms in the music industry and looked at the production, distribution and the consumption trends within the music industry and then were asked to blog our notes.

Key Terms-

-Web 2.0
-SNS
-Convergence
-Vertical Integration
-Synergy
-Production
-Distribution
-Consumption
-Global Village

Distribution-promoting music and getting it into shops, on the radio and downloaded for payment. Internet is now a primary source of music and illegal downloads are seen to cost the music industry money as music is now seen as 'free'. As re in decline and becoming a rarity the industry is forced to think of other distribution methods like games, live music and applications. The main problem is that its difficult to regulate distribution and the ownership of music is now 'virtual'.

Web 2.0- responsible for the changed in the distribution of music and the user generated content on the Internet.

Convergence-when one product has the ability to do more than one function. For example a phone can ring, text, play music, browse the Internet, take photos and record videos.

Consumption-people buying CD's, downloading music, paying for live concert music and purchasing related products. The user trend is now downloads meaning that record companies have to evolve to find ways of still making money. The physical format of music is now becoming obsolete and can become 'rare' and 'niche'. Bands also have to change their approach to distribution differently and technology means access to music is different with the use of ipods and iPhone and so on, therefore the music industry has to keep up with these changed by releasing music through apps and games. Music is now experienced through multi media approaches for example music videos and the guitar hero games.

Vertical Integration-one thing that producers are doing to keep profit and one company making loads of products so for example apple have Macs, Ipods, Ipads, IPhone and so on.

SNS-is social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace.

Apps-applications.

Global Village-the world becoming smaller due to technology and communication through phones, the Internet and gaming.

Production-how the music is made. The cost is no longer an issue because music can be made by anyone using prosumer technology. New technology in music is leading to more variety and spawning a new genre of new music scenes, including niche markets. There is now more competition due to the variety of approaches available and no musical talent is actually needed now meaning the quality of music may be reduced. The music charts are now no longer required or has to change to reflect listening trends, also wider media now affects the source of music for example ring tones, video games and Internet sensations.

Synergy-when people team together like NME and the record label 'Domino', also O2 and the ihone there is orange Wednesdays in cinemas.

The (2007) Stafford quote offers a helpful way of describing what is meant by the term 'music industry'.

'The music industry can be defined as the organisation of the various activities associated with performing and recording music and distributing access to those performances around the world. Because the basis of musical production is accessible to everyone with a modium of talent, the industry is both more 'open' than film making and less easily controllable than traditional broadcast television. This has lead to a longstanding institutional difference between small and 'independent' music organisations and a large corporate 'mainstream'.

When looking at the 'Stafford' quote he is saying the industry is worldwide with production to distribution to consumption. The quote also says it becomes easier to create music due to technology, so musical ability is no longer required. We can see in the quote from 'Stafford' that he is saying the industry is more 'open' do to freedom and access and the fact its not controllable or financially draining on the artist . To finish 'Stafford's' quote saids that the music industry is divided by the types of record label or institutions, there is mainstream with Sony, Warner, EMI and there is Independents with Rough Trade, Domino and Boy Better Know.