week 11: Does the music industry create the market?

The first question that comes to mind is does the music industry control the consumer, or the consumers control the industry? As when a boy band comes out for example Boyzone and they go to number 1, the industry tends to set trends by bringing out other boy band groups like Westlife that sound similar to Boyzone. Theodor Adorno suggests that recordings generally sound the same. Which I disagree with personally, but with Boyzone and Westlife their music sounds alike. As a consumer your in control as you have the choice as to whether you want to buy a single or not, the music industry cannot force people to listen to music. On the other hand the industry can over publicise a song by putting it on TV regularly and playing it quite frequently on the radio, which can have a little effect on you. As technology is developing I feel that consumers have control of the music industry, as when an album is good from an artist the industry try and sell something similar to the last album, while the consumer expects something different, they can go and search for what they want.

week 10: NME Review

Through observing NME magazine, the adverts within the mag are about bands, Dvd’s, latest cameras, tours, events and competitions. These are obviously aimed more at males between the ages of 17-21.The music included is mainly indie, rock and pop which is not really my cup of tea. The main feature is about Coldplay and up and coming artist’s, and allows people to voice their views about what they think about current songs e.g. Kylie’ In my arms’. The adverts seem to take up the majority of space on a page, but throughout the mag there is an equal amount of written text and pictures. The language used ‘ It’s good to know that they can also expertly stick their tongue in their cheek’. Anyone can understand the language as they use some slang but not a great deal of it, the text was too small to read which at times can make me flip through the pages or put it to one side.

week 9: Are blackness and whiteness useful concepts in understanding popular music?

The definition of black from the dictionary ‘ is the darkest colour, with out light’ (Collins: 2000,p55) and white is defined as the ‘colour of snow, light in colour’ (Collins: 2000,p621). By looking at the definitions black and white can be looked at as binary oppositions, but is the colour of your skin complexion useful to understand music? As when you listen to music genres such as rap, pop, house, classical and rock you don’t tend to listen to them because of what complexion the artist is. For instance Eminem is of a white complexion and is a rapper, but he still attracts both black and white people. Duffy who also is a white artist sounds like a black gospel singer, but attracts both audiences. In the 1950’s era you could see that there was more of a distinction of music between black and white people by the segregation going on around that time period, but now you cant. In today's society white people listen to black music such as reggae and black people listen to white music such as classical music. When you listen to music at times it sounds like it’s a combination from both traditions such as blues and country music fused together emerged rock n roll, which can express cultural heritage. For example grime which is rap for the British artist. When we look at blackness and whiteness it makes me think about people that do not fit in to that category what do we classify them as e.g. Michael Jackson and Jennifer Lopez. Which shows that what complexion you are is not significant within music.

week 8: Are subcultures a sign of revolt or an expression of style?

Subculture is a set of people with distinct behaviours and beliefs that differentiate them from a larger group. For example you can see this from the way punk’s dress, there mannerism and speech. There style to me seems as an expression of political opposition, as when they want to make a point, about something they would express themselves by the way that they dress. Through putting political images on their clothes, safety pins through their ears, dying the hair black and spiked out hair, which shows that punks are trying to create an identity. In a sense there style provides people with a powerful means of expression, as when I see punks they draw my attention straight away by their style, which could imply that people are taken notice of them as they stand out. It tends to make me look at the difference between them and me. Subculture groups can also be looked at with a specific music genre, as it can define characteristics around groups that was formed e.g. Ravers, metal heads and Goths. Which shows music can be a key factor, subcultures create there own meanings, from the way they understand life in order for them to express there selves they can show it by style, music genre and speech.

Week 7: Can popular music be a genuine force for political change?

Popular music can reflect a political time, protest against something, and raise funds and issues. We see examples through programmes such as Comic relief, Live 8, and Children in need. They tend to use celebrities such as The Spice girls to help promote the course and raise awareness to people. When discussing this within our seminar session we spoke about making a point in a crowd is more powerful and effective, then one person, you see this happen when you go to football matches, the supporters sing the national anthem to the team that they support. Also when they want to make a point they express themselves by shouting out chants in groups. We touched on gender politics and looked at Christina Aguilera’s song ‘Can’t hold us down’ which implies that if you’re a women you cant speak your mind, buts its alright for a man to. Women should be seen and not heard. Gangster rap music can have an influence on crime, as there encouraging people to take action against the police. Popular music can not force political change, but can help bring awareness, support and influence a point being made, but it up to the individual as to whether they put it in to action or not.

Week 6: Is DRM the best way to save the music industry?

DRM stands for digital rights management, which limits people right to copy music, and DvD’s so that you’re unable to distribute copies to other people. For example downloading music from lime wire and burning CD’s its like a form of stealing, as it is illegal but people don’t care because everyone else is doing it and they have not been caught yet. I personally feel that if people are ignoring the rules and still downloading and burning copies DRM is not saving the music industry as such. On the other hand they are starting to compete, by adding bonus tracks, and video clips with albums, which you cannot get when downloading. In order for DRM to save the music industry they have to offer something better to listeners. Such as I tunes allow you to download music which you pay for, and can only be used with an I pod. Which restricts you to transfer songs from I tunes to a Philips. Music industry will not lose out on money if you pay for downloading music as it’s the legitimate way, which in comparison to downloading programmes has a better sound quality of songs are immaculate and download quicker. For the music industry to be saved DRM has to be more competitive and stronger.

week 5: Can popular music ever really be unplugged?

When listening to music, if the technology used such as an electronic guitar, or piano was taken away from the song, it comes to mind whether it would still be effective to listen to. As different instruments used create different effects, as well as creating an atmosphere for us. For example when listening to an electronic violin it’s louder than a normal violin. Technology allows us to listen to musical sounds, for instance when going to a concert if there were no micro phones without the amplifier we wouldn’t be able to hear depending on the venue, e.g. if an artist performed out side with no microphone they would not be heard at all. To produce a track it wouldn’t be exactly how you would want it to be without multi track, which shows technology is used a lot, it also enables artists to tune their voice. As I know T Pain an r n b artist who uses a computerised voice, but is it fair? We discussed this in our seminar I only agree its alright to a certain extent. . Popular music wouldn’t survive without electronic technology, as without it music would not be heard or produced