Summary Understanding Media and Culture, An Introduction to Mass Communication. Version 2.0 | Chapters 6-14 and 16 | Buas | Creative Business

Chapter 6 Music
6.1 From social networking to stardom
- Example of Colbie Caillat who became popular by uploading her music on Myspace
- Internet is the changing face of music industry – everybody can become an artist + contact with fans


6.2 The Evolution of popular music
- Pop music = any genre that appeals to a wide audience or subculture
- Phonograph = 19th-century invention of reproducing sound: tinfoil wrapped around cylinder
- Gramophone = flat disc instead of cylinder to record sound – start of mass production
- Tin Pan Alley = area in Manhattan in which singer-songwriter and publisher teams worked
- Vaudeville = variety entertainment containing short acts – opened new door for publishers
- Ragtime = jazzy piano style music, characterized by syncopated melody – offbeat dance music
- 1920: Technological development threatened the Tin Pan Alley’s dominance
 Improved quality of gramophones: sales increased
 Radio broadcasting: less gramophone & sheet-music sales
 Recording industry began to profit when license fees were introduced
- 1930: Rise of jazz and blues
 Jazz = improvisational music, primarily instrumental – variety of styles: African/gospel/blues
 Became legal form of entertainment when white orchestras began to incorporate jazz
 Format became more structured: swing style of jazz
 Blues = former slaver who adapted African musical heritage to American environment
 Themes as personal adversity, overcoming hard luck etc.


6.3 The reciprocal nature of music and culture
- Music influences culture and vise versa
 Migration, youth culture & racial integration – culture spreads
 Racism in music industry, ideas/morality, appearance – music spreads
- 20th century mass migration Saethern black people to urban areas
 Blues to the North
 Incorporated new styles: vaudeville & swing
 Muddy Waters: electric guitar  Chicago blues
- 1950s: salary and personal freedom of young people increased
 Power to influence record sales
 Rock & roll specifically for teens – also on radio and tv
- 1950s: civil right movement: desegregation
 North racial tensions and riots – gradually integration
 Berry Gordy Jr. Motown: Motown sound
 Crossover black and white audiences
- Large record companies fueled racism
 Hijacking hits of black people  releasing censored white cover
- Rock & roll had a negative impact on morality
 Elvis Presley’s “vulgar” dancing was seen as sexual
- Gender-bending performers: little Richard, David Bowie, and Annie Lennox
 Normalize androgyny (bi-sexuality)


6.4 Current popular trends in the music industry
- Global music business constitutes powerful oligopoly
 Major record labels make up 85%
 Big four: EMI, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music, and Warner Music Group