Understanding the Music Industries
- Chris Anderton - Southampton Solent University, UK
- Andrew Dubber - Birmingham City University, UK
- Martin James - Southampton Solent University, UK
Everyone knows music is big business, but do you really understand how ideas and inspiration become songs, products, downloads, concerts and careers?
This textbook presents a full overview of the many elements of the music industries, and offers a sustained focus on 'understanding' the processes that have driven and continue to drive the development of those industries.
More than just an expose or ‘how to’ guide, this book gives students the tools to make sense of technological change, socio-cultural processes, and the constantly shifting music business environment. The crucial focus on research and analysis means readers can understand and track the ongoing development of the music industries and place themselves in the front line of innovation and entrepreneurship in the future.
Packed with case studies, this book:
- Takes the reader on a journey from Glastonbury and the X-Factor to house concerts and crowd-funded releases
- Demystifies management, publishing and recording contracts, and the world of copyright, intellectual property and music piracy
- Explains how digital technologies have changed almost all aspects of music making, performing, promotion and consumption
- Explores all levels of the music industries, from micro-independent businesses to corporate conglomerates
- Enables students to meet the challenge of the transforming music industries.
This is the must-have primer for understanding and getting ahead in the music industries. It is essential reading for students of popular music in media studies, sociology and musicology.
This is an invaluable book for anyone who wants to know how the modern music industry works. Students will find it clear and enjoyable to read, musicians will find it revealing and helpful, and budding music entrepreneurs will find it provides real insights. It is up-to-date, informed by the realty of the modern music business, and balances theory with practice.
Tim Wall
Professor of Radio and Popular Music Studies, Birmingham City University
Helpful for reserach projects in course, written papers etc.
The book is a nice support for any course on the music industries, their functioning, role, problematic issues, etc. It has a good balance of theoretical concepts and empirical examples.
Useful for business students who wish to critically examine music as an industry
very helpful introduction to international popular music and media studies
A good overview and collection for an introductive course.
It contains many interesting case studies with very current themes. Unfortunately the structure seems a bit random.
Very good resource, although of course crippled by the reality of its own existence as a printed text!
Great book, really useful for music and music business students.
I found the books accessible and informative for certain aspects of this course but as the course isnot entirely about popular music, it cannot be essential reading.
A great source that pulls together useful information and examples across many facets of the music industries - managing to stay relevant to current technological changes with a grounding in established industry structures.
Sage College Publishing
