Does the music industry create the market?

Many arguments surround the question of whether or not the music industry creates the market that they want. Adorno’s theory on popular music would agree that it does. He believes that audiences are led to falsely think that the record companies are producing music that they want to hear.
However audiences can and do make up their own minds. The music industry cannot force ideas upon people. This can be seen when musicians and their songs are highly publicised, yet are not successful.
Often record companies release similar sounding songs and musicians that they know audiences will enjoy. This could be seen as creating the market that they want to satisfy. All in all, every individual has freewill to listen to what they want, but it is more likely that they will listen to something that is similar in some ways to songs that they have enjoyed before.
Therefore the music industry could be seen as creating a market, however, it is down to an individual’s own personal taste too.

Review the magazine 'Uncut' in the same style as 'Uncut'

Uncut is an informative and useful monthly music publication that would satisfy the needs of the 21st century male. Articles and reviews are descriptive and would arouse a middle aged audience, bringing them not only up to date knowledge on new and upcoming musicians, but also reminding audiences of their youth by printing articles on rock legends such as David Bowie, John Lennon, and Bob Dylan.
Uncut not only discusses music. Articles often feature actors such as Ray Winstone, comedians, and pieces on new technology that would interest and excite. It is full up with intelligently written articles, yet still manages to entertain and tantalise.
Uncut is a magazine that would interest music fanatics and people that just want to catch up on the music industry. You won’t be disappointed if you buy it and it will definitely leave you looking forward to the following issue.

Are blackness and whiteness useful concepts in the study of popular music?

People have always felt the need to categorise different styles and genres of music into ‘black’ or ‘white’. In order to seperate the two, the origins of the particular music is sometimes looked at. But is this neccessary? Racial classification is a very subjective notion, however it could be said that their is no racial essence that makes anything or anyone ‘black’ or ‘white’, including music. We should put our focus into how music is understood, and try and assess the social uses to which the music is put. It is important to understand the concept that music has provided a cultural space for people who hadn’t had one before, for example blue’s music. If we take Blue’s as an example, it could be necessary to look at it as ‘black’ music as the songs often engage about issues that effected their pasts such as racial segregation and slavery. Most white people wouldn’t relate to this.
In conclusion I believe that the concepts of blackness and whiteness are not always needed but can sometimes be useful.

Hi Lee, I thought this posted a couple of weeks ago, but obviously it didn't! Just noticed before I was posting my next blog. I hope this isn't a problem.

Can popular music be a genuine force for political change?

Many musicians and artists have written music that is concerned with politics and the way the world is being managed. This has been done for decades, whether subtle or addressing points in an open manner. I do not believe that these songs of protest have actually been a genuine force to change anything; however I do believe that they make audiences aware of certain situations. A clear example of this can be seen through Band Aid and Live Aid. The song and the event raised lots of money for Africa however was heavily criticised for being self serving for those involved, and generally being politically inappropriate. But we must ask ourselves whether this is a genuine problem. I believe that the benefits for Africa out-weigh the criticisms. It is hard to find an example of a song that has genuinely changed anything within politics but there are many that have influenced individuals’ views and opinions on certain subject matters.

What is world music? And why does it exist?

World music could be seen as the music of a tiny sub-culture of the globe. It used to just be concerned with music outside of the Anglo-American genres, including Africa, Canada and Australia. Now, however, the term ‘world music’ is used to describe music within minority groups in America, Asia and Europe as well. It can be seen as a mix of modern and traditional musics and is often not sung in English. World music has been turned into a genre and has become institutionalized by the music and media industries.
This kind of music has been criticised because it has caused musicians to turn their backs on cultural traditions in favour of commercial profit. It has been seen as a force for cultural imperialism and has also been seen to homogenise musical cultures all over the world.
I believe world music exists to help people create a cultural identity for themselves.

Is popular music a mass produced commodity or a genuine art form?

Adorno argued that all popular music is standardized and therefore would agree that it is a mass produced commodity. He stated that all popular music involves ‘part interchangeabilty’ and ‘pseudo individualisation’, to streamline production costs and create an illusion of originality. ‘Part interchangeabilty’ refers to the way in which different parts of popular songs can be taken and put into other songs and therefore there is no uniqueness.
Adorno compares popular music to what he terms as ‘serious’ music. Although music is still consumed, it isn’t consumed in the same way other commodities are. People don’t buy the same track over and over therefore similar sounds and styles are reproduced so that popular music is still bought and enjoyed.
However, this does not mean that popular music isn’t an art form. Gemdrom argued that, although popular music is mass produced, you cannot mass produce a moment in time.
Individuals opinions on this question will differ, as they would when defining 'popular music' and even the term ‘art’.

what are the strengths and weaknesses of Petersons production of culture perspective on the birth or rock and roll?

Petersons Production of Culture Perspective attempts to explain why rock n' roll broke through in 1955. He looked at culture, cultural symbols, and artefacts to find an understanding of social norms and practices that are accepted in society.
The strengths of this perspective can be seen when we learn about the six key factors he looks at; law, technology, industry structure, organisation structure, occupational structure and the market.
However, this perspective does have weaknesses, a major one being that the actual music isn't ever taken into account and the question surrounding why rock n' roll emerged in 1955 is never really answered. Also no human emotions or elements are taken into consideration, he says that people bought music because it was on the radio but doesn't consider it's significance to individuals. Although technology is looked at it is never considered when looking at the creation of music, eg microphones and amplifiers.
All in all the perspective is useful when understanding the music industry in the past, but does have it's weaknesses, and doesn't answer many questions.

What is Popular Music?

The definition of popular music is constantly changing and has no clear standard meaning. Raymond Williams defined the term ‘popular’ as ‘belonging to the people’, however in the 16th century popular culture was seen as a negative term. Popular music was perceived as a ‘low’ culture belonging to the ‘common people’.
However in the 18th century popular music was widely accepted and enjoyed. The term ‘popular’ implies that something is accessible, simplified, mass produced and then consumed and enjoyed by a diverse audience.
Popular music is sometimes perceived as being commercially orientated. By this it means that musicians are more interested in receiving a profit rather than focusing on the art of writing and playing music.
All in all Popular Music may be defined as what a lot of people enjoy and like.