54808 Anderton Ch 1
1
STUDYING THE MUSIC
INDUSTRIES
This chapter explores several ways of unpicking and analysing the complex web of practices, strategies and narratives that characterize the music industries, from political economy and the culture industry to sociological and historical approaches. It also highlights the transformations that digital technologies have brought to all areas of the music industries.
KEY FINDINGS
• The music industries may be explored from a variety of research perspectives. • Technological developments have had, and continue to have,
VLJQLÀFDQWLPSDFWVRQWKHVWUXFWXUHDQGZRUNRIWKHPXVLFLQGXVWULHV
• ,QWHUGLVFLSOLQDU\ DSSURDFKHV PD\ RIIHU QHZ LQVLJKWV LQWR WKH PXVLF industries. GETTING STARTED
The study of the music industries is not a uniform endeavour. There are many and varied approaches that yield valid, interesting and important understandings about those industries, their cultural and economic impacts, and their effects on the lives of those who work in and interact with them. These studies can happen at a macro level, in which scholars examine the effects, economic impacts and practices of the music business as a whole, and their inter-relationships with other businesses, laws and social forces. They can also happen at a micro level, where they centre on the activities of individual businesses or, indeed, individuals.
Some research focuses on areas between these two extremes or examines
ϐ Ǥ ϐ
02-Anderton-Ch 01.indd 4
03/11/2012 5:19:09 PM
Studying the Music Industries
5
than, or entirely separate from, all of the others, and a rounded understanding of the music industries as a whole demands a grasp of the various ways that these approaches may reveal insights into the business of music. This chapter begins this process by introducing a range of research approaches, starting with organizational structure.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
STUDYING THE MUSIC
INDUSTRIES
This chapter explores several ways of unpicking and analysing the complex web of practices, strategies and narratives that characterize the music industries, from political economy and the culture industry to sociological and historical approaches. It also highlights the transformations that digital technologies have brought to all areas of the music industries.
KEY FINDINGS
• The music industries may be explored from a variety of research perspectives. • Technological developments have had, and continue to have,
VLJQLÀFDQWLPSDFWVRQWKHVWUXFWXUHDQGZRUNRIWKHPXVLFLQGXVWULHV
• ,QWHUGLVFLSOLQDU\ DSSURDFKHV PD\ RIIHU QHZ LQVLJKWV LQWR WKH PXVLF industries. GETTING STARTED
The study of the music industries is not a uniform endeavour. There are many and varied approaches that yield valid, interesting and important understandings about those industries, their cultural and economic impacts, and their effects on the lives of those who work in and interact with them. These studies can happen at a macro level, in which scholars examine the effects, economic impacts and practices of the music business as a whole, and their inter-relationships with other businesses, laws and social forces. They can also happen at a micro level, where they centre on the activities of individual businesses or, indeed, individuals.
Some research focuses on areas between these two extremes or examines
ϐ Ǥ ϐ
02-Anderton-Ch 01.indd 4
03/11/2012 5:19:09 PM
Studying the Music Industries
5
than, or entirely separate from, all of the others, and a rounded understanding of the music industries as a whole demands a grasp of the various ways that these approaches may reveal insights into the business of music. This chapter begins this process by introducing a range of research approaches, starting with organizational structure.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE