Is the audience for popular music created by the music industry?

I feel that any person is free to listen to the music the music they want at their own free will. However, their choice to do so is sometimes heavily influenced by the record companies and how they over-publicise their artists, e.g. radio play and television. Theorist, Adorno, agrees with the statement that the music industry looks at success with certain bands and produces similar sounds such as boybands like Westlife and Boyzone, I, too, agree with this as there are phases in the music industry when a certain type of music is predominantly popular. The control of the music industry has been reversed and now us (the consumers) are more in control. With the advancements in technology, it has now been made easier for consumers to have whatever choice they want in music. With websites such as iTunes and illegal downloading, people are free to buy whatever they want.

Review of Kerrang! Magazine

Kerrang! is a rock magazine giving you (the fans) some good shit to get your heads into. Kerrang! have the edge on all the different spectrums of rock, including, Goth, Heavy Metal and Punk. It offers the best coverage on the latest gigs, albums and bands. Aimed at both sexes between 16-24, the magazine features the latest rock fashion styles and pull-out posters of some appealing (to some) fella's. There's no bull-shit in the magazine, what you see is what you get, they use real fans and real experiences, if somethings shit, they'll tell you - simple. Unsigned or unknown artists usually appear in the magazine giving the chance to experience different things other than some of the usual commercial crap we hear today. Kerrang! magazine definitely get's it's very own KKKKK (classic) rating, and is recommended for all you fucking hardcore dudes out there.

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

When referring to the concept of ‘blackness’ and ‘whiteness’ in music, it can be useful in identifying the origin, however, this is just a starting point. From this starting point, it is then possible to look at other influential factors such as the class and cultural background. However, it can lead audiences into having a very limited and stereotypical view of different genres

Hatch states how ‘pop music has always depended upon the interaction between white and black traditions’. This was reflected in the 1940’s when black music was trying to take their music mainstream, it only happened when white musicians were singing on their records.

Sam Phillips once said that he would be a millionaire if he found a white man with a “negro sound”. Elvis blurred the lines between ‘black’ and ‘white’ music. Hence I don’t think it is possible to define ‘black’ and ‘white music.

Does the emergence of the digital download signal the end of the music industry?

The ability to buy music digitally has without doubt had a massive effect on the music industry. With websites that allow you to download music illegally being so freely available, it has caused a negative impact on the major record companies. However, following iTunes success on its 10 billionth download, this follow iTunes recent decision to 'change their pricing structure following industry demands for more flexibility and protection against piracy'. It shows there will always be dedicated fans in this world who will always want to credit their favourite band by paying money for their songs. The digital world has a long way to go to stop piracy, but by adapting their ways such as previewing a song before buying, can result in someone buying music they didn't intentionally go to buy and could then make more profit in the long run by visiting concerts and buying more of that music etc.

What is world music?

The definition of world music is one of mass debate, it's hard to specify what it is. The theorist, Brown argues that it is 'created and played by indigenous musicians that is closely related to the music of the regions of their origin.' which is what I associate world music with. However, with the rise of low-cost sound recording and computers, it's been made easier for people to mix their music nationally and get it heard globally. I interpret world music as music that originates from single countries, music that is related to that countries culture. I think that it's easy to assume any music that is sung in non Anglo-American should be classed as world music but music is created all around the world so in actual fact every piece of music is literally 'world music', even Anglo-American songs.

Is popular music a mass-produced commodity or genuine art form.

Both definitions of popular music have elements that are completely true, but I think that any piece of music can be defined as art no matter how much creativity is put into it. The theorist Adorno argued that any popular song contains different parts of other songs 'Part interchangeability', this is true to some extent as some songs can sound the 'same', using the same lyrics or tune but not every song uses parts from other songs and some are made up.

I believe that any thoughts or feelings that are put into lyrics, drawings, or shows is to be considered art. Every popular song we here has been written by someone and sung by someone - this is an expression from someone and should definitely be considered as art.

However Adorno's theory puts a line between 'serious' and 'popular' music therefore making his theory unreliable.

How useful is a production of Culture Perspective in understanding the birth of Rock 'n' Roll.

The emergence of Rock 'n' Roll in the 1950's came completely out of the blue for the music industry and Peterson's theory is vital for understanding the factors surrounding the new era of music but it fails to point out WHY this genre was Rock 'n' Roll.

Peterson makes some valid points about the way the society and the economy was but his brief discussion on technology means he misses one of the most important points - the electric guitar, and how this created the distinctive sound of Rock 'n' Roll. The mentioning of ASCAP and new occupations in the music industry such as radio presenters are very important in the involvement of creating a new genre - Rock 'n' Roll.

Peterson's theory is very useful in understanding why a new music genre was possible but it overlooks Rock 'n' Roll itself and why it was so successful.

Is it reasonable to consider that rock music Is gendered male.

Rock ‘n’ Roll has a clear division of the sexes, males seem to dominate the genre, but women are always seen to have an influence, especially lyrics, this was evident when only men appeared in the Rolling Stone top 50 guitarists.. Frith and McRobbie describe rock lyrics as being an ‘aggressive expression of male sexuality’ – women may struggle to relate to this. When women are in rock, they tend to show a masculine side in order for their music to be taken as seriously.

Certain instruments are associated with a gender, e.g. the electric guitar is typically male and the harp is typically female. In regards to the electric guitar, it is seen to hold a ‘silent encoded phallocentric message’ (Bayton), which can be very intimidating for females. These associations have been made through society and it’s difficult now to change the balance and still keep rock the same.

Can Popular Music ever really be Unplugged?

Blacking quoted that 'technology has become a 'mode' of music production and consumption'. Sure, we can listen to a person play a guitar but without the use of amplifiers and microphones, the crowd would have to be under 50 at least. SOME music, yes, can be unplugged such as an orchestra but the majority of genre's of music wouldn't even be in the charts today without it, Dance music wouldn't be alive without the use of multi-track recording, there would also b no Heavy Metal, as it relies on the use of high levels of amplification, but I for one wouldn't be able to live without every other type of music.

Music is forever changing, we find new ways of using existing technology unintentionally making different types of sounds. There is no way we can turn back time now, especially as we have entered the electronically downloading era.

What is 'Popular Music'?

Until the lecture on Friday, my perception of popular music was manufactured bands releasing cheese into the the charts. I think there is still a certain 'type' of popular music, and that it's easy to recognise when you see or hear it, for example, Girls Aloud and Metallica - both groups may still be popular and have the same amount of fans, but it would be dangerous and hard to find a Metallica fan who describes their favourite band as being 'pop'. I disagree with Kassabian's theory about popular music being 'home-made and unpolished', 'Happy Birthday' is not a 'pop' song as far as I'm concerned! On the other hand, Shulker's belief about the song having 'ideological significance by it's consumers' shows exactly what a popular song should be. Now, I realise that popular music can be part of any genre as long as it's widely circulated and commercially successful.