Here's a theme to look for as you read Chaper 6, "Sound Recording." It's the way new communication technologies enable artists or writers to reach their audiences directly and thereby to get around the authorities who controlled the old means of communication. To use the terms we throw around in media studies, the new media enable the creators of content to by-pass the gatekeepers [definition* below] and transmit their messages to audiences.
We've seen it time and time again through history, and we're seeing it now in the sound recording industry. That's what I want you to write about in your comments to this blog post.
But first, a couple of examples.
In the 1400s, Johannes Gutenberg invented what was then a type of new media - the printing press. It enabled middle-class or bourgois writers as varied as Martin Luther and Shakespeare to put their content (bibles, plays, etc.) in the hands of readers without relying on the gatekeepers (the church, the crown, etc.). Now we have garage bands using recent technology to burn CDs and peddle them at $15 a pop to audiences between sets at their gigs without signing with a record label. It's the same process.
So ...
As you read Chapter 6, be looking for answers to these questions. And answer them, posting your answers as comments to this post. You'll notice I start with little factual questions, but I move on to questions that are designed to think about the facts. You should aim for a couple of sentences on each question, even more is better. (I've tried to design them so they'll take you about as much time as a regular class, i.e. about 50 minutes.) The envelope, please. Here are the questions:
- What are the major record labels in the United States? Who owns them? What percentage of the U.S. market is served by American companies? Do the labels function as gatekeepers?
- What technologies allow recording artists to get around the major labels? Of the artists you and your friends listen to, how many perform for majors? How many for indies? How many sell downloads directly on their websites? What other new media do artists use?
- What role does radio play in the sound recording business? We won't get to the chapter on radio for a week or two, but it doesn't hurt to think ahead.
- Canvass five or 10 people you know (I'm following the question at the bottom of page 139 in the 9th edition here, but I'll quote it in full in case you have another edition of the book), and ask "whether podcasts have become a part of their media habit. Ask what they seek from podcasts. Video stories? News? Music? And which podcasts seem most popular?"
- (Still following Vivian on page 139), "Does music content available on podcasts comprise a significant shift in the retail delivery of recorded music? Or its it a blip in the music retailing landscape?" I'll add a question or two of my own - where do iPod and other download technologies fit in here? When's the last time you bought a CD? Where did you buy it? Store? Online vendor - e.g. Amazon, CD Baby, etc.? Other?
__________
* According to Wikipedia, "A gatekeeper is defined as someone who controls access to something, for example via a city gate. In the late 20th century it came into metaphorical use, referring to individuals who decide whether a given message will be distributed by a mass medium." Remember what it means when I use red letters on the blog? In this case, it means the definition of "gatekeeper" is fair game now when I go to make out tests, etc. Bonus question: Speaking of Wikipedia, can you fit Wikipedia into the same pattern - i.e. a new technology that allows us to by-pass the gatekeepers? If you're reading this far, number the bonus question #6 and answer it too. That way I'll know who stayed with us all the way to the end. Right?
10 comments:
1. Top Five: Warner Bros-Warner Music Group, Island/Def Jam-Universal Music Group, Epic-Sony Music Entertainment, Motown-Universal Music Group, and Columbia-Sony Music Entertainment. I believe that the labels DO function as gatekeepers. If a label does not like a song or want it released, then they have the power to keep it under wraps. Likewise they can promote the heck out of an album if they believe it is worth it.
2. Such technologies as blogs, personal websites, Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace allow artist to bypass the labels. Many of the artists we listen to perform for major and less for indies. It is a lot more work to be an Indy group than it is to get signed to a record label. Now a day’s many more artist ARE selling downloads directly from their websites because it sells more records. And again they use blogs, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and even Apple iTunes.
3. Radio is the key DJ for record labels. Everyone listens to the radio whether it before five minutes or all day. When a record gets played on the radio that is when it gets all of its hype. You know when a song is popular because it gets played on the radio about fifty times a day.
4. Most of my friends watch them for news and music. They get the newest music and the latest news. They seek information, the newest and freshest information. Music podcasts are in majority the most popular.
5. Well obviously our shift in retail is going to online. Some even illegal and it’s not getting paid for. iPod and other technologies are the catalyst through which we play our music we purchse online. But even though we aren’t physically getting up and going to buy a CD from the stores they charge at least 99 cents for one song. It’s outrageous! They are getting their money back. They tour and charge 40 dollars for a t-shirt; nobody is getting jipped out of money in the music business if you are signed with a record label. I do not remember the last time I bought a CD ……..well besides blank CDs to burn songs on to. The last music CD I bought was probably about three years ago from Best Buy.
6. BONUS !!! Yes, we can consider Wikipedia as a way to bypass the gatekeepers. This stuff is pretty interesting, it kept my interest!
Good for you, Haley!
(Posted Monday morning, 10-11.)
Major record labels in the US and who owns them Warner Brothers-Warner Music Group, Epic-Sony Music Entertainment, Island/def jam- Universal Music Group. These labels do fuction as gatekeepers because they control the access. Technologies allows recording artists to get around the major labels through sources like facebook, the internet, blogs, twitter, radio, itunes and so on. Of the artists me and my friends listen to about half perform for majors. the role radio plays in the sound recording business is huge. People listen to the radio everyday. People use podcasts for video stories, News,and music. Yes, music content available on podcasts comprise a significant shift in the retail delivery of recorded music. When's the last time you bought a CD? Probally a year ago. Where did you buy it? Probally Best Buy, and it was in the store.
1. def-jam, epic-sony, and motown. I believe that these record labels are gatekeepers.
2. Most artists work for majors. They do this becaue its less work for them. Personal websites and facebook are used by artists.
3. The radio is a key factor in the sound recording business because everyone listens to the radio.
4. Most of my friends use podcasts for music.
5. Most people just buy music online. The last time i bought a cd was probably a year ago.
6. Bonus- yes
1. The top five record labels: Warner Brothers-Warner Music Group, Epic-Sony Entertainment, Motown-Universal Group, and Columbia-Sony Music Entertainment. I think that they do function as Gatekeepers. They have the power to make all the "release" information on an album. For example if they like one artists album more than another, they will push and promote the more popular album. 2. Some technologies that help artists promote a song or album without being signed to a record label, are Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, and Youtube. Many of the artists I listened to perform major although I do listen to a few indie bands. In today's record sells there are more artists and bands that use technology to promote their LP's (albums) or tracks. Even through Apple, such as iTunes. 3. Radio is important to artists and Record labels. The radio weather it be in a car or online, does the job of promoting an artist. Radio is not going anywhere and will still be used to promote the music industry as a whole.
4. Most of my friends do not watch podcasts, I think I'm one of the only ones I know in my group. Although podcasts due help out the music industry a lot.
5. Today a lot of music sells are done online, legally or illegally. iTunes is a great program to use for downloading music and it's inexpensive. Of course there are illegal ways as well, for example LimeWire. I do download music a lot almost 90% of the time. But I still go to Best Buy or Target to purchase cd's about 3-4 times a month, for the simple fact, I like to support artists I really enjoy or I've been a long time fan of.
6. Yes I do believe Wikipedia is a way to by pass a gatekeeper. :)
1) universal music, sony BMG, EMI and Warner Music I also bleieve that each record company is a gatekeeper for the simple fact that they get to pick and choose what's money profit potential.
2) there are a lot of new technologies that an upcoming artist can use and it's free. Many artists started on on YouTube, and blog sites to gain fan base, many artists utilize the music page of myspace, some artists promote there selves. But some are signed to indie record labels.
3) I just heard an artist by the name Drake talk about radio or so called "air play" he talks about the importance of radio as a gateway to record sales, he said " you can be a great artist but without radio your considered am underground artist. It's radio play, that gets people catching onto your music because most people listen to the radio so your chances of greater records sale are even more high".
4) I believe that podcasts play a major role now a days if you have an ipod you can now connect to your flat screen tvs I think it's a great source for music, news, music videos and etc.
5) yes I think podcast sites has changed many different industries that deal with media. Including music, movies, tv shows, news and etc. The last time I bought a cd was a few moths ago I bought it to support one of my favorite artists and it was at best buy in-store purchase
6) I do think wikipedia can be utilized to bypass these gatekeepers
1.) top five labels. Warner Bros-Warner Music Group, Island/Def Jam-Universal Music Group, Epic-Sony Music Entertainment, Motown-Universal Music Group, and Columbia-Sony Music Entertainment these are gatekeepers and the biggest ones out there.
2.)most do work for majors.
3.)radio and itunes are key for music industry!
4.) most of my friends listen to the radio or music off their ipod.
5.)Most people buy music off of itunes and listen to the radio
6.) i do think that wikipedia is and can be used as a gatekeeper.
1.) The top five labels are Warner Bros-Warner Music Group, Epic-Sony Music EntertainmentIsland/Def Jam-Universal Music Group, Columbia-Sony Music Entertainment, and Motown-Universal Music Group.
2.)Most of them are known to work for majors.
3.)Radio is huge, along with I pods, I Tunes, etc. Newer technology coming out.
4.) I still listen to some cds, and so do my friends as well. But I also have an I pod that I use a lot too, just depends on where I am or where my friends are as well.
5.)Most people buy music these days, off of I Tunes or so. But a lot of people burn cds as well and make copies, or download free music, or continuing to buy cds or listen to the radio. I still listen to the radio all the time.
6.) Wikipedia could definitely be used as a gatekeeper.
*EMI, Sony BMG, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group are some of the major record labels in the United States. Yes, these companies do function as gatekeepers, because they are in charge of what goes out to the media.
*The technologies used today to get out sound recordings are mostly online based. Apple ITunes, YouTube, Twitter, My Space, Facebook and webpages are examples are how music can be spread around without the use of a record label. Most of the artists I listen to now are at a major level. However, I do have some friends that have and are now recording and distributing their music theirselves. Artist are selling more downloads directly on their websites, because there is an increase in downloaded music. And again, along side websites, artists are using ITunes, Facebook, YouTube and many more media sites.
*The radio plays a key role for major record labels. The record labels help produce the music, and then distribute the music...thereby releasing it to the radio stations, the be played and "promoted" to the public.
*Most everyone used them for music purposes, as well as news, including videos.
*There has been a major shift from buying sound recordings physically at the store to going online and buying individual songs, or whole cd's. The last time I bought a cd was about a year ago at Best Buy, and it was expensive. However, so is ITunes.
#6 Bonus, Yes Wikipedia is used to by-pass the gatekeepers.
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