Music industry
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| In the [[2000s (decade)|2000s]], a majority of the [[music industry]] is controlled by three major [[record label]]s: the French-owned [[Universal Music Group]], the Japanese-owned [[Sony Music Entertainment]], and the US-owned [[Warner Music Group]]. Labels outside of these three major labels are referred to as [[Independent record label|independent label]]s (or "indies"). | In the [[2000s (decade)|2000s]], a majority of the [[music industry]] is controlled by three major [[record label]]s: the French-owned [[Universal Music Group]], the Japanese-owned [[Sony Music Entertainment]], and the US-owned [[Warner Music Group]]. Labels outside of these three major labels are referred to as [[Independent record label|independent label]]s (or "indies"). | ||
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| - | "Whenever I talk to a band who are about to sign with a [[major label]], I always end up thinking of them in a particular context. I imagine a trench, about four feet wide and five feet deep, maybe sixty yards long, filled with runny, decaying shit. I imagine these people, some of them good friends, some of them barely acquaintances, at one end of this trench. I also imagine a faceless industry lackey at the other end, holding a fountain pen and a contract waiting to be signed."--"[[The problem with music]]" (1993) by Steve Albini | + | "Whenever I talk to a band who are about to sign with a [[Music industry|major label]], I always end up thinking of them in a particular context. I imagine a trench, about four feet wide and five feet deep, maybe sixty yards long, filled with runny, decaying shit. I imagine these people, some of them good friends, some of them barely acquaintances, at one end of this trench. I also imagine a faceless industry lackey at the other end, holding a fountain pen and a contract waiting to be signed."--"[[The problem with music]]" (1993) by Steve Albini |
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| - | {{Template}} | + | [[Image:Buffalo Gals (1840).jpg|thumb|right|200px|This page '''{{PAGENAME}}''' is part of the [[music]] series.<br><small>Illustration: Sheet music to "[[Buffalo Gals]]" (c. 1840), a [[traditional song]].</small><br>Maxim: "[[writing about music is like dancing about architecture]]".]]{{Template}} |
| - | + | The '''music industry''' consists of the companies and independent artists that earn money by [[musical composition|creating]] new [[song]]s and pieces and organising live concerts and shows, audio and video recordings, compositions and [[sheet music]], and the organizations and associations that aid and represent [[music]] creators. Among the many individuals and organizations that operate in the industry are: the [[songwriter]]s and [[composer]]s who create new songs and musical pieces; the [[singer]]s, [[musician]]s, [[conducting|conductors]] and [[bandleader]]s who perform the music; the companies and professionals who create and sell [[sound recording|recorded music]] and/or [[sheet music]]. | |
| - | The '''music industry''' or '''music business''' consists of the companies and individuals that make money by [[musical composition|creating]] and selling [[music]]. Among the many individuals and organizations that operate within the industry are: the musicians who compose and perform the music; the companies and professionals who create and sell recorded music (e.g., [[Music publisher (popular music)|music publisher]]s, [[Record producer|producers]], [[recording studios]], [[Audio engineering|engineers]], [[record label]]s, retail and [[online music store]]s, [[performance rights organization]]s); those that present [[live music]] performances ([[talent agent|booking agents]], [[Promoter (entertainment)|promoters]], [[music venue]]s, [[road crew]]); professionals who assist musicians with their music careers ([[talent manager]]s, [[business manager]]s, [[entertainment law]]yers); those who [[broadcast music]] and [[radio broadcasting|broadcast radio]]); journalists; educators; [[musical instrument]] manufacturers; as well as many others. | + | |
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| - | The current music industry emerged around the middle of the 20th century, when [[Gramophone record|record]]s had supplanted sheet music as the largest player in the music business: in the commercial world, people began speaking of "the recording industry" as a loose synonym of "the music industry". Along with their numerous subsidiaries, a large majority of this market for recorded music is controlled by three major corporate labels: the French-owned [[Universal Music Group]], the Japanese-owned [[Sony Music Entertainment]], and the US-owned [[Warner Music Group]]. The largest portion of the live music market is controlled by [[Live Nation]], the largest promoter and [[music venue]] owner. [[Live Nation]] is a former subsidiary of [[Clear Channel Communications]], which is the largest owner of radio stations in the United States. [[Creative Artists Agency]] is a large a management and booking company. | + | |
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| - | The music industry has been undergoing drastic changes since the advent of widespread digital distribution of music. A conspicuous indicator of this is total music sales: since 2000, sales of recorded music have dropped off substantially while [[live music]] has increased in importance. The largest music retailer in the world is now digital: [[Apple Inc.]]'s [[iTunes Store]]. The two largest companies in the industry are [[Universal Music Group]] (recording) and [[Sony/ATV Music Publishing]] (publisher). Universal Music Group, Sony BMG, EMI Group and Warner Music Group are collectively known as the "Big Four" majors. Labels outside of the Big Four are referred to as independent labels. | + | |
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| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| ===Early commoditization of music=== | ===Early commoditization of music=== | ||
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| A multitude of record labels came and went, but a handful of label corporations prospered for decades. By the end of the 1980s, the "Big 6" — EMI, Sony, BMG, PolyGram, WEA and [[MCA]] — dominated the industry. In mid-1998, [[PolyGram]] merged into Universal Music Group (formerly MCA), dropping the leaders down to a "Big 5". They became the "Big 4" in 2004 when Sony combined with BMG. | A multitude of record labels came and went, but a handful of label corporations prospered for decades. By the end of the 1980s, the "Big 6" — EMI, Sony, BMG, PolyGram, WEA and [[MCA]] — dominated the industry. In mid-1998, [[PolyGram]] merged into Universal Music Group (formerly MCA), dropping the leaders down to a "Big 5". They became the "Big 4" in 2004 when Sony combined with BMG. | ||
| - | ===21st Century changes=== | + | ===21st century changes=== |
| Just as [[radio]] and television did before it, the advent of [[file sharing]] technologies has changed the balance between record companies, song writers, and performing artists. Bands such as [[Metallica]] have fought back against peer-to-peer programs such as the infamous [[Napster]], and the arguments for and against technology to circumvent them - [[digital rights management]] systems - remain controversial. With the advent of [[Apple Inc.]]'s [[iTunes]] online music store in 2003, legal music downloads became widely available. | Just as [[radio]] and television did before it, the advent of [[file sharing]] technologies has changed the balance between record companies, song writers, and performing artists. Bands such as [[Metallica]] have fought back against peer-to-peer programs such as the infamous [[Napster]], and the arguments for and against technology to circumvent them - [[digital rights management]] systems - remain controversial. With the advent of [[Apple Inc.]]'s [[iTunes]] online music store in 2003, legal music downloads became widely available. | ||
| By June 2008, digital music sales generated around $2 billion in revenue, with tracks available through 500 online services located in 40 countries, representing around 10 percent of the total global music market. Revenue from retail CD sales, however, continued to fall. [[IBISWorld]] reported in June 2008 that "the industry's financial future looks bleak," but noted that, although revenues have decreased, artists have suffered less than record companies, since they can "make most of their money on merchandise sales and touring." | By June 2008, digital music sales generated around $2 billion in revenue, with tracks available through 500 online services located in 40 countries, representing around 10 percent of the total global music market. Revenue from retail CD sales, however, continued to fall. [[IBISWorld]] reported in June 2008 that "the industry's financial future looks bleak," but noted that, although revenues have decreased, artists have suffered less than record companies, since they can "make most of their money on merchandise sales and touring." | ||
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| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| :''See [[culture industry]], [[cultural appropriation in western music]], [[artworld economics]], [[The problem with music]], [[Digital rights management]]'' | :''See [[culture industry]], [[cultural appropriation in western music]], [[artworld economics]], [[The problem with music]], [[Digital rights management]]'' | ||
Current revision
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In the 2000s, a majority of the music industry is controlled by three major record labels: the French-owned Universal Music Group, the Japanese-owned Sony Music Entertainment, and the US-owned Warner Music Group. Labels outside of these three major labels are referred to as independent labels (or "indies"). "Whenever I talk to a band who are about to sign with a major label, I always end up thinking of them in a particular context. I imagine a trench, about four feet wide and five feet deep, maybe sixty yards long, filled with runny, decaying shit. I imagine these people, some of them good friends, some of them barely acquaintances, at one end of this trench. I also imagine a faceless industry lackey at the other end, holding a fountain pen and a contract waiting to be signed."--"The problem with music" (1993) by Steve Albini |
Illustration: Sheet music to "Buffalo Gals" (c. 1840), a traditional song.
Maxim: "writing about music is like dancing about architecture".
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The music industry consists of the companies and independent artists that earn money by creating new songs and pieces and organising live concerts and shows, audio and video recordings, compositions and sheet music, and the organizations and associations that aid and represent music creators. Among the many individuals and organizations that operate in the industry are: the songwriters and composers who create new songs and musical pieces; the singers, musicians, conductors and bandleaders who perform the music; the companies and professionals who create and sell recorded music and/or sheet music.
Contents |
History
Early commoditization of music
Until the 1700s, the process of composition and printing of music was mostly supported by patronage from the aristocracy and church. In the mid-to-late 1700s, performers and composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart began to seek commercial opportunities to market their music and performances to the general public. After Mozart's death, his wife (Constanze Weber) continued the process of commercialization of his music through an unprecedented series of memorial concerts, selling his manuscripts, and collaborating with her second husband, Georg Nissen, on a biography of Mozart.
In the 1800s, the music industry was dominated by sheet music publishers. In the United States, the music industry arose in tandem with the rise of blackface minstrelsy. The group of music publishers and songwriters which dominated popular music in the United States was known as Tin Pan Alley.
The phonographic age
In the early 20th century, the phonograph industry grew greatly in importance, and the record industry eventually replaced the sheet music publishers as the industry's largest force.
A multitude of record labels came and went, but a handful of label corporations prospered for decades. By the end of the 1980s, the "Big 6" — EMI, Sony, BMG, PolyGram, WEA and MCA — dominated the industry. In mid-1998, PolyGram merged into Universal Music Group (formerly MCA), dropping the leaders down to a "Big 5". They became the "Big 4" in 2004 when Sony combined with BMG.
21st century changes
Just as radio and television did before it, the advent of file sharing technologies has changed the balance between record companies, song writers, and performing artists. Bands such as Metallica have fought back against peer-to-peer programs such as the infamous Napster, and the arguments for and against technology to circumvent them - digital rights management systems - remain controversial. With the advent of Apple Inc.'s iTunes online music store in 2003, legal music downloads became widely available.
By June 2008, digital music sales generated around $2 billion in revenue, with tracks available through 500 online services located in 40 countries, representing around 10 percent of the total global music market. Revenue from retail CD sales, however, continued to fall. IBISWorld reported in June 2008 that "the industry's financial future looks bleak," but noted that, although revenues have decreased, artists have suffered less than record companies, since they can "make most of their money on merchandise sales and touring."
See also
- See culture industry, cultural appropriation in western music, artworld economics, The problem with music, Digital rights management
- Richard Branson, Ed Bahlman
- History of music publishing
- Independent record label
- List of record labels
- List of best-selling music artists
- MIDEM-World's largest music trade fair
- Record label
