“The Culture Industry” and the “Mass Culture” Critique

•"mass culture" is produced for masses, not individuals

•Made for passive consumption

•Culture (such as pop music) is just another commodity

MEDIA & SOCIETY: MUSIC

What is “pop” music?

Where does it come from?

Theodor Adorno “On Popular Music”

Adorno’s Characteristics of “Popular Music”

1. Standardized

2. Popular music promotes passive listening

3. Popular music functions as "social cement" the "rhythmically" obedient type and the "emotional" type'

Federal Regulations

• Radio Act of 1912

• During World War I the U.S. Navy took over all radio

• Government forced British interests out of US radio

• Formed a new company – Radio Corporation of America - RCA

• Radio Act of 1927– Federal Radio Commission – Establish standard broadcast bands – Frequency allocation

David Sarnoff

• Marconi Wireless operator• “Radio music box”• Became director of RCA • Opposed commercial sponsorship

• AT&T had always charged for long distance– Also “Ship to shore”

• Natural next step?

Commercial Sponsorship

• AT&T established the first network – Network: interconnected stations– Affiliates: contract with network for content

• RCA launches NBC network

• CBS

• FCC orders RCA to sell one of its networks

Network Radio

• decline in recording industry • used live music• new program genres

– Situation comedy– Dramas– Quiz shows– Soap operas

Radio Days

• Prime time radio audience moved to television

• Shift from a national to a local focus

• New radio format featured recorded music – payola

Radio in the Age of Television

FM began distinct rock formats – Focused on segmented audience– More channels available in given market

• In 1970s and 1980s radio almost completely local

• 1990s brought “radio groups”

• Telecommunication Act of 1996– Deregulated ownership

– “cross ownership”

The New Radio Networks

Radio Groups – In business of owning and running stations all over

country

Clear Channel Communication – Advertisers can reach a national audience

• Playlist specified by music director

• “on air personality” not disc jockey

• Many AM stations emphasize news and talk formats

Current Radio Format

• Scarce resource means should operate in public interest

• Deregulation means fewer locally programmed

• But may be more formats in same market

Radio Diversity?

• CD drives in PCs

• Downloading and uploading digital music

Copyright of music – Copyright: legal privilege to use, sell, or license

creative works

– Royalty fees: Fee paid to use intellectual property – encryption

Music on the Internet

Radio and royalties– ASCAP and BMI (Music licensing groups)

• 1% to 2% of a radio station’s gross• Future model for downloading?