Music  In  Context    In   this   article   I   will   be   discussing  music   in   different   contexts,   how   it  has   been   affected   and   changed  through   time   and   specific   details  which  contribute  to  certain  genres.  The  1970’s  were  a  key  period  of  time  for  music  as  this  was  when  the  disco  genre   began.   Disco   is   dance   music  and  was   derived   from   the   elements  

in   funk,   soul,   pop   and   salsa.   It   also  came  about  due  to  the  gay  culture  in  New  York  at  the  time,  being  the  main  audience   to   disco  music   in   clubs,   as  well  as  also  being  a  reaction  against  both   rock   music   and   dance   music  which   was   involved   in   the   hippie  counterculture  movement.    Famous  artists   from  the  disco  genre  are  Donna  Summer  (I  Feel  Love,  Hot  Stuff,   Love   to   Love   You   Baby),   The  Bee  Gees  (Stayin’  Alive,  How  Deep  Is  Your  Love,  Night  Fever),  KC  and  the  Sunshine   Band   (That’s   the   Way   I  Like  It,  Give  It  Up,  Shake  Your  Booty)  and   Chic   (Le   Freak,   Everybody  Dance,  Good  Times).  Disco  was  a  powerful  genre  of  music,  in  my   opinion,   as   it   has  made   a   big  influence   on   today’s   music.   As   well  as   it  not  only  having  an   influence   to  the  popular  music   of   it’s   time  but   it  also   had   an   influence   on   fashion,  with   platform   shoes,   flares,   hot  pants,   sequins   and   a   lot   of   bright  colours.   Disco   also   had   an   influence  on   film,   examples   being;   Saturday  

Night   Fever,   Thank   God   It’s   Friday  and  Skatetown  U.S.A.  Coming   to   the   end   of   the   1970’s   to  the   early   1980’s,   contemporary   r&b  came   about   in   America,  made   up   of  elements   of   rhythm   and   blues,  dance,  pop,  soul,  funk  and  hip  hop.  Michael   Jackson  was  one  of   the   first  to  make  the  crossover  from  the  disco  era   into   the   beginning   of  contemporary   r&b   (Rhythm   &  Blues),   which   in   the   beginning   was  heavily   influenced   by   pop   music  because   of   Michael   Jackson   and  other   artists   such   as;   Janet   Jackson,  Whitney  Houston,  etc.      Janet   Jackson’s   album   ‘Control’,  released  in  1986,  was  actually  a  very  big  influence  to  r&b  as  it   was   the   first   time  anyone   had   heard  disco,  funk,  rap,  synths  and   electronic   drums  mixed  together.    

Moving   into   the   90’s  were   artists   such   as  Boyz   II   Men   (I’ll   Make  Love   To   You,   End   of  

the  Road,  On  Bended  Knee),  R.  Kelly  (Ignition,   Bump   n’   Grind,   The  World’s   Greatest)   and   Whitney  Houston   (I   Wanna   Dance   With  Somebody,   I  Have  Nothing,  My  Love  is   Your   Love).   Continuing   into   the  2000’s   and   music  today   more  examples   of   r&b  artists   are;   Beyoncé  (Crazy   in   Love,  Irreplaceable,   Sweet  Dreams),   Alicia  Keys   (No   One,   Fallin’,   You   Don’t  Know   My   Name)   and   John   Legend  (Ordinary   People,   So   High,   Green  Light).  Contemporary   r&b   has   had   a   big  influence   in  music,   so  much   so   that  

it’s   still   progressing   throughout  music  today  influencing  pop,  such  as  music   from   Rihanna,   Bruno   Mars,  Frank  Ocean,   Pharell  Williams   etc.   I  think   it   will   continue   to   thrive   and  evolve  throughout  many  more  future  generations.    Disco  history  Disco  started  off  the  very  wide  genre  of   dance   music,   as   it   was   heavily  played   in   clubs   in   the   70’s,   which  meant  disco  is  what  everyone  would  dance  to.  There   are   many   events   and   factors  which   lead   to   the   birth   of   disco  starting   in   1933   which   was   when  nightclubs   became   popular   in  America,  where  people  would  dance  to  swing  music.  Moving  on  to  1939  a  German   group,   enthusiastic   about  jazz   and   swing   music,   called   The  Swing  Kids  would  all   come   together  to   show   the   colourful   and   elaborate  jazz   fashions   and   dance  moves.   The  creation   of   The   Swing   Kids   was   in  reaction  to  the  Nazi  movement  at  the  time,   as   to   them   jazz  was   seen   as   a  bad   influence.   There   were   many  specific   laws   restricting   music   and  

what  could  be  played,  as  seen  below;    Also,   in  France  at   the   time   jazz  was  banned   so   resistance   groups   would  meet   in   underground   clubs,   which  were  called  discotheques.  A  few  years  later  in  1942  a  basement  nightclub  in  Paris  was  opened  called  ‘La   Discotheque’,   the   word  discotheque   in  Europe  meant  a  club  that   did   not   play   any   live   music.  After   that   in  1947  was  when  one  of  the   first   known   nightclubs   opened,  named   ‘Whiskey   A-­‐Go-­‐Go’,   which   in  1953  hosted  a  night  where  the  DJ  (DJ  Regine),  used  two  turntables,  had  no  breaks   in   the   music   playing   and  there   were   coloured   lights   and   a  dance  floor.  Coming   to   the   end   of   the   1950’s   in  London,  Soho  coffee  bars  became  the  place   to   be   for   younger   people  who  wanted   to   dance   in   the   afternoon.  Although   for   the   rock   and   roll  hipsters   at   this   time   they   preferred  bars  and  taverns,  nightclubs  weren’t  popular.  In   1962   a   discotheque   called   the  Peppermint   Lounge   in   New   York  was   the   place   to   be   seen,   the   twist  was   very   popular   at   this   time   and  

people   would   dance   with   or  without   a   partner.   The  Peppermint   Lounge   was   also  known   as   the   birthplace   of   go-­‐go   dancing   because   of   women  dancing   the   twist   on   tables.   At  this  time  in  the  UK,  Manchester  at   The   Twisted   Earle,   Roger  Earle   created   the   root   of  northern  soul  music,  which  had  a  big  influence  on  disco  music.      The   mid   sixties   was  when   more   clubs  started   opening   in  New   York   including;  Regine’s,   Cheetah,   Le  Club   and   Arthur's  

Figure  1  -­‐  owner  of  Arthur  Nightclub  dancing  inside  the  club  

which   was   the   place   known   to   be  where   DJ   Terry   Noel   first   mixed  records.   Meanwhile,   in   Europe   the  euro   disco   scene   was   beginning   as  the  songs  ‘Hold  Me  Closer’  and  ‘Baby  Come   Back’   by   The   Equals   became  hits.    In  1969,  Only   the  Strong  Survive  by  Jerry   Butler  was   released,   this   song  had   the   ‘philly   sound’   which   was  later  a  very  big  part  of  what  made  up  disco  music.  Clubs   in   the   late   1960’s   to   early  1970’s   in   New   York   would   gain   a  diverse   crowd   of   people   as   they  entertained   hipsters,   Latino’s,  African   American’s,   the   gay   and  lesbian   scene   and   people   of   the  psychedelic  culture.  The  disco  scene  was  also  a  reaction  against  the  white  rock   music,   which   was   heavily  popular  in  America  at  the  time.  For   women   the   1970’s   was   a  historical  time  especially  linked  with  disco   as   the   pill   started   being  prescribed  to  not  only  older  women  with   families  who  did  not  want   any  more   children   but   it  was   also   being  prescribed  in  family  planning  clinics  to   younger   women,   which   was  controversial,   but   it   started   a   big  step   forward   for   women   as   it   gave  them  a  certain  amount  of  freedom.      

As  well   as   this,   feminism  was   being  talked   about   more   and   more   in  casual   conversation   and   with   these  big   events   for   women   at   the   time  this   meant   that   women   had   the  

freedom   to   go   out   and   dress   up   in  the   new   disco   fashions,   un-­‐chaperoned,   and   disco   nightclubs   is  where  they  would  go.  Much  of  the  Disco  culture  also  came  from  the  hippy  scene  with  things  like  drugs,  colourful  fashion,  psychedelia  and  free  love.  There  are  many  songs,  which  have  a  hint   of   disco   sound   in   them   before  the  height  of  the  disco  era,  a  few  are;  You   Keep   Me   Hangin’   On   by   The  Supremes,  Message  To   Love   by   Jimi  Hendrix’s   Band   of   Gypsys   and   Keep  On  Truckin  by  Eddie  Kendricks.    Disco   reached   TV   in   1971,  with   the  TV  dance  show  ‘Soul  Train’  and  in  73  the   first   ever   article   written   about  disco  was   published   by   Vince   Aletti  for   Rolling   Stone.   Also   in   1973,   a  woman   called   Karen   Lustgarten  introduced   disco   dance   lessons   in  

San   Francisco  and   also  published   a  book;   ‘The  Complete   Guide  to   Disco  Dancing’,   which  was   the   first  book   to   ever  teach   the  

popular   disco  moves.   The  book  was  so   popular   that   it   became   a   best  seller   and   was   translated   into  several   other   languages.   This   was  also   around   the   time   when   specific  dance   moves   were   choreographed  for   specific   vocals   and   sounds   of  disco   music.   Many   different   dances  became  popular  and  associated  with  disco   in   the  70’s   such  as   the  Hustle,  Mambo  and  the  Salsa.    The   height   of   the   disco   era   was  between   1974-­‐1977   where   disco  gained  a  rapid  popularity  and  songs  from  the  genre  were  topping  charts.  

Figure  2  -­‐  Group  of  women  protesting  in  the  1970's  

In   1977   the   film  Saturday   Night   Fever  was   released,   which  was  when  ‘disco  fever’  was   at   its   peak.   The  film   was   a   huge  success   and   it’s  soundtrack,   mostly  from   the   Bee   Gee’s,  became   one   of   the   best-­‐selling  albums  of  all  time.  By  the  late  1970’s  disco  had  become  the   sound   of  mainstream   pop,   even  non-­‐disco   artists   began   to   record  disco  arrangements,  like  Perry  Como  and  Ethel  Merman.    

The   disco   fashion  came   hand   in  hand   with   the  music,   it   was   a  very   big   part   of  going   out   to  

nightclubs   to  dance   to   disco  songs   but   also  dress   up   with  fashions   such   as,  hot   pants,   three  piece   suits,   platform   shoes,   flares,  wrap  dresses,  boob  tubes  and  a  lot  of  

colour  and  glitter.  It   was   in   the   very  late   1970’s   that   the  popularity   of   disco  decreased   and   the  music   and   fashion  was   replaced   with  punk  rock.    

 R&b  history  Moving   back   to   r&b,   it   originated  towards   the   end   of   the   1940’s   but  it’s   musical   style   has   changed   quite  dramatically   from   then   until   now.  When   it   started   out   r&b   was   a  popular   African   American   style   of  music,   around   this   time   was   when  

rocking  jazz  type  music  with  a  heavy  beat   was   gaining   popularity.   In   the  1950’s-­‐70’s  typical  rhythm  and  blues  bands   would   usually   play   with   a  piano,   guitar,   bass,   drums,   a  saxophone   and   occasionally  background   vocalists,   the   lyrics  would   often   describe   pain   and  freedom,   influenced   by   early   blues  music  from  black  slaves  in  America.  Throughout   time   the   term   ‘Rhythm  and   Blues’   has   not   had   a   set  meaning,   first  off   in   the  early  50’s   it  was   used   to   describe   blues   records,  in   the  mid   50’s   it   referred   to  music  that   incorporated   electric   blues,  gospel   and   soul,   in   the   70’s   it   was  used  to  refer  to  funk  and  soul  and  in  the  80’s  a  new  style  of  R&B  became  popular,   called   ‘contemporary   r&b’  which   has   elements   of   rhythm   and  blues,  soul,   funk,  hip  hop,  dance  and  pop,   which   is   more   what   r&b   is  known  as  today.  As  music  was  fading  out  of  the  swing  period   and   into   when   r&b   was  becoming   popularized,   artists  performed   in   smaller   groups   and  emphasizing   the   heavy   blues   vocals  and  structure  of  the  song,  a  lot  of  the  same   instruments   were   still   being  used   but   the   loudness   of   bass   and  electric   guitars   really   added   to   the  early  sound  of  r&b.  When  R&B  was   starting   out   in  New  Orleans  it  took  influence  from  Cuban  rhythms   such   as   the   ‘Rhumboogie’  by   Bob   Zurke,   which   had   a   tresillo  bass   line,   tresillo   refers   to   a   three-­‐note  pattern  that  repeats  itself.        

 The  first  time  the  tresillo   was   used  in   r&b   was   by  

Dave  Bartholomew   in  his  song   ‘Country  

Boy’,   which   shows   a   small   part   of  Afro-­‐Cuban   music   influenced   r&b  

music.  It  was  in  1949  that  Billboard   replaced  the   ‘race   music’  category   with   the  Rhythm   and   Blues  term;   the  no.1   r&b  

song   for  most   of   that   year  was   ‘The  Huckle-­‐Buck’   by   Paul   Williams,  which   was   described   as   a   raunchy  song.   Paul   Williams   and   his  Hucklebuckers’   concerts   were   often  quite  riotous  events,  which  had  to  be  shut  down.    In  1951,  Johnny  Otis  managed  to  get  ten   songs   in   the   top   ten   including  number   one’s,   ‘Cupid’s   Boogie’,  ‘Double   Crossing   Blues’   and  ‘Mistrustin’   Blues’.   In   July   of   the  same   year   a   DJ   called   Alan   Freed  began  to  broadcast  a  late  night  radio  show,  called  ‘The  Moondog  Rock  Roll  House   Party’,   which   played   rhythm  and  blues  music  but  Alan  Freed  soon  started  to  refer  to  it  as  rock  and  roll  music.   In   the   same   year   of   1951,  Richard   Penniman   (Little   Richard)  began   recording   music   in   the   jump  blues  style,  influenced  by  Roy  Brown  and  Billy  White,  but  after  he  made  a  demo   in   1954   and   ‘Specialty  Records’   record   company   heard   a  demo,  they  took  him  on  to  produce  a  new  kind  of  funky,  upbeat  R&B  style  of   music   with   tracks   like   ‘Long   Tall  Sally’   and   ‘Tutti   Frutti’.   These   songs  would   later   on   inspire   the   likes   of  Elvis  Presley  and  James  Brown.  1954  was  also  the  year  that  saw  the  first   R&B   hit   crossover   into   the   top  ten   with   ‘Sh-­‐Boom’   by   The   Chords,  and   another   song   later   in   the   year  that  also  crossed  into  the  top  twenty  was  ‘Hearts  of  Stone’  by  The  Charms.  Artists  like  Ruth  Brown,  Ray  Charles,  The   Drifters   and   The   Coasters  

dominated   50’s   r&b.   Around   this  time  was  when  r&b  turned  into  soul  music   that   was   more   funky   and  relaxed   compared   to   the   solid   beat  in  classic  r&b.  Soul  became  the  term  to   describe   a   wide   range   of   r&b  styles.    Into   the   60’s   the   r&b   style   of  music  was  still  very  prominent  within  soul  music,   but   the   diversity   of   it   grew  even   more   as   it   reached   different  parts  of  America  producing  different  sounds   and   eventually   different  styles   of   soul.   In  New  York,   Chicago  and   Philadelphia   the   style   of   r&b  focused   heavily   on   vocal   call   and  response   and   a   smooth   feel   to   the  music.   In   Detroit   however,   music  was   much   more   influenced   by   the  pop   genre   as   well   as   being  influenced  by  r&b,  gospel  and  rock  n  roll.  Whereas   in   the  South  of   the  US  music   became   much   tougher   and  more   raw   sounding,   using   more  uncommon   rhythm’s,   prominent  sounding  horns  and  very  raw  vocals.  All   these   different   styles   of   music  were  described  as  Soul,  which  ruled  the   charts   in   the   60’s   even   crossing  over   into   the   pop  charts.  In  the  same  period  of   time,   Motown  `records   had   its  first   single   which  sold   one   million  copies,   which   was   The   Miracles  ‘Shop  Around’.    Across   the  60’s   and  70’s   Soul  music  began   to   stream   off   into   more  individual   genres   with   artists   such  as  Sly  Stone  and  James  Brown  (I  Got  You   (I   Feel   Good))   developing   funk  and   other  artists   like  Leon   Huff   (Get  Down   with   the  

Philly   Sound),   Kenny   Gamble   (The  Jokes   on   You)   and   the   O’Jays   (Love  Train)   creating   music   called   ‘Philly  Soul’.   Later   on   dance   r&b   became  another   style   of   very  popular  music  branching  off  of  soul  music.  At   the   same   time   as   all   this   Soul  music   happening   in   America   in   the  70’s,   in   Britain,   rock   music   in   pubs  was   also   influenced   by   r&b,   as   was  the  mod  revival,  which  started  in  the  late  70’s.  Coming   into   the   80’s   and   90’s,   hip-­‐hop   music   was   popularizing  amongst   mainly   the   youth   of  America   and   the   term   r&b   was  starting  to  be  associated  with  groups  of   very   high   profile  artists/producers  who  would   create  big   R&B   hits.   By   this   time   it   had  become  harder   to   sell   and  hear   r&b  music  because  of  the  rise  of  hip-­‐hop,  but   some   r&b   artists   adopted   the  hip-­‐hop   image   to   keep   popularity  and  would  also  even  feature  rappers  on   their   tracks   in   the   style   of   hip-­‐hop.  

The   90’s   was   where  the   contemporary  r&b   started   from  with   new   artists  around   such   as;  Usher  (You  Make  Me  

Wanna),  Mary  J  Blige  (Family  Affair),  R  Kelly  (Bump  n  Grind),  Boyz  II  Men  (End   of   the   Road)   and   TLC   (No  Scrubs).   This   type   of   music   is   what  we  associate  the  term  r&b  with  now.  

 

           In  Britain  many  bands  took  influence  from   r&b   music   but   it   ended   up  forming  a  very  different  sound  as  to  what   was   heard   in   America,   there  were   generally   more   guitars   and  often   more   energy.   The   bands   took  the   influence   with   them   when  moving  on  from  the  genre  eventually  then   influencing   the   sound   of   rock  and  psychedeilia.    Different   influences   on   musical  genres  Now   I   will   be   talking   about   how  there   are   a   lot   of   different   factors,  which   can   explain   sudden   urges   in  specific   genres   of   music   at   certain  times.  For  example,   rave  music.  The  first  rave  ever  took  place   in  Chicago  but  later  most  raves  took  place  in  the  UK,   starting   in   Manchester.   Rave’s  started   out   as   an   underground  movement  where   a   huge   amount   of  like   minded   people   would   get  together  and  dance  to  different  types  of   electronic   music,   influenced   by  the  acid  house  genre,  usually  also  on  some  type  of  drug.  Raves  were  more  than   just   people   dancing   to   music;  there  was  also  a  fashion,   laser  lights  and   an   open  mindedness   that   came  along  with  the  rave  culture.  

 Figure  3  -­‐  Underground  rave  in  the  1980's  

By   the   time   the   90’s   came   around  house  music,   acid  music,   old   school  jungle,  electronica  and  techno  music  ere  all  being  played  at  raves.  Lots  of  

big   events   would   gather   thousands  of  people,  anywhere  up  to  25,000.  Rave  parties  have  been  described  to  be  similar  to  football  matches,  as  they  provided  a  setting  where  people  were  unified.  British  politicians  at  the  time  did  not  respond  well  to  the  emerging  rave  scene  and  began  to  fine  people  holding  rave  events.  Because  of  the  new  law  enforcement,  rave  parties  started  to  move  more  to  the  countryside.  There  was  a  new  law  in  1994  stating  that  ‘a  gathering  on  land  in  the  open  air  of  20  or  more  persons  (whether  or  not  trespassers)  at  which  amplified  music  is  played  during  the  night  (with  or  without  intermissions)  and  is  such  as,  by  reason  of  its  loudness  and  duration  and  the  time  at  which  it  is  played,  is  likely  to  cause  serious  distress  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  locality’.(1)  Here   is   some   footage   of   new   years  day  1993  after  a  countryside  rave.    Many  people  attended  raves  because  of   different   reasons   explaining   the  surge   of   popularity.   One   reason   is  because   there   was   a   decrease   in  employment   at   the   time,   the   lowest  rate   of   employment   in   nearly   a  decade.   Also,   because   at   this   time  Margaret   Thatcher   was   in   power,  her   government   weakened   the  power  of  unions  in  the  80’s  making  it  hard  to  strike   legally,  so  I   think  that  raves  were  a  way  of  rebelling  against  authority  at  the  time.  So  politics  and  the  social  culture  of  what  was  going  on  at  this  time  can  explain  why  there  would   be   a   sudden   surge   of  popularity   in   rave   music   and   the  rave  scene.  Another   factor   that   can   actually  influence   the   popularity   of   music  genres   is   religion.   For   example,  Rastafarianism   has   been   a   massive  

credit   to   the   popularity   of   reggae  music.  Bob  Marley  (One  Love,  Three  Little   Birds,   No   Woman   No   Cry)   is  the   first   artist   that   comes   to   mind  when   Rastafarianism   is   mentioned,  because   he   is   responsible   for  spreading   the   religion   and   genre  worldwide.   The   Rastafarian   religion  has  rules  set  in  place  such  as;  you’re  required   to   grow   your   hair   or  dreadlock   and   no   combing   or  shaving,   you’re   not   to   eat   meat   or  flesh   and   you  must   be   positive   and  loving.  The  ‘fruits  of  the  land’  is  their  main   diet   and  marijuana   (known   as  ganja)  is  the  herb  hey  use  for  healing  and   also   to   improve   their  meditation.   It’s   also   a   rule   that   if  anyone   should   be   involved   the  reggae   music   industry   they   must  abide  by  all   the   rules  and   live  up   to  the   standards   set   by   legends   before  them,   meaning   they   are   to   only  perform  positive  and  uplifting  music.    Marcus   Gavey,   who   was   a   black  Jamaican   that   taught   in   the   1920’s,  founded  Rastafarianism.  So   it’s  very  clear   that   the  religion  of  Rastafarianism  is  heavily  involved  in  reggae   music,   especially   as   Bob  Marley   was   a   massive   influence   to  many   people   which   lead   to   many  people   following   the   religion   he  believed  in  as  well  as  his  music,  this  is   why   there   was   a   massive  popularity   for   reggae   music   at   this  time.    

Figure  4  -­‐  Bob  Marley  quote  about  cannabis.  

 There   have   been  many,  many  more  factors,   which   have   influenced  different   genres   of   music   such   as  religion  with  gospel  music  and  even  the  simplest   thing   like   location  with  Californian  surf  music.      Influential  artists  I’ll  now  be  talking  about  just  three  of  the  most  influential  artists  on  music,  Over   the   years   there   have   been  many  various  artists  who  have  made  a  huge  impact  on  music  and  the  way  music  has  been  shaped  to  this  day.    A  big  name  everyone  knows   is  Elvis  Presley.   Maybe   Elvis   didn’t   create  Rock  n  Roll  but  he  certainly  changed  its   style   and   shaped   artists   and  music  of  his  future.  

Before  Elvis  was  around,  white  men  in   music   would   commonly   perform  songs   in   front   of   a   band   in   a   polite  way,  but  as  soon  as  Elvis  came  along  that  all  changed  with  his,  raw  vocals,  striking   outfits   and   the   freedom   of  his   dance   moves,   rock   n   roll   was  changed,  he  sang  in  the  style  of  black  artists  and  black  music  at  the  time  as  he  had  a   love  for  that  style  of  music  as   well   as   blues.   It   was   often   said  that   Elvis   stole   the   style   of   black  music   but   it   didn’t   stop   him,   also  because  he  copied   the  black  style  of  

music  he  was  helping  to  breakdown  problem  of  racism.  Elvis  was  also  the  one  to  bring  heavy  use  of  guitars  into  rock  n  roll  music,  which  soon  became  a  very  big  trend  influencing   the   likes  of;  The  Beatles,  Franz   Ferdinad,   Led   Zepplin,   Simon  Garfunkel,  The  Clash,  Artic  Monkeys,  Paul   Simon,   Cliff   Richard,   Marty  Wilde   and   many   more.   Elvis   has  influenced   so   much   in   terms   of  music  and  influenced  so  many  other  big  artists;  even  today  there  are  still  many  impersonators  around.      

   Another   massively   influential   artist  was  Whitney  Houston.    

Narada   Michael   Walden,   the   author  of   ‘Whitney  Houston;  The  Voice,   the  Music,   the   Inspiration’   described  Whitney   as   ‘a   singer   who   had   a  magic   about   her   in   the   studio   that  gave  him  chills’.  Billboard  senior  Gail  Mitchell   described  her   as   a   ‘singer’s  singer’   because   of   the   emotion   she  had   in   her   voice,   which   could   give  any  song  a  feeling  that  anyone  could  

Figure  5  -­‐  Just  a  small  group  of  Elvis  impersonators  from  around  the  world.  

relate   to.   Whitney   wasn’t   just   an  influence   in  relation   to  music;   she   also  tackled   the  fashion   world,  modeling   and  the   film  industry.  One   of   the  

reasons  Whitney   was  such   an  

inspiration  is  because  when  she  first  started  her  music  career  at  18/19  in  1985,   she   was   probably   one   of   the  first  African-­‐American  women   to   be  so   popular   in   the   R&B   and   pop  charts.   Also   because   of   the  way   her  voice  connected  with  people  through  her   songs,   she   influenced   many  artists   around   today   such   as;  Beyoncé,   Jennifer   Hudson,   Mariah  Carey,   Alicia   Keys,   Celine   Dion,  Ashanti,   Brandy,   Christina   Aguilera  and  even  Lady  Gaga.    Whitney  changed  music  by  being   so  popular;   her   music   videos   were  constantly   shown   on   channels   like  MTV,  which  for  an  African-­‐American  female  at  the  time  was  not  seen  a  lot  until   Whitney   came   along   which  provided   inspiration   and   influence  for  other  artists  to  follow  her  lead.  She  was   the   first   female   to  get   their  debut  album  to  number  1,  selling  14  million   copies.   She   was,   and   still   is,  the   only   artist   ever   to   chart   seven  consecutive   singles   at   number   one.  She   was   again   the   first   female   to  

produce  a  best  selling  single  and  has  been   the   most   awarded   female  artists  of  all  time,  so  you  can  tell  she  had   so   much   success   during   her  career   so   you   can   see  why   she  was  so   influential   at   the   time   and   even  now  still.      Moving   on   from   talking   about   solo  artists,   one   of   the   most   influential  group’s  is  Kraftwerk.    Kraftwerk   are   a   German   synth-­‐pop  group  who  has  influenced  music  and  many   artists   in   a   big   way.   Starting  out   in   1970   they   brought   a   whole  new   sound   to   music,   using   all  electronic   instruments,   mainly  synthesizers   but   also   vocoders,  electronic   drum   kits,   sequencers  amongst  other  things.    Kraftwerk   were   the   first   group   to  popularize   using   electronic  instruments   in   music   and   are   even  described  as  pioneers.  They  were  big  on   experimenting   with   different  sounds  and  equipment  as  they  often  used  self-­‐built  instruments.  The  lyrics  of  their  songs  were  about  post   war   life   and   technology   at   the  time,   lyrics   were   usually   quite  minimal   but   had   a   significant  meaning   of   celebrating   but   also  warning   people   of   the   modern  world.   Kraftwerk   have   inspired  many   big   names   in  music   including  the   likes   of   David   Bowie,   Joy  Division,  New  Order,  Bjork,  Depeche  Mode,  Gary  Numan,  Soft  Cell,  Human  League,   Visage   and   many   more.  Every   single   electronic   artist   after  Kraftwerk   has   been   influenced   by  their  work.  Also,   because   they  were  

seen   as   pioneers   of   the   electronic  music   genre,   they   are   part   of   the  reason   that   house   music,   drum   n  bass   and   hip   hop   all   exist.   They  changed   music   massively   by   using  technology   as   a   massive   part   of  music   and   therefore   bring   about   all  forms   of   electronic   music   about  today.    

Many  artists  such  as  Madonna,  Jay  Z,  Coldplay,   Missy   Elliot   and   Fergie  have  sampled  their  music.    Musical   genres   and   their  characteristics  All   genres   of   music   have   different  characteristics  in  terms  of  the  typical  instrumentation,   tempo   and   rhythm  used   and   it’s   this   that  defines   them.  Moving   back   to   the   rhythm   and  Blues  genre  (in  the  1950’s-­‐1970’s),  it  typically   uses   different   instruments  that   make   it   recognizable   to  everyone.   For   example   typical  instruments   used   in   R&B   were   a  piano,   drums,   guitar/s,   saxophone  and  bass.      The   vocals   were   performed   in   an  emotional  way  but  also  very  relaxed  

and  in  control  as  though  it  had  been  rehearsed   to   effortlessness,   the  lyrics  were  typically  very  meaningful  and   also   written   in   an   ‘AAB’  structure   so   the   first   sentence   was  often   repeated.   Most   lyrics   of   R&B  would  often  tell  a  story  which  would  be   resolved   at   the   end   of   the   song.  The   songs   had   a   strong   backbeat,  from   it’s   gospel   influence,   but   there  was   never   one   instrument   that  was  more   emphasised,   each   simple   but  repetitive  part  from  each  instrument  meshed   well   together   to   create   the  mellow   rhythm   of   R&B.   The   songs  were   often   in   4/4   timing   and   also  used   what   we   now   call   the   ’12   bar  blues’   progression,   if   there   were  lyrics   in   the   song   they   usually  stopped   in   the   last   few  bars  at   least  before   the   11th   bar   before   they  started  again  when  the  next  12  bars  started.    On  the  other  end  of  the  spectrum  to  the   classic,   laid-­‐back   rhythm   and  blues  music  there  is  ‘Screamo  music’  which  is  a  subgenre  of  hardcore  rock  music.   The   characteristics   of   this  genre   are   very   different   in  comparison  to  rhythm  and  blues.    Screamo   started   out   in   the   1990’s  and  is  described  as  an  inharmonious  form  of   emo  music,   the   instruments  used   are   typically   the   same   as   rock  music  so,  drums,  electric  guitar,  bass  guitar  and  vocals  (or  screaming).    A   lot   of   screamo   music   has   a  dynamic  of  soft  to  loud  vocals,  where  

Figure  6  -­‐  Rhythm  and  blues  band  with  instruments  typical  to  the  genre.  

Figure  7  -­‐  Screamo  band,  compared  to  an  R&B  band  it's  a  very  harsh  look  and  sound.  

there  will   be   soft   emotional   singing  but   then   the   contrast   of   aggressive  or   even   distraught   screaming.   The  use   of   electric   guitars   is   often   very  heavy  and  powerful.  Even   though   the   general   sound   of  screamo   is   loud   and   aggressive,   the  lyrics  of  songs  are  often  about  things  such  as  romantic  interest,  emotional  pain,  politics  and  human  rights.  The  tempo  in  screamo  songs  often  shifts,  as  does  the  dynamic.    Music  and  Location  Location   can   have   a   big   affect   on  music,   in   terms   of   how   it’s   made,  lyrically   and   even   where   it’s  performed,  an  example  is  Californian  surf  music   that   I   mentioned   before.  A   lot  of  people  nowadays  do  change  instrumentation  or  style  of  how  they  perform   a   song   live,   in   comparison  to   the   studio   version,   to   excite   and  surprise   the   audience;   they   may  perform   certain   songs   acoustically  so  either  with  an  acoustic  guitar  and  vocals   or   a   piano   and   vocals.   For  example   recently   Taylor   Swift  performed   one   of   her   older   songs  ‘Love   Story’   in   the   style   as   if   she’d  written   it  on  her  most  recent  album  so   added   more   electronic   sounds  and   different   backing   vocals   and  harmonies.    A  lot  of  modern  artists  change  things  around   in   live   performances  nowadays,   this   could   be   seen   as   an  advertisement   technique   to  persuade  people  to  buy  tickets  to  see  them   live   and   see   the   different  versions.  Different  artists  and  genres  of  music  are  performed  in  different  locations,  for   example   a   jazz   artist   would  usually  be  found  in  a  jazz  club  or  bar,  classical  music  is  often  performed  at  venues   like   the   Royal   Albert   Hall  whereas   modern   pop   artists   often  perform   at   stadiums   and   arenas  

where   jazz   or   classical  music  might  seem  out  of  place.      Musical  genres  and  its  followers  A   lot   of   different   genres   gain   a  different   type   of   following   in   terms  of   audience.   A   good   example   of  describing   this   is   BBC  Radio   1,   they  have   various   different   presenters  doing   different   types   of   shows,  usually   specified   to   a   certain   genre  or  group  of   certain  genres  of  music.  For   instance,   Nick   Grimshaw  presents   the   breakfast   show   which  plays   mostly   pop   and   mainstream  music,  Pete  Tong’s  show  plays  dance  music,  Daniel  P  Carter  hosts  the  rock  show,   Charlie   Sloth   is   in   charge   of  the   rap   show   and   there   are   many  other  examples.  All  of  these  different  shows  will  gain  a  different  audience  based  on   the  music  genre.  Radio  1’s  current  demographic  is  an  age  range  of   15-­‐29   year   olds   but   each   show  will  gain  more  of  a  certain  age  range.    Another   example   of   different  audience   types   in   the  more  extreme  

differences   between   the   mods   and  rockers.  The  mods  and  rockers  were  two  different  British  youth  groups  in  the   1960’s.   The   ‘rockers’   were  centered   mainly   around  motorcycling,  which   also   showed   in  their   appearance   as   the   typical  rocker   would   wear   things   like  leather   jackets,   motorcycle   boots,  sometimes   creeper   shoes   and   they  would   wear   their   hair   in   a   certain  pompadour  type  style.  Rockers  were  heavily   into   rock   n   roll   music,   as  their  title  would  suggest.  The  ‘mods’  were   centered  more   on   fashion   and  music,   and   would   ride   scooters.  Contrasting  the  rockers,  mods  would  wear  more  clean  cut  suits  and  other  smarter   outfits   and   listened   to  1960’s   soul   and   rhythm   and   blues  type  music  of  the  time.  

There   were  many   small  

physical  conflicts  

between   the  mods   and  rockers   where  many   people  were   jailed   or  assaulted,   but  it   was   at   one  main   event  

when  the  biggest  conflicts  took  place  

in  Clacton  on  a  weekend  in  1964  and  then   on   the   south   coast   of   England,  where   many   people   from   London  would  travel  to  for  the  bank  holiday  

weekend.    On  the   18th   and  19th  of  May  in  64   thousands  of   mods  travelled   to  

Brighton,  Broadstairs   and  Margate   beaches  

for  the  bank  holiday  but  to  find  that  the   rockers   did   the   same.   It   didn’t  take   long   until   the   fight   broke   out  between   the  mods   and   rockers;   the  worst   fight   was   in   Brighton   where  the   fighting   carried  on   for   two  days  and   even  moved   down   the   coast   to  Hastings   and   back.   So   you   can   see  how   different   audiences   of   music  genres   can   really   produce   a   certain  type   of   following,   even   if   it   is  unintentional.    Moving   onto   more   recent   times  artists   like   Justin   Bieber   and   One  Direction   have   produced   massive  worldwide   followings,   creating  what’s   known   nowadays   as   ‘fan  girls’.   This   refers   to   a   big   following  or  mainly  teenage  girls,  a  lot  who  are  fanatics   and   potentially   obsessed  over   the   artist.   The   first   example   of  fanatics  we  saw  was  for  the  Beatles.  This  fantic  following  starts  as  a  small  following   at   first   but   usualy   when  professionals   in   th   music   industry  know   how   to   market   to   a   certain  audience,   usally   teenage   girls,   the  following   just   keep   getting   bigger  and  it  becomes  obsessive.      

 

Figure  17  -­‐  1964  Mod  vs.  Rockers  Riots.  

Figure  18  -­‐  Beatles  fans  

Figure  20  -­‐  One  Direction  fans  

Cultural  demands  on  musicians  A   lot   of  musicians   work  under   pressure  from   how   well  new   music   will  go  down  with   an  

audience  amongst   other  things.   A   good  example  of  this  is  ‘Rite   of   Spring’  

by   Igor  Stravinsky.   This  

particular   piece   of   music   has   gone  down   in   history;   the   piece   of  music  contained   a   lot   of   new   unheard  things   such   as   different   tonality,  rhythm  and  dissonance.  No  one  had  heard  anything  like  it  before  and  the  first   time   it   was   publically  performed   was   in   1913   in   a   Paris  Theatre.  On  the  opening  night  of  the  ballet   as   ‘Rite   of   Spring’   started   it  was   reported   that   trouble   began   in  its   introduction   and   grew   into   an  uproar,  where  people  were  attacking  each   other   and   then   started  attacking   the   orchestra.   The   science  behind  this  audience  reaction  of  riot  to   the   music   is   that   because   there  were  so  many  elements  to  the  music  that   was   unheard   of   before   that  evening,   their   brain’s   weren’t   used  to   these   sounds   and   rhythm’s   and  didn’t   know   how   to   process   them  which  then  lead  to  the  rioting.  It   was   reported   though   that   it   was  performed   again   one   year   later   and  was   received   very   well   by   the  audience  and  that  they  loved  it.  This  shows,   in   a   extreme  way,   that   there  is   a   lot   of   pressure   for   artists  because   of   resistance   from   the  audience  on  new  pieces  of  music  but  in   the   end   it   can  be   a   good   thing   as  Rite  of  Spring’  in  the  end  was  and  is  a   piece   of   musical   history.   It   was  

even  performed  at  the  BBC  Proms  in  2013,  100  year  after  it’s  debut.  Social   environment   can   affect  production   of   music   for   artists   in  quite  a  big  way.  For  example,  Sting  is  an   activist   and   is   very   involved   in  human   rights   and   environmental  issues,   and   because   of   that   a   lot   of  the  music  he  produced  would  reflect  his  passion  of  that  in  it.  Another   example   of   social  environment   taking   effect   is   if   an  artist   is   trying   to   make   it   but   is  struggling   with   employment   or   no  money  they  can  be   inclined  to  write  about   the   struggle   which   a   lot   of  artists   have  done,  whereas   an   artist  who   has   already   ‘made   it’   with  unlimited  studio  time  maybe  doesn’t  have   enough   to   write   about   and  could   be   producing   very   generic  music.   It  doesn’t  always  happen  like  that  but  sometimes  it  does  so  in  this  way  quality  of  music  can  be  affected  by  social  environment.    

Political  legislation  and  music  Political   legislation   can   affect  music  in   some   ways.   An   example   being  censorship,   which   has   lead   to   some  artists   even   being   banned   from  making  music  like  Thomas  Mapfumo  who   is   a   musician   from   Zimbabwe.  Because  of  the  laws  in  Zimbabwe  he  was   banned   from  making  music,   he  later   moved   to   the   US   to   carry   on  

Figure  21  -­‐  Cover  of  the  piano  music  of  'Rite  of  Spring'  

Figure  22  -­‐  Struggling  artists  busking  on  the  streets  for  money.  

making   his  music   but   it   had   had   an  affect   on   him.     Even   though   the   US  censors   music   to   a   standard   some  developing   countries   are   very   strict  on   their   censorship   laws   because  they   fear   that   people   will   take   too  much  influence  from  what  they  hear.  Another   good   example   of   how  politics  have  affected  music   is  when  Paul   Simon   recorded   his   album  Graceland.  In  South  Africa  during  the  apartheid,  the  rest  of  the  world  were  trying   to   boycott   South   Africa   until  they   topped   segregating   their  country   and   everyone   were   given  equal  rights.  Despite  this,  Paul  Simon  visited   South   Africa   anyway   to  create   his   album   ‘Graceland’.   There  was   a   lot   of   controversy   over   Paul  Simon  being   in  South  Africa  and  his  making  of  the  album  because  he  was  accused   of   breaking   the   boycott.  Although   he   was   being   accused   by  many   people   of   this,   he   was   also  praised  by  a   few  for   introducing  the  South   African   style   of   music   to   the  rest   of   the   world   and   even   giving  south   African   artists   their   own  worldwide   audiences.   ‘Graceland’  was  heavily  inspired  by  the  events  of  apartheid   and   the   politics   going   on  at  the  time,  so  this  is  a  great  example  of  how  political   legislation   can  have  a   big   effect   on   the   production   of  music.  

       

How  technology  has  affected  music  Technology   has   also   had   a   massive  effect   on   music   over   the   years   in   a  lot   of   different   ways.   For   example  simple   things   like,   the   microphone,  electric   guitar   and   amps   to   things  more   modern   such   as   digital   audio  workstations,   multitrack   recording  and   loop   stations.   Every   piece   of  technology   used   within   music   has  progressed   the   production   and  performance  of  music  greatly.  Looking   in   more   detail   over   the  years   so   much   has   changed   to   be  where   we   are   with   music   at   this  point  in  time.      In   1876   an  American  engineer,  Elisha   Gray,  invented   the  first  electrical  synthesizer   called   the   musical  telegraph.   This   synthesizer   used  steel   reeds  with   oscillations   created  by  electromagnets  over  a  telegraphy  line,   and   it   could   play   up   to   two  octaves.     The   synthesizer   was   an  accidental   discovery   but   turned   out  to   be   a   part   of   music   history.   This  invention   advanced   music   very  much  as  without   this  over  the  years  people  would  not  have  been  able   to  build   and   improve   the   design   into  the   many   common   synthesizers   we  have   today.   They   are   widely   used  throughout  most  music,  especially  in  the  pop  genre.    Back   in   1877   was  when   the   first  recording  of   a  voice  took   place,   when  Thomas   Edison  managed   to   record  ‘Mary   Had   A   Little  Lamb’   on   the   first  ever  phonograph.    

Figure  23  -­‐  Thomas  Edison  with  his  second  phonograph.  

Phonograph  cylinders  were   the   first  ever   piece   of   equipment   to   record  and   then   reproduce   sound.   Their  greatest   years   of   popularity   were  between  1896  and  1915.  They  were  hollow   cylinders   that   had   an  engraving   of   an   audio   recording   on  the   outside,   which   then   could   be  reproduced   by   playing   it   on   a  mechanical  cylinder  phonograph.  A   little   while   after  the   phonograph  was   invented,   in  1888   the  gramophone   was  invented,   which  used   discs,   instead  of   cylinders,   that  could   hold   up   to   2  minutes   of   recorded   sound.   They  were   commonly   referred   to   as  ‘records’.    In   1931   the   first  electric   guitar   was  invented   by  George  Beauchamp,   it  was  called   the  Rickenbacker,   or  more   commonly  known   as   ‘The  Frying   Pan’.   It   had  a   flat   circle   body  and   a   neck.   It   was  invented  mostly   to  contribute  to  very  popular  Hawaiian  music   but   also   because   a   lot   of  classical   guitar   players   needed   a  louder   sound   from   the   instrument  when   playing   along   with   other  instruments.    This   invention   has   had   a   lot   of  impact   on   music   as   the   electric  guitar   has   vastly   advanced   over   the  years   and   nowadays   is   a   very  common   instrument   for   musicians,  some   would   say   it   is   a   necessity,  

today  you  will  hear  an  electric  guitar  in  most  genres  of  music.    In   the  1980’s   the   jukebox  started   to  gain   popularity,   due   partly   to   their  popularity   at   fairgrounds,   which  kept   the   Columbia   graphophone  company   afloat   in   the   failing  economy  at  the  time  and  left  it  to  be  the   only   graphophone   leasing  company  to  make  profit.  

 Movin

g  into  the  1900’s  now,  this  was  when  the   record   industry   really   took   off  and   started   its   peak;   over   3  million  records  were  being  sold  per  year  by  1900.  Because   of   the   popularity   of   disc  records   the   cylinder   phonograph  lost   its   popularity   because   of   its  bulkier   size   as   it   would   not   fit  suitably  in  a  home,  but   in   1906   a  slightly   different  adaptation   of   the  phonograph   was  made   which   was  designed  specifically   to   fit  into   a   home,   in   a  cabinet  type  set  up  where   the   horn  was   concealed.  This   new  adaptation   was  very   popular  during  its  time.    

Figure  24-­‐  A  Gramophone.  

Figure  25  -­‐  A  1980's  Jukebox.  

Figure  26  -­‐  The  1906  phonograph  adaptation.  

In   the   1920’s   radios   began   to   be  mass-­‐produced   in   America,   because  of   the   record   sales   fell   but   The  Western   Electric   Company’s  response   to   that   was   to   make   disc  record   recordings   a   better   sound  quality   in  hopes   to   increase   records  sales.    So  an  electronically  amplified  electromagnetic   disc   cutter   was  developed,  which  got  a  very  positive  response  to  it.  During  the  1930’s  record  companies  began   to  produce  what  we  know  as  vinyl’s,   tapes   also   started   to   be  developed   but   were   not   very  popular   at   first.   FM   radio   also  started   around   this   time,  which  had  a  much  better  quality  then  AM  Radio  with   less   static.   People   of   the   RCA  were   first   against   the   idea   of   FM  radio,  but  in  later  years  this  changed.  Vinyl   later  becomes  the  item  chosen   by   most  to   listen   to  music  in   the   early  1940’s  and  in  the  late   1940’s  there   was  competition   of  vinyl   speeds   with   the   release   of   12  inch  and  then  later  the  7  inch  record.  Without   the   creation   of   the   vinyl  record  there  would  be  no  such  thing  as   ‘scratching’   which   is   a   common  DJ’ing   technique   even   nowadays  we’ve   incorporated   the   vinyl  scratching   feature   into   electronic  decks.   There  would   also   be   no   such  thing  as  hip-­‐hop  because  it  was  born  out   of   DJ’ing   with   vinyls   on  turntables.  In   1964   we   see   a   return   of   the  cassette   tape   as   it   starts   to   gain  popularity,  as  the  first  portable  tape  recorders   were   invented   and   then  Phillips  introduced  a  30  minute  tape  format   for   audio,   also   being   a   very  cheap  buy.  

The   government  were   against   tapes  for  a  while  as  people  would  use  them  

to  tape  albums  and  radio   broadcasts  but   a   tax   was   put  onto  blank  tapes  to  make   up   for   lost  money.  During   the   70’s  cassette   tapes  

popularit

y   peaked   from   the   release   of   the  Sony  Walkman   in   1979,   as   it   had   a  good   sound   quality   and   was   very  easily  portable.  A   while   later   in   the   80’s   was   when  CD’s   were   first   developed   and  started   being   produced   overtaking  the   number   of   sales   vinyl   LP’s.   This  is   when   vinyl’s   started   to   quickly  lose   popularity   to   the   rise   of   CD’s.    Just   after   3   years   of   the   CD’s   first  arrival   1   million   CD  players   has   been  sold.  In  1990  was  the  first  time   mp3   players  came   into   play,   and  just   5   years   later  Internet   audio  streaming  began  and  despite  the  bad  audio   quality   it   became   very  popular.  A   couple   of   years   later   in  1997  was  the   first   attempt  of   selling  music  on  the   internet   with   the   Duran   Duran  album.  In  1999  ‘Napster’  debuted  as  a   file-­‐sharing   network,   usually   of  mp3   files,   but   later   got   shut   down  because   of  copyright   laws.  And  then  in  2003  was   the   first  release  of  iTunes.    From   this   brief  timeline   it’s   easy  to   see   just   how  

Figure  27  -­‐  A  1940's  vinyl  record.  

Figure  28  -­‐  A  1979  Sony  Walkman.  

Figure  29  -­‐  Napster  logo.  

Figure  30  -­‐  First  iTunes  logo.  

much   technology   has   progressed  through   time   to   get   to   the   facilities  and   equipment   we   have   today,   and  this  is  only  the  history  of  technology  for   the   medium   of   recording   and  listening   to   music.   Not   to   mention  things   like   electric   guitars,   amps,  microphone   etc.   and   all   the   small  pieces   of   technology   we   don’t   even  think  about  like  XLR  cables  and  even  MIDI.   One   of   the   more   recent  technological  advances  that  has  been  the  most   important  has  been  Digital  Audio   Workstations   (DAW’s)   which  allow   anybody   to   have   a   piece   of  software  which  allows  you  to  record  and   edit  music   from   anywhere   to   a  professional   recording   studio   to  your   bedroom   (programmes   like  Logic,   Cubase,   Pro   Tools   and   many  others).   Every   single   piece   of  technology  we  use   in  music  today  is  so   important   and   have   each  contributed   to   the   history   of   music  in  itself.    

   

 The   digital   revolution   has   affected  the   music   industry   in   a   big   way,  because   so   much   happens   online  now  in  terms  of  releasing,  streaming,  buying   etc.   At   first   there   was   a  problem   with   illegally   downloading  music   that’s   caused   the   industry   to  suffer,  YouTube  has  given  people  the  ability   to   watch   and   listen   to  anyone’s   music   without   having   to  pay   for   an   album   or   watching   a  music  channel  on  TV.  

The   making   of   streaming   services  such  as   spotify,  deezer  and  Pandora  make   it   able   for   anyone   with   and  Internet   connection  to   listen   to   any  music   from  anywhere.   Because  of   these   streaming  services   and   how  popular   they   have   become   millions  of   people   all   over   the   world   use  them.   For   the   industry   this   means  artists   often   have   to   work   a   lot  harder   with   touring   ect   to   make  money.   Big   record   labels   are   still  making   the   most   money   off   this  though  as  they  are   licensing  content  to  the  streaming  sites,  in  a  way  they  may   as   well   be   part   owners   of  streaming  sites.  Copyright   is   also   a   big   problem  because   it   is   virtually   impossible   to  enforce   the   copyright   law   as   there  are   so   many   different   international  laws  and  international  platforms  for  music.  As  a  result  of  this  artists   lose  money  but  in  a  away  make  up  for  the  loss   by   using   the   international  platforms   through   people   sharing  content,  as  a  free  way  to  advertise  in  hopes   that   people   will   want   to   but  merchandise,   gig   tickets   or   music  ect.    Mentioned   before,   DAW’s   and   the  Internet   provide   anyone   to   be   able  to  record,  produce,  upload  and  even  promote   their   music   without   any  professional   help   of   the   industry;  this   in   itself   causes   the   industry   to  suffer.   Some   people   even   have   the  ability   to  be  able   to  make   their  own  music   videos   for   their   material   and  post  it  on  YouTube.    Thing   like   these   are   much   easier  and  affordable  to  do  in  todays  age,  as  well   as   even   hiring   out   a   recording  

Figure  8  -­‐  Logic  logo.  

studio  for  a  number  of  hours  or  days.  The  impact  of  Internet  on  music  has  been  very  big  and  ultimately  people  like  it  a  lot  as  it  gives  both  the  artist  and   listener   more   control   and  power,  which  is  a  huge  advantage  to  the   artist   ad   listener  but   for   the  big  companies   in   the   music   industry   it  has  become  a  disadvantage.    Most  of  this  sounds  like  a  good  thing  as   by   making   music   at   home   and  doing   everything   yourself   entirely  gives   you   all   the   control   but   it   can  have  disadvantages,  for  example  just  to   start   off   with,   money.   If   you’re  making   music   yourself   you   are  limiting   yourself   with   how   much  money   you   have   and   can   spend,  which  is  why  people’s  main  goal  is  to  get   signed   to   have   funds   behind  them   to  back  what   they  want   to  do,  but   if   you’re  doing   it   yourself   it   can  be   hard.   Another   thing   to   keep   in  mind  is  that  you  may  have  made  the  music  but  at  the  end  of  the  day  after  all   the   hard   work,   the   people   who  you  want  to  notice  it  probably  aren’t,  or   it   will   take   a   long   time   as   it’s  mainly   down   to   chance   of   how  well  you   promote   it   and  who  will   see   it.  Whereas   with   being   signed,   people  in   that   industry  will  most   definitely  have   contacts   and   will   attract  someone’s   attention,   so   ultimately  its   a   quicker   process   and   will  definitely  have  some  form  of  results.  There   are   pros   and   cons   of   being  independent   and   working   with   a  record   label   but   obviously   it’s   not  easy   to   get   signed   in   today’s  industry.    Vinyl’s  have  made  a  significant  come  back   in   record   sales,   all   starting  supposedly   from   ‘Record   Store  Day’  which  first  came  about  in  2008  there  were   10   releases   on   the   day   and   it  was   reported   that   there   had   never  

been   so   much   excitement   around  vinyl’s  in  so  long.  

 

After   that   day   there   was   a   90%  increase   in   vinyl   sales   for   the   year,  and  the  next   ‘Record  Store  Day’  saw  100  releases.  This  was  when  the  real  resurge   cam   into  play,   record   labels  saw   the   potential   of   vinyl   sales   and  started   to   produce   a   couple   of  thousand   copies   of   a   vinyl   with  confidence   that   they   would   sell.   In  recent   years   there   have   been  millions  of  vinyl  sales.  With  the  vinyl  come   back,   it   hasn’t   surpassed   any  other  medium  of  music,  CD’s  are  still  selling  as  well  as  digital  copies,  a  lot  of   music   fans   will   buy   multiple  copies  of  music  in  different  formats.    There   are   a   lot   of   people   who   do  prefer   CD’s   and   vinyl   to   digital  copies  just  for  the  nostalgia  and  also  because  it’s  a  physical  thing,  actually  holding  the  music,  as  much  as  digital  copies   and   online   purchasing   is  more   convenient   and   takes   up   less  physical   space.   People   do   just   like  the   feeling  of  holding   the  music  and  the  physical  feeling  of  it.  The   biggest   percentage   of   people  buying   vinyl’s   nowadays   is   actually  younger  people  in  the  age  range  18-­‐25  as  to  them  it  is  mainly  something  new,   vintage   and   more   interesting  that   a   CD   on   digital   file,   it’s   almost  like   vinyl   has   created   a   new  generation  of  music  fans.            

Globalization  Globalization   is   the   interaction   and  fusion   of   international   people,  companies  and  governments,  driven  by   the   need   of   growth   and   trade   of  economies  between  nations.  Globalization   has   influenced   music  massively,   it   has   helped   to   create  more   music   because   it   has   enabled  us   to   have   access   to   music  worldwide   meaning   we   can   access  any   style   of   music   from   pop   charts  worldwide  or  South  African  styles  of  music  etc.  This  can  help  create  music  by  giving  someone  inspiration  to  use  various   characteristics   of   different  styles   of   music   in   their   own   work  therefore   integrating   international  styles   of   music.   An   example   of   this  could  be   someone  writing   a   song   in  the   UK   and   then   going   online   to  browse   different   styles   of   music  coming   across   South   African   music  and   taking   influence   from   a   drum  beat/tone  and  using  it  in  their  song.  This   also   means   that   people   can  collaborate   worldwide,   as   with  todays   technology   a   file   can  be   sent  across   the   globe   very   quickly   so  someone   could   send   a   file   from   the  UK   to   Australia   for   someone   to  collaborate   in   the   recording   or  mixing   process   then   just   send   it  back.   This   eliminates   the  inconvenience   it   might   cause   if  someone   had   to   travel   to   and   from  Australia,  instead  it  can  be  done  with  both   ends   in   the   comfort   of   their  own  home/workplace.    The  act  of   globalization  has  enabled  us   to  do   so  much,  with  a   lot  of   ease  that   we   don’t   even   think   about   it  because   it   has   become   the   norm.  Whereas   years   ago   before   we   had  the   internet   and   a   means   of  interacting   with   people   worldwide  so   easily,   there   may   have   been  restrictions   or   a   close-­‐minded  approach   to   the   way   music   was  

recorded,   mixed   and   advertised  because   no   one   could   interact   with  people   worldwide   to   be   influenced  by  new  ideas  and  techniques.    I   think   globalization   has   had   a  massive  positive  impact  on  music  for  enabling   us   so   much   access   to   the  world.   It   can   also   be  disadvantageous  as  explained  before  because  of  sharing  things  worldwide  and   so  many   different   international  laws   it   can   be   hard   to   enforce  copyright   laws   and   can   be   hard   to  make  money  of  music  but  I  think  the  good  outweighs   the  bad  as   so  much  music   can  be   shared  and  advertised  internationally   which   I   think   also  leads  to  more  artists  touring  in  more  countries   which   wouldn’t   have  happened   with   the   act   of  globalization  and  social  media.  

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