Production, Distribution and Consumption

Production:

· Wider media affecting source of music e.g. ringtones, video games.

· More competition due to variety of approaches available.

· Don’t need funding.

· Changes in popular genre.

· Record labels- doesn’t need one – D17 approach.

· New technology - new genre and music scenes including niche markets.

· Charts no longer required, or have to change to reflect listening trends.

· No musical talent needed – quality of music could be reduced.

Distribution:

• · Industry forced to think wider distribution methods e.g. games, live music, apps.
• · Physical sales (CDs, tapes, records) becoming rarity/in decline.
• · Hire of music now common practices e.g. spotify.
• · Possible growth of music industry due to promotion, instead of distribution.
• · Music is now seen as ‘free’.
• · Internet is now primary source of music (web 2.0)
• · Main problem: difficult to regulate distribution.
• · Downloads can be illegal because of unregulated Internet access.
• · Illegal downloads are seen to cost industry money because people are not paying money (however can be used as promo techniques)
• · Ownership of music is ‘virtual’

Consumption:

• Music now experienced through multi-media approaches e.g. music videos, guitar hero games.
• · User trend: downloads. Record companies have to evolve to find ways of still making money.
• · Physical format becomes obsolete or can become rare and niche.
• · Bands also have to change their approaches to distribution.
• · Technology changes means access to music is different e.g. use of iPods, iPhones. Therefore music industry has to keep with these changes e.g. releasing tracks through apps and games.