Week 11~Does The Music Industry Create The Market?

There is a fine line between the music industry and the consumer as to who really creates the market we listen to, obviously if we didn’t have the industry we wouldn’t have anyone to create the market as there would be no music anyway but if they didn’t have the consumer then there would be no point in having music in the first place. The two separate components need each other to work. Out of the two however I believe that the consumers create the market more than the music industry, if the consumer doesn’t like the product, the industry will get rid of it. When boy bands first arrived one part of the music industry would have been producing it but when they discovered how much of a hit it was, more parts of the industry got involved creating this market of competition but as consumers begin to grown bored with boy bands, the market withdraws again proving that its predominantly the consumer that does help create the market in the first place.

Week 10~ Write a review of "Uncut". Who is it aimed at? What is the magazine?

Uncut is a music magazine aimed at people from an older generation than the traditional consumers of the music periodical, an association that has been formed that the modern generation read other journals while “Uncut” is for a older and higher social status individual. This is exemplified by its use of intelligent language and references to the past including bibliographies of famous artists. Every edition also contains a review of the most recent releases of albums and singles in alphabetical order for the consumers’ convenience including re-releases of classic material. This convenience for the reader is essential if the magazine wishes to keep its target audience happy with what they are purchasing and continue to acquisition it in the future. One of the biggest issues with the magazine however is the overzealous use of pretentious language to try and prove that they are smarter than most magazines, it is not needed.

Week 9~Are Blackness and Whiteness useful concepts in the study of popular music?

Every piece of music has an origin; the music however may be a completely different format to what it originally was perceived as i.e. When people think about rock music the most commonly associated artist is Elvis Presley or Buddy Holly, the truth however is that, as discussed in earlier blogs, rock was actually associated with black artists before this. Does this now mean that rock is a form of black music or do we stick to our own experiences? This is why using blackness and whiteness as concepts for music doesn’t work as these stereotypes are being changed constantly. Eminem has sold the most rap records ever yet he is a white artist in an apparent black music scene, there will always be people who will defy these apparent associations, which is good as it stops racism in music. Anyone can play a music genre they want without being judged which is want the music industry needs.