Music Industry and the Internet Essay

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Total Length: 3319 words ( 11 double-spaced pages)

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Music and the Internet

in order to accommodate these specifications in the number of pages requested (though the paper is 9 1/2 pages as it stands), the paper has utilized ANALYSIS in the article and the discussion section, thereby combining article summary with analysis of sources and thus putting the second point given by the professor "Then write a separate discussion the issue as a whole…" into a proper context

-however, as this paper is a model, it CANNOT be utilized as your own, so please consult the terms and conditions above for proper citation methods

Music and the Internet:

A Shift in Tradition; A Shift to Technology

Many advances in technology have changed the current living population's life, especially in developed countries. These include better food, better medicine, and better connectivity with the rest of the world. Yet perhaps one of the most important things, especially in these Westernized countries, has been the improvement of finding and enjoying entertainment in a variety of mediums, at a higher quality. Film, for example, is not only in color but also in HD (high definition). Cooking shows show simmering pots, for instance, that televisions now render so vivid, one can almost smell the aromas as well. Yet music, another form of entertainment, has perhaps experienced the most transcending change. Whereas only a few decades ago music could only be listened to in the home, on huge record players, one can now have music readily available, literally at one's fingertips, and can download and listen to a song in a matter of seconds. Yes, technology has changed the way people listen to music traditionally, but has also improved the experience, and one of the most important ways in which this has happened has been placing music on the internet, available for all for a small fee (i.e. iTunes $.99 price-wise). Thus, this paper will examine this important topic, music and the internet, and will demonstrate how this has come to fruition, through a variety of analysis found in articles, as well as will discuss the impact of this change upon generations to come in a variety of explanations in the discussion section.

Article Section

There have been many articles written on the music industry and its evolution throughout the past decades with the advent of technology, in both positive and negative light. Though this paper does not take a side and aims to present the information objectively, it is important to mention that some think that internet is good for music, as it is utilized to promote artists much better, and thus they are recognized much quicker and profits come in much more quickly as well. However, those that see music on the internet in a negative light state that the internet allows for music piracy, as there are many sites that promote illegal downloads. This was, at one time, the problem with Napster. Piracy can still not be fully controlled especially in the digital music industry, and remains a problem with legal ramifications. However, the collection of articles below aims to give readers a better idea of the kinds of things that are written about music in the digital age, from a variety of viewpoints, in chronological order for the past year.

1. This first article is found on a music research site, FGI Research, and explains how music has evolved and what devices are now used to listen to music, as well as what this has to do with the present topic, music and the internet. The article, titled "Has the Internet Changed how We Listen to Music?" describes the following:

There is data to suggest that people who listen to music through electronic devices and online devices listen to more music and for longer periods of time;

However, there was also data pointing to older devices, such as radio and CDs, which people still utilize to listen to music;

In order to see whether internet truly has changed how one listens to music, FGI performed further research and found that many more people listen to digital sources of music than radio or CDs, and that these people own more music as well and can listen to music up to 13 hours per week, thereby leading the internet as the provider of music for many people without a doubt;

The article further mentions another statistic; namely, that out of those who utilize digital sources for music, few spend more than $100/month on music, whereas those listeners who utilize traditional sources, especially CDs, can attain this mark much more quickly;

The article concludes with a mention that most music listeners today do utilize music and the internet whether purchasing or listening, and this is a huge change from decades past.[footnoteRef:1] [1: All points from: FGI Research.

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2011. Has the Internet Changed How we Listen to Music? [online]. Available at: [Accessed 1 December 2011]. ]

2. The second article comes from Music Week, and is entitled "Going Digital." This article, much as the first one, describes the positives and negatives of music and the internet, in the digital age. The article touches upon the following points:

How Bill Roedy, the former chairman of MTV, allowed the business to "go digital" while also maintaining a TV presence of the network;

The need to recognize the link between music and the internet, especially with the constant development of technology, and the need to expand while also keeping the business thriving in its original locations, one issue for which the internet has been absolutely necessary, and one which has promoted interconnectedness and better communication within the company;

How music and the internet have become virtually interchangeable and how MTV has taken advantage of this technology from the former CEO's point-of-view.[footnoteRef:2] [2: All points from: Music Week. 2011. MASTERCLASS: Bill Roedy: Going Digital [online]. Available at: [Accessed 1 December 2011].]

3. The third article is titled "How the internet has all but destroyed the market for films, music and newspapers," which is a bit more of a negative light than the previous two, and comes from The Guardian website. The article comments upon various points, including:

The loss of jobs and profit in some of the most central music companies, such as EMI, the home of Pink Floyd and The Beatles;

The fact that, according to the article, the "public hasn't lost its appetite for television, journalism or film; shows, articles and movies reach more consumers than ever online. The problem is that, although the internet has expanded the audience for media, it has all but destroyed the market for it,"[footnoteRef:3] all of which is also true for music, as this article aims to hint to the fact that many shows and many songs, for that matter, can be downloaded illegally; [3: Quotation from: Robert Levine, 2011. How the internet has all but destroyed the market for films, music and newspapers [online]. The Guardian. Available at: [Accessed 1 December 2011].]

The necessity to cut down music costs for websites such as Apple who make their products more profitable, but which in turn can make the music industry lose profits due to digitalization and the internet and can, subsequently, for this same reasons of internet utilization, also promote piracy, which is a serious problem now, as opposed to somewhat of a threat in the past.

4. In the fourth article, which comes from Reuters, the author examines "The Supreme Court's rejection of the Internet music download case." This article states:

The Supreme Court refused to review a ruling that stated that a downloaded piece of music does not constitute a performance by the artist;

Artists had argued that this ruling, if continued to go unrevised, can keep costing them hundreds of thousands, potentially millions in royalties yearly;

The artists "lost" with the Supreme Court's standing decision that "Music [downloaded from the internet] is neither recited, rendered, nor played when a recording (electronic or otherwise) is simply delivered to a potential listener," which shows just how much of an impact this medium can have on this industry.[footnoteRef:4] [4: All points taken from: James Vicini, 2011. Supreme Court rejects Internet music download case [online]. Reuters. Available at: < http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/04/us-internet-downloads-idUSTRE7923AM20111004 >. [Accessed 1 December 2011].]

5. In the fifth article, coming from The UK Telegraph, the issue of the iPod and music is analyzed. Here, the article speaks about just how much Apple, with it iPod has changed the music industry, and how it has truly revolutionized it. The article recognizes also that not only is music and the internet a vitality to our life today, but also that Apple has had a great impact upon this reality through its iPod. The article further states, "The iPod was not the first MP3 player but it was the first to get the technology so right it became a mass-market product. Rival machines were bigger and heavier or stored less music, took longer to transfer songs or had poor battery life. The iPod could store 1,000 songs, had a 10-hour battery….....

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