5.1.2
The Music Industry
Production and Distribution
Production and Distribution
The music industry is dominated by the big 3 companies that own lots of the music industry. Music Videos can be distributed on multiple platforms.
Record labels
Record labels
- Sony, Universal and Warner Music Group make up almost 80% of the music industry.
- Record labels dictate the budget of music videos, the image of the brand and the types of songs the artists are allowed to release.
Independent labels
Independent labels
- Because the music industry is so saturated by conglomerate ownership, independent music companies struggle to get their music distributed to a large audience.
- Independent companies are less likely to be financially driven and so often sign more niche artists.
MTV
MTV
- MTV was the first music channel and it revolutionised music videos in terms of elevating their importance and cementing the need for them as part of a marketing technique for the song.
Other distribution sites
Other distribution sites
- Music videos can also be distributed via YouTube and Vimeo, as well as being available on Apple music which now has a subcategory for music videos.
Social media
Social media
- Music videos can be shared on social media sites, and can help with viral marketing for the artist.
- Often artists will ‘tease’ the release of the music video, or countdown to the release of the video on their social media pages.
Consumption and Technology
Consumption and Technology
New technology has changed the way music is consumed. There is a stark rise of streaming sites and a clear decline in CD sales, meaning the music industry is having to adjust in order to survive financially.
Piracy
Piracy
- The ability to pirate music has been an issue that has long threatened the industry.
- Sites like Napster allowed users to upload music and share for free, leading directly to a decline in music purchase.
- iTunes didn’t launch until 2003, meaning until that point music could not be bought to be streamed, so users often streamed music for free from sites like Napster or MySpace.
Streaming
Streaming
- Since this period, streaming services such as Spotify and Tidal have captured large sections of the market.
- They offer a streaming service of music for a monthly subscription.
Music charts
Music charts
- The ability to download and stream music has changed the way music charts are constructed.
- In 2004 music downloads were introduced to the charts and in 2014 streaming was added to the chart.
- Currently 150 streams equates to 1 sale of the song.
Benefits and disadvantages
Benefits and disadvantages
- The change in music consumption of different audiences has meant that unsigned artists are able to distribute their music without a label.
- However making money from music has got much harder.
1Overview
1.1Media Language
1.3Representation
2Component 1: Section A
2.1Magazines
2.3Advertising & Marketing
2.4Print Advertisements
2.5Film Posters (Marketing)
2.6Newspapers
2.8The Guardian
3Component 1: Section B
3.1Video Games
3.3Radio
3.4No Time To Die
4Component 2: Section A
4.1Television
4.2Sitcom
5Component 2: Section B
5.1Music Video
5.2Michael Jackson
5.3Taylor Swift
Jump to other topics
1Overview
1.1Media Language
1.3Representation
2Component 1: Section A
2.1Magazines
2.3Advertising & Marketing
2.4Print Advertisements
2.5Film Posters (Marketing)
2.6Newspapers
2.8The Guardian
3Component 1: Section B
3.1Video Games
3.3Radio
3.4No Time To Die
4Component 2: Section A
4.1Television
4.2Sitcom
5Component 2: Section B
5.1Music Video
5.2Michael Jackson
5.3Taylor Swift
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