Affect of Technology in Music Industry free essay sample

The music Industry has come a long way since those dreadful days of the mono recordings. Back then. Artists, producers, and engineers didnt have as much of a choice of what equipment that would use to get their recordings done. With the advancement in technology and new innovations constantly being created in the music industry, the opportunities are endless. If you look up the definition of technology you will see the words Industry and commerce, which to me Just means growth and development. Technology has and will continue to influence growth and development in the music industry. With the growth of technology, the technical end of producing and engineering has become somewhat a quicker task. For example, the Introduction of system real time messages synchronized drum machines, sequences and other rhythmic devices. System real time messages are dropped into the data stream as required, and have priority over other messages in order to mainstream synchronization at all times. In other advances in technology has allowed these devices to operate with timing clocks so everything does not have to be done completely be hand anymore. As music production and recording systems become more complex and sophisticated, the deed for intuitive, easy to use controls over then became essential if they are to be used effectively. Technology has made music systems become more and more sophisticated, so the tasks involved in the successful control of these systems has become increasingly complex. Technology has also brought about a new language to go with the systems we use in the industry today. So even if you have knowledge in some of the systems but can not comprehend the language, youre only half way there.Technology has not only brought about new systems on which we make music but a whole language to go with it. There is enough terminology that goes with the applications to fill a small dictionary. In general, a common language is needed if all aspects of audio production are to be understood at all. These Innovations are like the deference between telling time with a digital and analog watch-4 When speaking about technology and its influence on the music industry, there is more than just the artistry aspect of it. Theres the business aspect which influences how you can sell the music or the ways people can obtain the music.For example, technology has made It possible to sell music over the Internet. Who would have ever Hough that a consumer could purchase their favorite single right from the comfort of their own home? With new innovations like tunes and anapest, you can download songs from any computer that has internet access. Not to mention The ring tone trends that are going on, Platinum artist are also selling 1,000,000 ring tones off Just one song in some situations. Todays music industry is powered by sophisticated technology. Not only do we have the radio stations, but now we also have satellite radio.Its called XML radio. XML radio has an pod Like recording functionality but it is pretty limited. Yes It can store p to 50 hours of music, but the service Is subscription based. If you end your subscription, your music disappears. These songs are stored in a proprietary format, 1 OFF XML radio because it has a record feature. 5 Technology is changing the way people acquire there favorite songs. In other words CD sells are down these days, but that doesnt mean people arent still buying the music. Technology has made it possible to download your music.At first, downloads were available for free and some sites still are. Still in all, sales for digital downloads are expected to expand significantly over the next years. They are expected to expand from 22 million in 2001 to 1. 6 billion in 2006. Most online music sales will come from subscription services which are expected to increase from 56 million in 2001 to 2. 3 billion in 2006. (New media music, 2001)6 As technology keeps developing the times are changing. Everyone use to go buy there favorite CD and play it in their walkway.Now everyone downloads there favorite songs onto their MPH player and play what may seem like endless hours of the songs of their choice. MPH technology has played a key role in radically changing the music industry and has become somewhat the standard amongst online fans. Global music sales are currently around 37 billion in the US. However, there are indications that physical music sales- mainly compact discs, cassettes and vinyl have reached a state of saturation. 6 Thats not to say the market is saturated because by all means its not. Most music is currently being distributed by means of compact discs.For example, the National Association of Recording Merchandisers (1999) reported that 91 percent of all revenues received by music retailers derive from sales of Cads. 6 One thing that is attracting consumers to download is the fact that the laity of the songs does not deteriorate during the download process. The development of digital music has changed the music industry to the point that downloading has made its way to the center of the music industry. New innovations like the MPH have put music in the reach of those with computers. The MPH allows the transfer of close to CD quality sound music files over the internet.MPH was developed by the Motions Pictures Expert Group(MPEG) of the International Standards Organization (SO). The MPH wasnt even developed even developed for musical purposes. It was actually developed for the development of he interactive television industry. 6 But regardless of why the MPH was created, the technology it has shown has been a major influence on how and why the music industry is changing. We already know there has been a great change over the last few years, the question is do these changes make for a better or worse music industry.MPH has somehow become the standard of obtaining music among internet surfing fans. 5 1 personally think these new innovations have made for a better music industry. I am an artist and as an artist it is my Job to please my fan base. So therefore, it is the artists Job to cater to the consumers. The primary focus of online music is Just one particular song instead of a whole album. In previous years the music industry forced consumers to buy whole albums when they may have actually only wanted a few songs off those albums. With these new innovations consumers can pick and chose the songs that most appeal to their liking.New advances in technology have allowed consumers the potential delivery of music to multiple points, such as to a car, different rooms in a home, or to a mobile telephone. 6 The Pew Internet American Life Project estimates that 56 percent of 30 million) have internet access (Rainier bad Packed, 2001). One estimate puts copyright infringement of music on the Internet in excess of $10 billion (Mage,2000). 5 These days the music industry is starting to get very concerned about the detrimental impact on revenues that this ostensible copyright infringement The capability to create an unlimited represents.As one commentator states: number of perfect copies increases the Likelihood that [illegal copying] will only increase, thereby diverting revenue from sales of authorized copies from those who own the copyrights. This change in the music industry can still be very lucrative for the major labels if they adapt to the new business models. All they have to do is offer the same benefits to the consumers. But they have to able to add more value for the consumers than the providers of free music can offer the consumers. This shouldnt be much of task seeing as how in most situations the major labels own the copyrights of their artists. The evolution of the internet has allowed the music industry to explore new business models. For example major labels can sell music through the Internets increasing common links to mobile telephones and computing devices. Further developments for the downloaded music industry include broadband technology hat permits faster downloading and the integration of Internet technology into mobile devices(Gerbera,2000). Jupiter Media Metric (2000) estimates that in the United States, 8 million households currently have broadband access on their personal computers(cited in Mage,2000). Forecasters said that by 2003 the market penetration had increased to 15 million users. 6 The increased broadband access has provided greater opportunity for mobile devices to deliver music to the consumers. Another reason this technology is big for the music industry is its increasing the combining of computers and telecommunications. A consumer can now download and listen to 10 hours of music of his/her mobile phone.These mobile devices have made it possible to listen to downloaded music anywhere. This is a big influence on the music industry because these mobile devices are more widespread and used more often than computers. May and Springer propose that soon not Just your PC but also your home and car radios systems and your walkway will be able to access the net. This is big because consumers would be able to have access to their favorite music anywhere they wanted it. New technology like palm pilots can already access o the internet and can play Amps.Like I stated earlier the music industry has come a long way and is still climbing. Technology has and will continue to influence growth and development in the music industry. Yeah, the availability of free music can still be a threat to the music industry in developing profitable and competitive business plans. But overall its up to the major labels to take this situation back into their own hands. This new technology is big business. Its influence on the music industry can have a more positive effect than negative one if the major labels find a way to appeal more to the listeners.