Consumption
Consumption of music refers to how the music is listened to. This could be by CD, digital download, LP, stream or a vast range of other ways.
Major Artists
Major artists' music tend to be consumed in a much larger variation of ways for several reasons. Major artists can be accessed and listened to in much wider range of ways than smaller artists. Major artists can be listened to through streaming, CD's, downloads, radio, television and now even records are making a comeback.
As you can see the most popular from of music consumption is still physical albums , followed by digital albums and then streams. However, CD and Digital album sales are falling and streams are dramatically increasing. This leads us to think that consumption of major artists' music will soon become mostly streams and digital albums. I suspect this will greatly contrast with the consumption of smaller artists as they are not as readily available on streaming websites and apps.
Production
Definition:
Distribution is actually distributing the music. Meaning its promotion, getting the music on sale in stores, on to the radio, and online to be streamed or downloaded.
Further:
Music distribution is definitely changing. Digital distribution is on the rise, and it has been for a few years now.
From Wikipedia: "The music industry has undergone drastic changes since the advent of widespread digital distribution of music via the Internet, which includes both illegal file sharing of songs and legal music purchases. A conspicuous indicator of this is total music sales: since 2000, sales of recorded music have dropped off substantially while live music has increased in importance. The largest music retailer in the world is now digital: Apple Inc.'s online iTunes Store"
The largest music retailer in the world doesn't own one CD, let alone one store. That shows how times have changed, how music distribution has changed.
Major Label Artists?
Major label artists have their music distributed by / through their label.
Independent Artists?
Independent artists can distribute their music quite easily now, through releasing it digitally. An artist can release their music for free on sites such as Soundcloud, YouTube or AudioClouds. Listeners are able to hear an independent artist's music without the need for said artist to have a label.
Music is able to be distributed as described, it doesn't take a lot of exposure to sell music now.
There are two types of marketing:
-Push marketing
Smaller Artists
Smaller artists don't have as wide a range of consumption methods as they are less likely to be on music streaming sites such as Spotify. This then leads to them missing out on a large percentage of music consumption. Artists normally start out doing small gigs and posting videos online. Over time they may grow and become more popular, later allowing them to release an album and perhaps allowing them to appear on streaming sites.
Definition:
Production is the process of creating, recording, and materializing music.
Further:
Originally, music production and recording equipment was very expensive. It wasn't for everyone. Now, you or I can pick up our smartphones, open the application store and quickly download an app (maybe even for free) that we can create high quality music on. Damon Albarn produced an entire album on an iOS (yes, the software on an iPhone) device.
Production is the process of creating, recording, and materializing music.
Further:
Originally, music production and recording equipment was very expensive. It wasn't for everyone. Now, you or I can pick up our smartphones, open the application store and quickly download an app (maybe even for free) that we can create high quality music on. Damon Albarn produced an entire album on an iOS (yes, the software on an iPhone) device.
Recordings are created by recording artists, often with the assistance of record producers and audio engineers. They were traditionally made in recording studios (who are paid a daily or hourly rate) in a recording session.
In the present day, advances in recording technology have allowed many producers and artists to create "home studios", bypassing the traditional role of the recording studio. The record producer oversees all aspects of the recording, making many of the logistic, financial and artistic decisions in cooperation with the artist.
Audio engineers (including recording, mixing and mastering engineers) are responsible for the audio quality of the recording.
In the present day, advances in recording technology have allowed many producers and artists to create "home studios", bypassing the traditional role of the recording studio. The record producer oversees all aspects of the recording, making many of the logistic, financial and artistic decisions in cooperation with the artist.
Audio engineers (including recording, mixing and mastering engineers) are responsible for the audio quality of the recording.
A recording session may also require the services of an arranger, studio musicians, session musicians, vocal coaches, or even ghostwriter to help with the lyrics.
Distribution
In order for people to actually acquire and listen to music, the music must be available, by firstly being distributed - so that the public can access / purchase it.
Definition:
Distribution is actually distributing the music. Meaning its promotion, getting the music on sale in stores, on to the radio, and online to be streamed or downloaded.
Further:
Music distribution is definitely changing. Digital distribution is on the rise, and it has been for a few years now.
From Wikipedia: "The music industry has undergone drastic changes since the advent of widespread digital distribution of music via the Internet, which includes both illegal file sharing of songs and legal music purchases. A conspicuous indicator of this is total music sales: since 2000, sales of recorded music have dropped off substantially while live music has increased in importance. The largest music retailer in the world is now digital: Apple Inc.'s online iTunes Store"
The largest music retailer in the world doesn't own one CD, let alone one store. That shows how times have changed, how music distribution has changed.
Major Label Artists?
Major label artists have their music distributed by / through their label.
Independent Artists?
Independent artists can distribute their music quite easily now, through releasing it digitally. An artist can release their music for free on sites such as Soundcloud, YouTube or AudioClouds. Listeners are able to hear an independent artist's music without the need for said artist to have a label.
Marketing
In basic terms... marketing is either 'forced' or 'allowed'.
The music industry has undergone extreme changes over the past few years, many of which have opened the doors for developing bands and artists. Gone are the days where the only option for getting fans to hear your music relied upon support from a limited number of "gatekeepers."
Music is able to be distributed as described, it doesn't take a lot of exposure to sell music now.
There are two types of marketing:
-Pull marketing
Push marketing is actually pushing the music out. Promoting it with advertisements on television, in magazines etc. This is from institutions to audiences, with no way for audiences to interact.
Pull marketing is allowing the music to be pulled. Audiences can receive music on their own terms, such as streaming a song from Soundcloud or a video from YouTube.
Push marketing is actually pushing the music out. Promoting it with advertisements on television, in magazines etc. This is from institutions to audiences, with no way for audiences to interact.
Pull marketing is allowing the music to be pulled. Audiences can receive music on their own terms, such as streaming a song from Soundcloud or a video from YouTube.
Sales
This chart shows the music report for the US in the year 2014.
The past decade has brought about a major shift in income streams for the music business. Musicians have seen a spectacular rise in income from live performances which contributed to a significant increase in their overall revenue. The labels on the other hand are struggling, mostly due to the decreased revenue from recorded music.
As piracy would have a negative effect on the music industry it may have a positive effect on the live performance industry, as the money that would not have been spent on an artists album may go to the concert tickets to see them perform live.
