Open Karth Melinda Musicindustrydemocratization.Pdf
THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY SCHREYER HONORS COLLEGE DEPARTMENT OF FILM-VIDEO AND MEDIA STUDIES MUSIC INDUSTRY DEMOCRATIZATION: BRITISH INDEPENDENT RECORD LABELS IN 2012 MELINDA KARTH SPRING 2013 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for baccalaureate degrees in Media Studies and Psychology with honors in Media Studies Reviewed and approved* by the following: C. Michael Elavsky Assistant Professor of Media Studies Thesis Supervisor Dr. Susan Strohm Senior Lecturer of Advertising Honors Adviser * Signatures are on file in the Schreyer Honors College. i ABSTRACT In response to music industry concentration, British independent record labels in the 1980s successfully, though briefly, established an autonomous network that allowed for them to produce and distribute music without major record company assistance. In addition to gaining access to the commercial market, these entrepreneurs also strived to achieve something more profound: music industry democratization. Ultimately, it was believed that such ‘democratization’ could be achieved by diminishing major record company control over the market, introducing new sounds and voices to the public, and defending the rights of creative workers. Thus, by developing their own sets of practices and ideologies, these independents worked to protect the business and creation of music. Nonetheless, while their attempts were initially successful, the independent infrastructure has since struggled to maintain autonomy in an increasingly concentrated music market. This pattern of struggle, though, has recently shifted, as independents have begun to achieve notable success in the commercial market, causing many to claim that music industry democratization has finally been realized. This generalization, however, dilutes the meaning of ‘democratization’ to nothing more than commercial market access, thus ignoring other issues, such as the rights of creative labor.
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