History of the Recording Industry FINAL
Pearl Jam
an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1990. Major part of grunge movement. Outlasted and outsold many of its contemporaries from the alternative rock breakthrough of the early 1990s, and is considered one of the most influential bands of that decade.
Kool Herc
(Clive Campbell) first DJ to popularize mixing between two turntables
Grandmaster Flash
(Joseph Sadler) becomes the best known DJ of the time, with hit records, with the Furious Five
Afrika Bambaataa
(Kevin Donovan) Master of the "breakbeat" -this person and Soulsonic Force release "Planet Rock" (1982) a record influenced by European synth-pop, specifically German band Kraftwerk.
Reggae's influence on american pop
- 1972 - Paul Simon has a huge hit with "Mother and Child Reunion," more ska than roots reggae influenced. - 1974 - Eric Clapton has a #1 hit single "I Shot the Sheriff" (a cover of a Bob Marley song) Reggae strongly influences hip-hop: Jamaican "toasters" (like a rap MC) toast (early freestyle rapping) over backing tracks played by popular Jamaican DJs who ran sound systems.
Rap and Hip-Hop in the early 90s
- 1990/91 marks the beginning of the "mainstreaming" of rap/hip-hop - No longer considered a "fad" by major label executives, this marks the beginning of the genre's emergence as rock's commercial equal. - Includes MC Hammer, Vanilla Ice, etc.
iPod
- 2001 - Apple introduces the iPod - 2003 - Apple opens the iTunes Store. Within 2 years it commands 70% of the legal downloading market and become the #1 music retailer in the U.S. - 2010 - Apple announces that over 10 billion tracks have been downloaded through the iTunes Store. - The demands of consumers had changed from the album to the single.
MTV
- A by-product of the deregulation of the cable industry _____ begins programming in 1981. It changed the way the music industry operated, and quickly became the preferred method for launching new acts and promoting established acts. ______ worked synergistically with radio and other media to boost record sales and create a new generation of superstars. The music video is no longer simply a means of advertising, it becomes a form of commercial art unto itself.
punk rock (UK)
- Anti-fashion that becomes very fashion consciousness - Politically oriented (somewhat) - Explicitly working class - even when the participants weren't working class - British punks love reggae in a way that American punks didn't. - Influenced by early/mid 70s Glam Rock (early David Bowie, T. Rex, Mott the Hoople, the Sweet, Slade) and Pub Rock (a back-to-basics reaction to prog rock) bands like Dr. Feelgood and Ducks Deluxe.
CD sales in the late 90s/early 2000s
- Are still happening in the early 2000s, some of it due to the popularity of the boy bands of the mid-to-late-90s, some of it due to newer, younger, hip-hop acts (e.g., Eminem, 50 Cent). - But sales were dwindling annually from the massive success of 'N Sync in 2001 (No Strings Attached, 10 million, 2.1 million sales in its first week), to Lil' Wayne in 2008 (Tha Carter III, 2.8 million total). - To put this in perspective 2013's biggest selling record was Justin Timberlake's The 20/20 Experience selling 2.4 million copies. - Adele's album 21, which sold 10 million copies from 2011-2012 was atypical of the downward trend in physical sales. As was the case with her new record 25 which sold 3+million copies in its first week.
90s mainstream rock
- As was the case with Nirvana, Pearl Jam was helped by MTV and videos like "Alive" and "Jeremy." Their videos were not simply performance clips, but more arty, conceptual videos. - But the biggest selling rock LPs of the 90s were being recorded by bands such as: Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Green Day (Dookie, 1994), Red Hot Chili Peppers, Soundgarden, the Breeders, Alanis Morrisette, and Hootie and the Blowfish. - The mid-90s is also the beginning of the "jam band" era with the Dave Matthews Band and Phish becoming huge concert draws despite not selling enormous amounts of records - the Grateful Dead model.
Compact Discs
- Consumer sales start in 1983. - Sound encoded on the disc is read by a laser beam and the sales pitch to leave vinyl for CDs was that you have "perfect sound forever." - By 1988, sales of CDs surpassed those of vinyl for the first time. - The CD revolution was partly manufactured by the major labels who cut way back on vinyl production as a means of "encouraging" consumers to make the transition to the new digital technology. - Which, many boomers did re-purchase their entire vinyl collections on CD.
1990s and the new mainstream
- Corporate consolidation (aka horizontal integration) continues at a rapid pace - record labels were now the music divisions of large transnational corporations. - 1990: The US is the largest market for recorded music accounting for 31% of the world's trade at $7.5 billion. - Consolidation led to even more marketplace fragmentation -Rock music splinters into hundreds genres (metal, adult contemporary) and subgenres (hardcore, thrash, techno) - Country music becomes the best selling genre in the US with the popularity of Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Clint Black and Reba McEntire
Gangsta
- Emerges from the South Central Los Angeles neighborhood of Compton. This version of rap, influenced by the politics of Public Enemy, was more violent, darker, angrier. It was also misogynistic and homophobic. -1987—Ice-T records the song "Colors" used in a film about the gang vs. police violence in South Central. - 1989—N.W.A. releases Straight Outta Compton (1989) one of the first recordings to deal with the brutality and violence of urban street life. Prior to touring to promoted the LP it sold 750,000 copies in its first few weeks of release. - Sells very well to young audiences both black and white. - The problem with this is that, to many whites, gangsta's popularity, accidentally reinforced negative stereotypes about black masculinity. But some recordings, affiliated with gangsta sell big.
Punk Rock (US)
- Felt that hippie culture was a failure - Hated the corporatized sound of AOR rock bands (and rock radio) - Dismissed the notion that you need to be a skilled musician to play rock music. Punk bands were driven by attitude not aptitude - Thought progressive and/or jazz rock was useless - Hated the idea of rock bands as royalty and that rock gigs had turned into huge, bloated, expensive arena extravaganzas - Anti-fashion, anti-style
Reggae
- First genre of music in the rock era to originate from the so-called "third world" - Emerges from earlier styles of Jamaican music such as ska, bluebeat, and rock steady - Reggae influenced by 1940s & 50s American R&B: e.g., Louis Jordan, Fats Domino broadcast throughout the Caribbean from stations in New Orleans, Miami, and Nashville (WLAC). - "My Boy Lollipop," by Millie Small (1964) goes top-10; first ska hit in the US - "Roots" reggae associated with the Rastafarian movement (and Bob Marley) - Some early Jamaican reggae fans were "rude boys," young, urban gangsters
"CNN for black folk"
- Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five politicize rap with the release of "The Message" (1982). - Jazz musician Herbie Hancock releases "Rock It" (1983) featuring Grand Mixer DXT on turntables. The song is featured on the Grammys. Mid-80s rap becomes more political with releases by Run-DMC, Public Enemy, KRS-One (with Scott LaRock) - Beastie Boys - white rappers with credibility among African American audiences and rappers. Licensed to Ill (1986) sells 7 million
Vanilla Ice
- Hated way more than MC Hammer was Robert Van Winkle, better known as _______ whose debut LP To The Extreme released in 1990 was the #1 record in the U.S. for 16 weeks, selling 7 million copies. - _____ was seen as the worst case scenario of commercialized rap - inauthentic, another instance of a less talented white performer "making a living off the fruits of black creativity." - Despite selling millions of records, the career ended quickly, becoming a pop music punch line. - Now has a successful career renovating homes.
Nirvana
- Kurt Cobain (guitar), Krist Noveselic (bass), Dave Grohl (drums), Pat Smear (guitar). Grohl joined the band in 1991, Smear in 1993. - Their debut LP Bleach (1989), released on the Seattle-based indie label Sub Pop, was recorded for $600 and was a cult hit, but it was Nevermind (1991) that made them one of the world's biggest rock band by the end of 1992. - After leaving Sub Pop, _______ signed with major label DGC in 1991.
YouTube
- Launched in 2005, ______ had its first viral music video with OK Go's "A Million Ways" featuring the band dancing on treadmill machines. A video that cost $5 to make. It was viewed 9 million times. But, a viral video doesn't always turn into sales - it was proof, however, that - ______ was a necessary part of an artist's overall marketing/promotion strategy. - 2006 - Warner Music makes a deal with ______ to make its entire music video catalog available online. Not long after Google bought _______ for $1.65 billion in stock.
Punk rock in the US and UK
- Musical Influences Countless 60s garage rock bands (e.g. the Seeds, the Kingsmen, 13th Floor Elevators, the Standells) as well as the Stooges, MC5, New York Dolls, Velvet Underground, and British Invasion rock (especially the Who and the Kinks) - 1975 -- The New York punk scene develops around a Bowery club CBGBs (which stood for Country, Bluegrass, and Blues) opened by Hilly Kristal (1931-2007) in 1973. Patti Smith, Blondie, the Ramones, and Talking Heads are a handful of the important early punk bands to play there.
Sex Pistols (continued)
- Not helping things was a TV appearance in England where Steve Jones, who was drunk, cursed out the host. - October 28, 1977, they release their brilliant, and only full-length LP, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the ____ _______. The record debuts at #1 on the British album charts, in America (where it was released on November 11, 1977) it reaches #206 on the Billboard album chart. - The band goes on an American tour where they play primarily in the South. The tour lasts a total of 7 gigs from January 5-14, 1978. The band was fracturing - made worse by Vicious' heroin addition - and break up at the tour's end. - They reunite in 1996 with original bassist Glen Matlock and go on a very lucrative world tour.
Digital Recording
- Now, almost all music is recorded digitally. However, in the 80s, there was a debate over what method was better. Digital was seen as "cold," a reference to the process of disassembling music into millions of bits. But, digital was the future and there was no going back. - Digital technology spawned new (and more affordable) devices for producing and manipulating sound - drum machines, digital samplers, and MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) which standardized technology to let equipment made by different manufacturers "talk" to one another.
Sex Pistols
- Punk's most notorious - Formed in 1975: Johnny (Rotten) Lydon (vocals), Steve Jones (guitar), Glen Matlock (bass, 1975-77, 1996-now), Sid Vicious (John Simon Ritchie, bass 1977-78, d. 1979 age 22), Paul Cook (drums). - Managed by clothing store owner (who also sold sexual fetish wear) Malcolm McLaren. - Specializing in chaos and outrage, the Pistols were famous for being dropped by the major labels that signed them. A&M gave them an advance of over $200,000 only to drop them a week later.
Early Rap and Hip-Hop
- Rap emerges in the mid-1970s as part of a cultural complex known as Hip-Hop. - Hip-hop incorporated influences from African American, Puerto Rican, and Caribbean American youth culture in New York City. - Hip-Hop culture included graffiti art, breakdancing, music, dress, and speech - Geographically centered in the Bronx. - Rap was, in part, a rejection of mainstream dance music by young black and Puerto Rican listeners, but it was also shaped by DJs.
Sugarhill Gang and "Rapper's Delight"
- Rap was still mostly a regional musical phenomenon until the release of "________ _______ " on the independent label _____ ______ in 1979. - The song used the rhythm track for the Chic hit "Good Times." Although it wasn't sampled (studio musicians were hired to play it) the label was sued by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards (composers of the song) for a writing credit (they won).
Nevermind
- Released in September, 1991, the initial pressing (only 50,000 copies) sold out in days. - By January of 1992, _________ had replaced Michael Jackson's Dangerous as the #1 record in the US and was selling an average of 300,000 copies/week. - It stayed on the Billboard LP charts for 5 years, selling more than 10 million copies. - Ironically, it was helped by MTV, and one of the most iconic rock music videos ever produced, "Smells Like Teen Spirit." - After the success of ___________, major labels couldn't sign grunge bands fast enough, which led to the success of . . . Pearl Jam
Digital Technology
- The 1980s marks the rise of technologies that would fundamentally change the way music was recorded and the way consumers heard music. - Digital tape recorders, compacts discs, synths, samplers, and drum machines became central to the creation of music.
1990s and the new mainstream (Generation X)
- The 90s meant yet another period of adjustment for the music industry. A new generation - so-called "Generation X" were now displacing baby boomers as the primary consumers of popular music. - Born after hippie era of "free love" a generation of horny teens facing the reality of AIDS. First generation that will not live better than their parents - Children of divorce and domestic conflict, reported cases of child abuse at an all time high. Gen Xers had been raised on classic rock, punk, rap. As the first generation to have grown up with MTV, a song (or artist) was either on MTV - and thus successful - or it wasn't. - This led to a schism between artists who were MTV-friendly, and those who weren't (largely alternative rock and hip-hop). This meant that not being on MTV was a sign of artistic integrity.
MPEG Technology
- The MP3 file, a digital file compression algorithm allowed sound files to be squeezed to as little as one-twelfth of its original size. This allowed for music to be disseminated on the Internet - a technological precondition for the emergence of the huge market in downloads and for the emergence of personal digital music players - the iPod. - The introduction of ______ ________ and its descendant the MP3 audio encoding format - set off the war between entertainment corporations and small scale entrepreneurs (a digital era majors v. indies conflict). - MP3s are not illegal, but the practice of digitally reproducing music without the artist's or record company's permission is illegal.
Music Industry Crash of The Early 80s
- The Reagan administration's economic policies had brought about a recession. - New forms of entertainment: home video, cable TV, and video games were cutting into music sales. - The decline of disco (which had provided an economic boost in the mid-to-late 70s). - An increase in illegal copying of music on cassette decks. - In 1984, sales of prerecorded cassettes (thanks to the popularity of the Sony Walkman) surpassed sales of vinyl LPs for the first time in history.
Grunge
- The early 90s experienced a seismic shift in what constituted rock music after the MTV-driven 1980s. - The so-called "________ Movement" (most bands hated being called this, seeing it as a cheap marketing gimmick) was centered in Seattle. Musically it's a mix of punk and 70s heavy metal (especially the sludgy tempos of Black Sabbath). - The Melvins, Mudhoney, Soundgarden, Tad - Emergence of this meant the beginning of the end for many 80s "hair metal" bands - But the band that made the biggest noise was . . . Nirvana
funk
- The term "funky" probably derives from central African BaKongo term "funki," meaning "healthy sweat," especially sweat as the result of sexual activity. funk was the term used to describe music with strong dance-oriented rhythms, call-and-response vocals, and repeated, rhythmically interlocking patterns. - Most funk bands echoed the instrumentation and style of JAMES BROWN soul hits of the 1960s.
Music industry changes in the new millennium
- There has been more change in the music industry in the last 15 years than there was in the previous 50. - There is no question that music and creativity will survive, the form in which they will be expressed remains in flux. - We have more music available to us than ever before
The 80s American Underground
- Thriving underground ("college rock") scene during the 80s. - Mostly coming out of the 70s punk era, a number of independent labels sprang up in major cities and in college towns with large universities and student-led music scenes. (SST, Twin/Tone, Ace of Hearts, Dischord) - It was an ethos known as DIY (Do It Yourself), because many major labels were uninterested in signing these bands, they created their own scene and economic model. - Some of these bands went on to major labels (Sonic Youth, Replacements, X, Pixies, Husker Du, B-52s, REM., the Go-Gos) and were successful, but only the Go-Gos and R.E.M. became popular with mainstream audiences.
Clash
- debut released April, 1977 in UK, not released in the US until 1979 - formed in 1976: Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon - British punk's most commercially successful band and by the early 1980s became one of the most popular rock bands in the world. With hit records and MTV videos. - Outspokenly political, the band often aligned itself with leftist (if not radical) political causes/ groups. -In 1979 they release what many consider one of the greatest LPs ever... London Calling
80s rap/rock crossover
-Blondie, "Rapture," Run-DMC & Aerosmith, "Walk This Way," and Anthrax & Public Enemy, "Bring the Noise"
Musical elements of rap
-Sampling, Focus on rhythm rather than melody, Percussive vocalizing, Scratching - "The distinctive sound of scratching became an important part of the sonic palette of hip-hop music - even in the 1990s, after digital sampling had largely replaced turntables, producers frequently used these sounds to connect to the old school origins of hip-hop."
Chris Blackwell
-born in london -mother of jamaican ancestry -started Island Records with $10k borrowed from parents - 1972, launces the career of Jimmy Cliff and signs Bob Marley to Island, lending Marley the money to open his own recording studio, Tuff Gong, in Kingston. - In the 70s-80s Island became one of the most successful independent rock labels in the world
Bob Marley
-reggae's international ambassador and most popular performer -rastafarian -major political force in Jamaica -after his death, reggae diminishes in the US
Shawn Fanning
19-year-old student at Northeastern University (in Boston), he developed Napster - a software program that allowed computer users to share files.
James Brown
= Funk - Repetitive, riff-based instrumental style focused on rhythm rather than harmony. - Songs often featured complex, interlocking polyrhythms - showing pronounced African influence. - De-emphasizing harmony made Brown's music seem less "Western." - Especially in his 70s music, Brown was a funk "minimalist" - hypnotic, long tracks with few changes.
Broadcast Data Systems
Computer operated tracking systems monitoring 1,100 radio stations in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. Computers "listens" to radio stations 24/7. Each ______ monitor stores thousands of unique electronic "fingerprints" created to identify the songs. Once a pattern has been recognized _____ identifies the exact time, date and station of that play.
1. Every computer becomes a small file server. 2. All Napster users are linked in a huge virtual music community. 3. The program scanned each users hard drive to identify all MP3 files. 4. Files names were sent to the central Napster server, anyone searching for a particular song or band would connect with other users offering such songs for a download.
How did Napster work?
Introduction of UNIVERSAL PRODUCT CODE. Also known as BAR CODE it contains information regarding: label, specific selection, and configuration.
In 1979, what was introduced?
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)
In 1983, what allows synthesizers built by different manufacturers to be connected and communicate with one another?
- Mirage keyboard sampler stored prerecorded and synthesized sounds - Digital sequencers appear at this time too - sequencers record musical data rather than sound and create repeated sound sequences (loops) - Drum Machines: Roland 808, Linn LM1 used drum pads that, when struck, triggered samples sounds
In 1984, what appears?
Erlangen, Germany: Professor Dieter Seitzer creates a "CODEC" (compression/decompression algorithm) used to shrink video files to a manageable size for use with multimedia. The formal name of the codec was: ISO-MPEG Audio Layer—3, shortened to MP3.
In 1987, German professor Dieter Seither creates what and what does it do?
Soundscan developed by Mike Shalett. Tracks sales of music and music video products in U.S. and Canada. This collects POINT OF SALE (POS) information from 14,000 retail and mass merchandise locations
In 1989, what is developed?
Billboard begins using Soundscan data to compile sales charts. Huge shake-up in Billboard's Top-200 album charts. Beginning of the rap, country, and grunge dominance of the charts. Grunge is gone, country has fallen way off, but rap still sells huge numbers.
In 1991, what happens for Billboard?
-Santa Cruz, CA: UC Santa Cruz students Jeff Patterson and Rob Lord, while trolling the Net, discover the Xing Player, software that played compressed music files. -They open IUMA - Internet Underground Music Archive. For $240/year any band could post a song, pictures, and sell merchandise on the site.
In 1993, students Jeff Patterson and Rob Lord discover and open what?
Rob Glaser, former Microsoft VP, unveils RealAudio. Streaming media becomes a reality for computer owners.
In 1995, who unveils RealAudio?
Michael Robertson launches MP3.com. Site quickly becomes the gathering post for those interested in online music.
In 1997, Michael Robertson launches what?
Shawn Fanning, wanting an easier way to find and trade music online, launches NAPSTER.
In June 1999, Shawn Fanning does what?
East Coast
On the _____ Coast there was Sean Combs (aka, Puff Daddy, P. Diddy) the CEO of New York-based indie label Bad Boy Records, whose biggest (no pun intended) artist was the Notorious B.I.G. (aka Biggie Smalls, Christopher Wallace). - By the end of 1997, both Biggie and Tupac were dead. Snoop Dogg who had originally signed to Death Row, left the label fearing for his life.
Malcolm McLaren
Musician, singer-songwriter, band manager, entrepreneur **Managed Sex Pistols**
Napster
Not long after ________ went live, the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) the trade association representing the major labels) filed suit charging _____ with tributary infringement - which means that ______ was not per se violating copyright law but contributing to and facilitating other people's violation of the law.
- An appellate court upheld a lower court ruling that Napster should be held liable for copyright infringement. - The court held that using Napster to get something for free that people would ordinarily have to buy was a commercial use and therefore copyright infringement.
On February 12, 2001, who appeared in court and what was the verdict?
West Coast
On the _____ Coast Marion "Suge" Knight who ran the Los Angeles based label Death Row Records, whose biggest star was Tupac Shakur.
Digital Recording
Samples sound waves and breaks them down into a stream of numbers
significance of the first LP by The Damned
Self titled 3 times? "Damned Damned Damned"
- by the mid-70s were smaller, more affordable (despite certain limitations) - Minimoog (could only play one pitch at a time) - Arp (could play simple chords) - Synclavier - Expensive digital synthesizer - Prophet 5 - an alog synth that incorporated digital technology, including ability to store sample sound
Synthesizers. Name the 4 and what they do.
Yamaha DX7
What was the first successful digital synthesizer?
"God Save the Queen"
What was the name of the Sex Pistols second single that was banned on British radio yet still goes #2 on the British pop charts?
- Throughout the 80s and into the 90s, MTV was at the forefront of what Joni Mitchell referred to in the 1970s as "the star-making machinery, behind the popular song." - As a result the network helped artists become megastars like Madonna (whose second LP Like a Virgin was produced by Nile Rodgers, one of the masterminds behind Daft Punk's "Get Lucky"), Prince, Dire Straits, and Van Halen. - MTV reinvigorated heavy metal via the "Headbangers Ball" (1987), introduced rap to larger audiences "Yo! MTV Raps" (1988-2004), as well as "alternative rock," "120 Minutes" (1986-2000) - And promoted lots of radio friendly "hair metal" (Poison, Ratt, Warrant, Motley Crue, Cinderella, Quiet Riot)
What was the power/influence of MTV?
- In the mid-1990s there were violent conflicts between West Coast and East Coast rappers. - Although gangsta rhetoric had boosted the sale of recordings, and was used as a means of authenticating rap and rappers. There were real-life consequences to working in this world.
What were east coast/west coast beefs about?
- Initially the network programmed videos like and AOR rock station - meaning, no African Americans. - The direction of the network was defined by bands identified with the "Second British Invasion" (Eurythmics, Adam Ant, Flock of Seagulls, Culture Club, Duran Duran). - In July 1983, 18 of the singles in Billboard's Top-40 chart were by British bands. By the mid-1980s the impact of MTV had been felt throughout the music industry.
What were some problems with MTV?
November 26, 1976
When was the Sex Pistols debut single released?
- The election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 led a new era of political conservatism. The drinking age, which states had lowered to 18 in the early 70s -was raised back to 21. Meaning people under 21 could no longer attend venues serving alcohol to see bands. - Baby boomers were in their 30s, settling down, starting families and were increasingly less likely to spend nights in bars listening to bands. MTV provided access to music - without leaving home. -AOR radio programming was successful in that it brought new music to a coveted audience - baby boomers - who provided the economic fuel for the industry.
Why was MTV so popular?
MC Hammer
_________'s Please Hammer (1990) sells 10 million copies and is the number 1 album in US for 21 weeks. - ______ becomes the most ubiquitous presence in rap and the rapper of choice for Madison Avenue - He is decried as a "sellout" and "Uncle Tom" by hardcore/gangsta rappers who see Hammer as striving too hard to please white executives and audiences -But now, with rap artists routinely working in film and TV (Ice Cube and Ice T), rap's cross promotional potential starts with the popularity of Hammer.
iTunes Store
is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple Inc. It opened on April 28, 2003, and has been the largest music vendor in the United States since April 2008, and the largest music vendor in the world since February 2010.
Analog Recording
transforms sound wave energy into physical imprints
