| The evolution that has taken place in the music | | | | themselves with unprecedented efficiency. Loading an |
| industry over the last 15 years is quite staggering. The | | | | mp3 file onto a social networking site like MySpace is |
| entrance of the internet onto the world stage has | | | | significantly easier than the time, money and effort |
| revolutionised the way music is bought, marketed and | | | | required to organise a gig to achieve that same goal. |
| shared. It is not only the depth of the changes that are | | | | Not only that; instead of playing their song to 50 people |
| occurring, but also the increasing rate at which these | | | | in an obscure club somewhere, that song is now |
| changes are taking place. New technologies and | | | | immediately available to millions of potential fans |
| processes are becoming outdated almost as soon as | | | | around the world at the click of a mouse. It is therefore |
| they are first officially adopted. Love it or hate it, the | | | | not unheard of anymore to find bands that are bringing |
| world wide web is here to stay, and it has irrevocably | | | | in significant income and gaining substantial popularity, |
| changed the business of music. | | | | without a record deal having ever been signed. There |
| How music is purchased - Traffic to brick and mortar | | | | is also a greater degree of interaction between the |
| music stores is decreasing at a steady pace. Stores | | | | artists and their fans, which further cements the |
| have had to entirely rethink their sales strategies and | | | | connections between them which influence sales. |
| embrace a vision that is larger than just the sale of | | | | How music is shared, copied and stolen - One of the |
| music. The mp3 has made it possible to purchase | | | | biggest challenges facing the music industry is the |
| music from the comfort of your own armchair or bed. | | | | issue of music piracy. The available technology makes |
| The possibility of CDs becoming completely obsolete in | | | | music theft incredibly easy, and incredibly cheap. The |
| the not too distant future is not that far fetched at all. | | | | impact on music business revenues in recent years in |
| Gone are the days of buying an album containing 3 or | | | | incalculable. Pirates around the world are now stealing |
| 4 songs that you like, with the rest that you have to | | | | music as easily as customers are buying theirs, from |
| tolerate or entirely ignore. Now, you buy only the songs | | | | the comfort of their own homes. CD-R, P2P (Peer to |
| that you know you want. This has resulted in a | | | | Peer) and torrent technologies have made music |
| decreased revenue for record companies and artists | | | | piracy an issue that gives artists and record labels alike |
| because the guarantee of the sale of a complete | | | | a great deal of concern. |
| album no longer applies. A greater emphasis is | | | | As these and other issues continue to alter the face |
| therefore now placed on the release and marketing of | | | | of the music industry, it seems that one rule is |
| "singles" in an attempt to boost profits. | | | | becoming more and more clear. For the artist, record |
| How artists gain exposure - Along with the internet, | | | | company or retail business, that requirement must be, |
| came the artists ability to market and promote | | | | adapt or die. |