The Music Industry on the Internet

Purchasing Music Introduction

The way music has been purchased over the years has changed a great deal. Before the advancement in technology music was only to be purchased from local record stores and both the artist and record label would get a cut of the profits. However this is not the case anymore, music is now available by a 79p download or illegally downloading the file.

Purchasing Music Legally

The internet has contributed to the change in music a great deal, this is because individuals can now purchase music from sites such as Itunes, Napster and Amazon, at a minimum cost of 79p per song. This has many advantages as well as limitations 

Advantages
-By having every song ever created available to purchase it has become more convenient and simple for everyone.
-Quick and easy to purchase and download
-No storage needed for cd stock (business) and personal space (self) because stored in one place
-No money being spent on travel / postage costs

Disadvantages
-Could easily lose/ delete songs which cannot be retrieved
-Need a card to pay with, some may not have this
-No physical copy (pleasure)
-Hacking and Viruses

Purchasing Music Illegally

Some people don't like to purchase music because of the cost and if it was done in physical harm it would have been stolen from the music store. However crime can be committed with the internet by not paying and instead downloading the music files illegally through sites such as lime-wire and btjunkie.


Advantages
-Free!
-Relatively quick and easy

Disadvantages
-Against the law
-Viruses, scams and hacking
-The artist and record label getting less of a profit

Listening to Music

Due to technology improving, music can now be heard in different ways rather than on the radio or live. Programs such as Spotify and Youtube have enabled people to listen to any song online without a cost as well as their music videos if available  This has changed over time because many years ago this was unheard of, however now it is so easy to watch/ hear any type of music as well as upload your own.

Lawsuits

-Agency agreements

-Band agreements (partnership agreements or shareholder agreements)

-Distribution agreements (digital and physical product)

-Licensing agreements

-Management contracts

-Music video and DVD agreements

-Producer and remixer agreements

-Publishing contracts

-Recording contracts

-Session musician agreements

-Single song and single album licences and assignments

-Songwriting agreements

-Sponsorship agreements

-Synchronisation licences

-Tour agreements

(Lawdit Music)

The list above is a range of agreements in which musical artists have to obey when going into the music industry. Therefore it is not only the audience who can commit crime in music, but the artist can commit crimes such as copyright.

Royalty-Free Music is Allowable- If a piece of music is listed as royalty-free, the copyright owner has given purchasers permission to use it in slideshows and videos. Royalty-free music is not necessarily free to the consumer; some companies charge upwards of $100 to purchase it. Some royalty-free music gives the purchaser permission to use it for any purpose, while other royalty-free music does not allow purchasers to use it in commercial productions such as slideshows that the purchaser resells.(eHow)

Impact on Artists and Record Labels

Advantages
-More promotion
-Feedback quick

Disadvantages
-Less profit