The use of Web 2.0 applications and Social Media with regards to the music industry has had a profound effect. With the likes of iTunes having an online store where people can purchase music immediately and for a lower cost than in the shops allows for great potential for the music industry and danger.
The increased use and persistence of music downloading has caused controversy with the record labels and musicians alike. The ease in which people are downloading and taking music for free is seen as a detrimental problem to the industry. Some people believe some artists are simply being greedy when its seen that they already have vast amounts of money. However, the real issue arises when smaller artists who struggle t release albums due to costs are losing money and find it difficult to continue in the music business.
With the bad there is always the good. The music industry has taken a hit with music downloading but it has taken a significant boost from Web 2.0 applications and social media sites. The likes of Twitter and Facebook can create huge amounts of hype for a musician or artist. An example is the Irish band Crystal Swing being mentioned on Ellen Degeneras Twitter profile. Her profile has, which has over four million followers, created incredible opportunities for the Irish band which had until then been relatively unknown their entire career. Their YouTube music videos views rocketed into the thousands a short time after Ellen posted something about them.
Also, the industry has benefited from Web 2.0 technology in the form of Pandora and Last.fm that streams music from artists and also recommends music of the same genre or style that you may like. This links popular music with music that wouldn't be in the mainstream and increases an artist’s reputation.
Web 2.0 and Social Media has had an interesting effect on the Music Industry that can only be seen as a immensely profitable.
No comments:
Post a Comment