6. THE ARGUMENT
The evolution of personal listening devices have
driven changes in how society listens to music,
the diversity of music genres, and the composition
and sound of mainstream music.
Three elements drive these changes:
1. Degree of choice in music selection.
2. Level of integration into daily life.
3. Production and distribution costs.
10. LISTENERS TRUSTED LOCAL DJ’S FOR SONGS
“ I listened to him [Wolfman]
every night for as long--for
twelve years almost. I know
”
him and it's personal…
-- Curt Henderson, regarding a popular radio DJ, in American Graffiti (1973)
11. EFFECTS OF TRANSISTOR RADIOS
DEGREE OF CHOICE IN MUSIC SELECTION:
LOW CHOICE HIGH CHOICE
TRANSISTOR RADIO: EFFECTS:
Trust DJ’s choice. - Less genres & diversity
- Generational anthems with political undertones
LEVEL OF INTEGRATION INTO DAILY LIFE:
LOW INTEGRATION HIGH INTEGRATION
TRANSISTOR RADIO: EFFECTS:
Portable, but conspicuous - Music-listening was a stand-alone activity
music-listening. - Listeners paid close attention to songs
14. CASSETTE TAPE PLAYER FEATURES
INTRODUCTION OF SONG CHOICE
HANDS-FREE LISTENING (HEADPHONES)
CHEAPER MUSIC PRODUCTION PROCESS
15. TAPES MEANT LOW PRODUCTION COSTS
TASCAM’S PORTASTUDIO ALLOWED EASY,
CHEAP, AND FAST RECORDING SOLUTIONS
16. EFFECTS OF CASSETTE TAPE PLAYERS
DEGREE OF CHOICE IN MUSIC SELECTION:
LOW CHOICE HIGH CHOICE
EFFECTS: TAPE PLAYERS:
- Exploration of music leading to new genres Create personal mixtapes
- Beginning to associate individual identity with music with self-chosen songs.
LEVEL OF INTEGRATION INTO DAILY LIFE:
LOW INTEGRATION HIGH INTEGRATION
TAPE PLAYERS: EFFECTS:
Hands-free music-listening - Popularity of music & exercise
with headphones. - Move towards multi-tasking
MUSIC PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION COSTS:
LOW COSTS HIGH COSTS
TAPE PLAYERS: EFFECTS:
Low production costs. - Introduction of new music (punk)
20. CHOICE ENABLED DISCOVERY & DIVERSIFICATION
“ When I first joined the Grammy
committee, there were 12 categories.
Now there’s 108.
-- Chuck Rainey during PWR class visit.
”
21. MULTI-TASKING LEADS TO LESS ATTENTION
LYRICAL ANALYSIS OF TOP SONG IN 2009:
TOP BILLBOARD SONG IN 2009: BLACK EYED PEAS’ “BOOM BOOM POW”
22. LYRICS BECOME SECOND PRIORITY
LYRICAL ANALYSIS OF TOP SONG IN 1984:
TOP BILLBOARD SONG IN 1984: PRINCE’ “WHEN DOVES CRY”
23. EFFECT OF MP3 PLAYERS
DEGREE OF CHOICE IN MUSIC SELECTION:
LOW CHOICE HIGH CHOICE
EFFECTS: MP3 PLAYERS:
- Intensive diversification of music into many genres Create multiple personal
- Dominance of single tracks over albums in digital downloads playlists immediately.
LEVEL OF INTEGRATION INTO DAILY LIFE:
LOW INTEGRATION HIGH INTEGRATION
EFFECTS: MP3 PLAYERS:
- Rarely listen to music as a stand-alone activity Highly portable and
- Beat and melody move to foreground, lyrics to the back inconspicuous.
MUSIC PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION COSTS:
LOW COSTS HIGH COSTS
MP3 PLAYERS: EFFECTS:
Low production costs & distribution costs. - Masses can produce & share music
25. PERSONAL MUSIC MEDIUMS ENABLED CHANGES
HOW SOCIETY LISTENS TO MUSIC:
Music-listening is a Music-listening is well-integrated in
fully engaging, non- our lives and done in conjunction
passive activity. with daily tasks and exercise.
DIVERSITY OF MUSIC GENRES:
12 Grammy categories. 108 Grammy categories.
COMPOSITION AND SOUND OF MAINSTREAM MUSIC:
Lyrics are a large part Beats and melody greatly
of mainstream music. overshadow lyrics in importance.
26. FUTURE OF MUSIC MEDIUMS
DEGREE OF CHOICE IN MUSIC SELECTION:
LOW CHOICE HIGH CHOICE
Shift in emphasis on music discovery rather than choice.
Choosing favorite parts of songs rather than whole tracks: mash-ups.
LEVEL OF INTEGRATION INTO DAILY LIFE:
LOW INTEGRATION HIGH INTEGRATION
Continued integration of music in our lives through phones.
MUSIC PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION COSTS:
LOW COSTS HIGH COSTS
Even lower production and distribution costs.
30. WALKMAN HELPED INTEGRATE MUSIC WITH LIFE
“ Walkmans in their inherent mobility are
an icon of individual choice in consumer
culture, permitting users to create their own
soundworld through the spaces, places and
”
timings of consumer culture…
-- Michael Bull in Journal of Consumer Culture
