The document discusses the history and cultural impact of the MP3 file format. It describes how MP3s were designed for portable music listening and use data compression to greatly reduce file sizes while still maintaining acceptable sound quality. The document also examines how MP3s have become ubiquitous cultural objects that are collected and treated as music even though they are just data files. It explores how the widespread adoption of MP3s has changed the way music is consumed and its cultural value.

1. The Mp3 as Cultural ArtifactJonathan SterneMcGill University, Canada Cc Fan 311271103

2. What is MP3? MP3 stands for MPEG-1, Layer-3 MPEG (Motion Picture Experts Group) a consortium of engineers and others formed with the support of the International Standards Organization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission.

3. What was MP3 designed for? was designed by an electronics industry interested in maximum compatibility across platforms, which would allow for easy exchange of files uses a specific form of data compression based on a model of how the human ear works a machine designed to anticipate how its listeners perceive music and to perceive for them

4. Why is size of MP3 files smaller? An mp3 takes an existing CD-quality digital audio file and removes as much data content as possible Psychoacoustic principle traditionally, sound reproduction technologies have been theorized in terms of their relation of absolute fidelity to a sound source, the human ear is not capable of such fine distinctions. In fact, people can lose most of the vibrations in a recorded sound and still hear it as roughly the same sound as the version with no data compression

5. Sound Quality of MP3, as good as CD? Mp3s of songs do not sound the same as the CD recordings; a professional audio engineer could certainly tell the difference

6. So what? Mp3s are designed to be heard via headphones while outdoors, in a noisy dorm room, in an office with a loud computer fan, in the background as other activities are taking place and through low-fi or mid-fi computer speakers. mp3 is a medium mp3 plays its listener

7. My MP3 Experience… Discman

8. MP3, object or technology? MP3 has been ascribed the status of a thing in everyday practice Although it is a data file, users treat mp3s as cultural objects. It is assembled by other technologies

9. Music, cultural object Two kinds of objects One that can be collected – MP3 One that can be touched – Compact Disc (CD) Micromaterialization/Dematerialization Users refer to the dematerialization of music in discussing their practices of use, but they insist on treating music as a cultural object when they discuss their possession of the music

10. MP3, free? Value? Use-value Work of expenditure Exchange value Work of creation “Mollusks” without “shells” “air” and “water” Value persists MP3 is being used

11. Best-selling singles by years in US 1992: "I Will Always Love You", Whitney Houston 3,086,000 1993: "Whoomp! (There It Is)",Tag Team 2,754,000 1994: "I'llMakeLoveToYou", Boyz II Men 1,627,000 1995: "Gangsta's Paradise",Coolio featuring L.V. 2,534,000 1996: "Macarena (baysideboys mix)", Los Del Rio 3,747,000 1997: "Candle In The Wind 1997", Elton John 8,111,000 1998: "The Boy Is Mine",Brandy& Monica 2,591,000 1999: "Believe", Cher 1,707,000 2000: "Maria, Maria", Santana featuring The Product G&B 1,337,000 2001: "Loverboy", Mariah Carey 571,000 2002: "A Moment Like This", Kelly Clarkson 600,000 2003: "This Is The Night", Clay Aiken 948,000 2004: "I Believe", Fantasia 401,000

12. Best-selling singles by years in US 2000: "Maria, Maria", Santana featuring The Product G&B 1,337,000 2001: "Loverboy", Mariah Carey 571,000 2002: "A Moment Like This", Kelly Clarkson 600,000 2003: "This Is The Night", Clay Aiken 948,000 2004: "I Believe", Fantasia 401,000 2005: "Beverly Hills", Weezer 962,000 2006: "Bad Day", Daniel Powter 1,936,000 2007: "CrankThat (Soulja Boy)",Soulja Boy Tell'em 2,714,000 2008: "Bleeding Love", Leona Lewis 3,420,000 2009: "Boom Boom Pow", The Black Eyed Peas 4,762,000 2010: "California Gurls", Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg4,398,000 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bestselling_singles_in_the_United_States

13. Bibliography Tadajewski, Mark (2010). "The emergence of MP3 technology". Journal of historical research in marketing (1755-750X), 2 (4), p. 397. Six years : the dematerialization of the art object from 1966 to 1972 ... / edited and annotated by Lucy R. Lippard. (1997) Digital Media and Dematerialization: An Exploration of the Potential for Reduced Material Intensity in Music DeliveryAuthors: Hogg, Nick1; Jackson, Tim2Source: Journal of Industrial Ecology, Volume 13, Number 1, February 2009 , pp. 127-146(20)Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell An Economist's Guide to Digital Music by Peitz, M, CESifoEconomic Studies, ISSN 1612-7501, 01/2005, Volume 51, Issue 2-3, pp. 359 - 428 An MP3 a day keeps the worries away: Exploring the use of podcasting to address preconceptions and alleviate pre-class anxiety amongst undergraduate information technology students (2005)by Anthony Chan , Mark J. W. Lee, In D.H.R. Spennemann & L.Burr (Ed.), Good Practice in Practice: Proceedings of the Student Experience Conference MP3: The Definitive Guide, Scot Hacker, Publisher: O'Reilly, First Edition March 2000 From music publishing to MP3: Music and industry in the Twentieth Century R Garofalo - American Music, 1999 - JSTOR