Joanna’s response to Bianca's Blog on The Rise of DIY Media in the Music Industry Part 2.

The following comment was made on a post in Bianca's Blog.

I really enjoyed reading your post it was very interesting. The music industry has greatly changed due to web 2.0 technologies, virtual communities and the digitisation of content (Flew, 2005). Users now have more access to music through websites, fan forums, P2P networks, online streaming - Last.FM and various other sites. With music sales decreasing, it is only understandable that bands have had to find new ways to promote their music.

It’s quite fascinating how more and more bands, have taken the DIY approach to distribute their own music online, at their own prices. Bands themselves are relying on social networking sites including their own official websites and Myspaces to sell their music.

It was stated in your post that Nine Inch Nails released source files of certain songs. As source files can be manipulated, this gives consumers the opportunity to edit and share content making them a produsers, both a consumer and producer or remixer of music. This type of activity is a prime example of produsage which is “the collaborative and continuous building and extending of existing content in pursuit of further improvement” (Bruns, 2007).

I would also like to add that Terra Firm whom acquired EMI has considered on cutting budgets in order to focus on social networking sites such as Myspace to promote bands (Sandoval, 2007). They state that these networks can reach audiences with little costs, track consumer’s actions and strengthen their relationships (Sandoval, 2007). Labels are only now starting to really realise the real power of social networks.

In conclusion, the move towards DIY media has benefited many bands. As social networks and online communities have emerged bands have found new ways to release their music.

References

Bruns, A. 2007. Produsage: Towards a Broader Framework for User-Led Content Creation." http://produsage.org/files/Produsage%20(Creativity%20and%20Cognition%202007).pdf) (accessed May 7, 2008).

Flew, Terry. 2005. Virtual Cultures in Flew, Terry, New Media: An Introduction, Melbourne: OUP, pp.61-82.Sandoval, G. 2007. How the music industry will change in 2008.http://www.cnet.com.au/mp3players/musicsoftware/0,239029154,339286512,00.htm (accessed May 10, 2008)