1.What is meant by “convergence”? 2.What is meant by “synergy”? 3.What is meant by “proliferation”? 4.What is meant by “globalisation”? 5.What makes illegal downloading difficult to regulate? 6.What sort of person is a technophile? 7.What is the “means of production” and which historical political figure should you relate it to? 8.What is “user generated content”? Give 3 examples of sites that use it. 9.What does A&R stand for? 10.What does an A&R department do? 11.In what year did digital downloading go mainstream? What proof do you have? 12.What is meant by the “digital zeitgeist”? 13.What is Web 2.0? 14.Name the big 4 and approximate percentage of the industry they control. 15.Name 2 differences between a major and independent record label. 16.Which band went into the top 40 without using a record label in 2007? 17.Which record label did Radiohead move to and why?

Convergence Multi-platform device that has more functions than were originally intended for it: –For example, the mobile phone and computer.

Synergy Mutually advantageous joining of two distinct elements: –For example, a band to a record label

Proliferation Rapid growth or expansion

What is globalisation? “The integration of economies, cultures and societies” It began with the telephone over 100 years ago and has been speeded up with recent advances in modern technology

Glocalisation “Thinking globally but acting locally” Internet has allowed us to live in a “global village”

Example question on globalisation: “Media production is dominated by global institutions, which sell their products and services to national audiences.” To what extent do you agree with this statement? Focus on the music industry, although you may make reference to other media your answer.

“Media production is dominated by global institutions, which sell their products and services to national audiences.” To what extent do you agree with this statement? Focus on the music industry, although you may make reference to other media your answer. Opportunity to write about illegal downloading where music is arguably “stolen”?

Multi-national domination ‘The big four’ accounted for over 70% of the global retail music sales in 2005 Universal Music Group: 26% Sony BMG Music Entertainment: 22% EMI Group: 13% Warner Music Group: 11% Independent labels: 28%

2000: “80:20 rule” To 20% selling artists responsible for 80% of all music sales “80:20 rule” To 20% selling artists responsible for 80% of all music sales

Web 2.0 (vs. 1.0) A way of categorising how the internet has evolved in recent years It is now allows interaction as opposed to just passive viewing

Remember OCR guidance! “ A study of a particular record label within the contemporary music industry that targets a British audience, including its patterns of production, distribution, marketing and consumption by audiences. This should be accompanied by the study of strategies used by the record labels to counter the practice of file sharing and their impact on music production, marketing and consumption. ”

Production (how is music made using technology – “means of production”) Distribution platforms (proliferation of formats – CD, radio, mobile phone, MP3, computer, TV etc) Marketing (advertising, PR – role of A&R) Exchange/Exhibition (downloading, CD shops, online shops like Amazon)

Karl Marx – Q7 The “consumer as producer” controlling the “means of production” The masses are called the proletariat, who are controlled by the “dominant ideology”

“It’s a trend…about a new democracy of ideas and information, about changing notions of authority, about the releasing of individual creativity” Alan Rusbridger, Editor-in-chief of The Guardian