Week 10

Mixmag is “the world’s biggest dance music and clubbing magazine”.  If you subscribe to us, you’re no regular groupie.  You’re a true lover of music!  For the latest on festivals and clubs in the UK, the newest music fashion, or serious band equipment, check out Mixmag.  We keep you updated on happenings in the music industry and in artists’ lives.  Whether you’re 18 or 30, a man or a woman, Mixmag is the number one magazine for serious fans.  Check us out at www.mixmag.net.  And while you’re there, you might as well shop around.  Instruments, equipment, clothes, and downloads are all right there.  Get involved with our competitions or come with us to Ibiza this August 2011.  Read about artists or clubs or watch MixmagTV.  Or just do the smart thing and start by buying this magazine.  The April issue awaits you.

week 8

Industries change and evolve constantly over time.  They do this to suit their customers’ needs and to keep up with the times as the years go by and technology advances.  This includes the music industry.  With the emergence of the digital download, many are convinced that this is the end of the music industry.  It seems, however, that if the music industry advances along with fans and technology, this does not have to be the case. 

The majority of fans do not want to end the music industry at all.  As Condry states, there are four main reasons that people download – instead of buying, sampling before a purchase, access unavailable music, and access non-copyrighted material.  Fans actually have morals about downloading as well.  Most do not sell the music they download, and they tend to be loyal consumers when they love an artist.  It seems the music industry just needs to “build alternative compensation systems”.

week 7

I believe that popular music can indeed achieve genuine political change.  While it cannot directly affect a nation’s government, popular music with political undertones or a political message can influence and change listener’s minds.  One may learn something that they did not know from the music or they may be inspired to act because of it.  Pop music can group people together for a political cause.  For example, Rite Aid and USA for Africa used song to encourage people to donate money to hotlines and raised millions for Africa, specifically Ethiopia.  Political popular music can also make the government aware that the people have an important opinion.  People could chant or sing out their distress, which seems to carry a stronger message than the yelling of concerns.  This political music does raise criticism that artists are doing it for the money and popularity, but if it helps people, then should that really matter?