Term Project – Final Paper Posted

My term paper explores the past, present, and future of music distribution. It details the supervening social necessities that spurred the development of various technologies, including the phonograph, radio, magnetic cassette, audio compact disc, music download services, streaming music services, and the cloud.

This work also addresses the concept of dematerialization. As music distribution formats evolve from the physical to the intangible, some audiophiles are questioning whether their emotional value is compromised. By exploring innovations in this space over the past 135 years, we see a steady increase in consumers’ desire for compacting, immediacy, and customization. Thus, the richness of the experience is now more important than the product delivery method.

Source: Flickr Creative Commons, by photosteve101, November 18, 2010

Final Presentation

The topic for my term project is the evolution of music distribution.

I’ve explored how advancements in musical reproduction technology have fundamentally changed consumers’ relationship with musical culture from the 19th century to the present, and how they’ll continue to do so in the future.

Below is the slideshow for my in-class presentation. Full details are shared in my term paper.

Theoretical Framework – Evolution of Music Distribution

The topic for my term project is the evolution of music distribution. Specifically, I want to explore how advancements in musical reproduction technology have fundamentally changed consumers’ relationship with musical culture from the 19^th century to the present, and how they will continue to do so in the future.

The Tragedy of the Commons – Reading Reflection #3

Garrett Hardin’s 1968 Science magazine article titled “The Tragedy of the Commons” addresses a potential flaw in Adam Smith’s “invisible hand” theory, which asserts that citizens who are focused solely on their own personal gain will, collectively, cultivate a society of prosperity. Those who have studied economics are undoubtedly familiar with the “invisible hand” and its association with free market capitalism.

Hardin applies the “invisible hand” concept to an agricultural example with both economic and environmental implications in order to illustrate how decisions reached individually can, at times, harm society as a whole. He paints the picture of a pasture that is open to all. This pasture is also referred to as “the commons.”

Flickr image by JelleS, September 19, 2008

Discussion Leader Presentation

Lightning Lines http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/7744205

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In chapter 1 of Media and the American Mind, Daniel Czitrom addresses the telegraph’s role in developing modern communication. He points out that, before the telegraph, there was no real separation between transportation and communication.

Evolution vs. Revolution

Book Review: The Victorian Internet by Tom Standage

Tom Standage’s story about the invention, popularization, and extinction of the telegraph is a fascinating look at one of the most significant periods in history.  The book draws many parallels between the telegraph and the Internet, illustrating how human thoughts and behaviors really haven’t changed all that much over the last few centuries.

Reading Reflection #2

In the 1995 Harvard Business Review article titled, “Disruptive Technologies: Catching the Wave,” Joseph Bower and Clayton Christensen question why so many established companies invest aggressively – and successfully – in the technologies necessary to retain their current customers but then fail to make other technological investments that customers of the future may demand.

Today’s business leaders can often be heard preaching about the importance of listening to customers and providing products and services that align with their wants and needs. It seems the mantra “the customer is always right” has never been more prevalent. But does that philosophy focus too much on what the customer wants and needs in the short term versus the long term?

Reading Reflection #1

In part 1 of “Seeing What’s Next,” Christensen, Anthony, and Roth discuss how market opportunities, competition, strategic decisions, and non-market factors impact innovation. They begin and end by addressing two critical elements: ability and motivation.

According to the authors, innovation flourishes when companies have both the motivation and ability to innovate. They state that new-market disruptive innovations typically follow two patterns: They introduce a relatively simple, affordable product or service that increases access and ability by making it easier for customers who historically lacked the money or skills to get important jobs done; and they help customers do more easily and effectively what they were already trying to get done instead of forcing them to change behavior or adopt new priorities.

The introduction of telephony in the late 1800s exemplifies a successful disruption strategy. New-market entrants didn’t compete against consumption and target telegraphy users who were only interested in transmitting information over long distances. Instead, they focused on local consumers whose only method of communicating with their fellow townspeople was to walk or ride on horseback.

Term Project: The Evolution of Music Distribution

The topic for my final project will be the evolution of music distribution. Specifically, I want to explore how advancements in musical reproduction technology have fundamentally changed consumers’ relationship with musical culture from the 19^th century to the present, and how they will continue to do so in the future.

Some of my basic questions include: How has the transition from one recording format to the next gradually shaped mainstream musical style? How has the shift from physical goods to non-physical services impacted consumers’ interaction with recorded music? And what barriers have been overcome to make this shift possible?

Term Project Topic: Evolution of the Music Industry

For my term project, I’d like to focus on how the recording and distribution of music has evolved due to advancements in technology. I’ll explore musical formats from the 19^th, 20^th, and 21^st centuries, from the phonograph invented by Thomas Edison in 1877 to the Cloud Player service launched by Amazon last week.