subject: How The Internet Changed The Music Fan & The Artist [print this page] Not only is it said that the internet changed the music landscape eternally, but it has utterly transformed the lives of many in this community. Below is a look at two key players in the music business more specifically - the music consumer, and the music artist.
(1) Music Consumer
The internet changed things dramatically for the music consumer, giving them a certain freedom and a sense of liberation. They now enjoy a much greater choice of music than ever before, and have new purchasing options never seen in the past.
A fan no longer has to purchase an entire album just to get the two tracks that he/she likes. Singles are now more important than ever, as digital sales of individual tracks go through the roof.
The music fan has much more access to information on their favourite musicians, and can communicate more directly to them, due to the interactive nature of the internet.
It could be argued that the internet changed the feelings people have for the music industry. It appears that the music fan feels vindicated in one sense for the years and years of having to pay well over the odds for CDs, and has no guilty feelings with regards to file sharing or illegally downloading music for free.
(2) Artist / Band
So has the internet changed life for the artist/bands? Yes, considerably.
They now have more control over marketing activities and how they're perceived in the marketplace.
They can talk directly with their fans through the advent of social media like Twitter and Facebook.
They can put up audio recordings and videos of new tracks in a heart beat, without going through the red tape at a record company. The internet changed the music distribution channel and literally turned it upside-down.
Instead of reaching a hundred enthusiastic fans at a small gig, they now have access to millions worldwide, in a much more cost effective manner.
The internet changed the plight of unsigned and unheard of artist/bands that were traditionally destined for life of playing tiny gigs here and there, before being forced to throw in the towel. Nowadays they can gain huge popularity on the web, without ever being signed.
It should be noted that the internet changed life for the established artists also, who have watched as their royalty cheques dwindled and record sales collapsed.
Some of them even resorted to taking matters into their own hands by trying out new strategies. For example, Radiohead released their album "In Rainbows" on their website in 2007, where fans were free to pay what they felt it was worth.
While other artists explored new avenues, like Prince, who that very same year decided to distribute millions of copies of his new album with the purchase of a newspaper in Britain, indicating that the internet changed the music business as he saw it also.
Nowadays we see artists more heavily reliant on live concerts, merchandise and sponsorship deals, rather than their recorded music, which is a turn up for the books of old.
The internet has simply transformed the personal lives and working lives of millions and millions of people worldwide, while also generating new business opportunities for those willing to embrace this unique phenomenon.
How The Internet Changed The Music Fan & The Artist
