Intro
Introduction – This is the MLA formatted version
Marlen Harrison
Research Writing 202
2-25-10
Introduction (Working Title)
In this research project I have decided to explore how the lessening role of major music labels and the rise of the internet as a music medium has effected independent artists in the music scene. I plan on doing this research in the form of a case study of one independent band as they deal with attempting to be heard by a large audience without the help of a major label. My paper will include interviews, not only with the band but with venues and also radio DJs to see how they decide what is being played on the radio. I come bearing several questions which include how much extra stress does finding venues outside of an artist’s home fan base create? How does this stress effect the artist as far as writing, practicing, and preforming? What means do artists use to release an album or demo without a major labels help? Where do unsigned bands record? How does this effect the songs them selves? How much stress does not having pressure from labels to have deadlines for albums and singles relieve? Could this result in apathy and laziness in writing new material? How has the internet made breaking into the music scene easier? What are the down sides? As the internet is becoming the more dominant medium in obtaining music does the decrease in CD sales by 36% from 2000 to 2004 have an effect? (Fox). Is this allowing for to much music to be made hence negating the point? Even though it is becoming easier to be “found” with a music labels help, is it worth it to do it without the help of a label?
As the internet makes it easier for an artist to become heard or found by a larger and larger fan base with no regard to geographic location what effect does this shift mean to the independent artist? In the article “Copyright issues in internet music” the author states that “The Internet is revolutionizing how people access music. With fast broadband connections becoming commonplace, and artists and record labels now embracing the Internet as a means of reaching new audiences, a huge repertoire of music is now within minutes’ or even seconds’ reach of many people.” (Harrower). I feel that this subject needs to be researched in order to inform musicians who are starting out and aren’t sure whether or not to sign with a label as soon as possible or not. Also, to inform anyone with an interest in the music industry and how it is changing. Does being labeled and independent artst carry an astigmatism that a band will only be able to reach a certain audience like in the case where “Evanescence, in an apparent attempt to shed its Christian image and reach broader audiences, asked that its 2003 album Fallen be deleted from Billboard’s Top Christian Albums listing and not be sold at Christian retail stores? The album peaked at No. 3 on the ‘‘Billboard 200’’ and sold 3 million copies?” (Sernoe).
The purpose of this study is to explore the stresses and high points for an independent artist without the backing of a major music label in today’s musical landscape. These stresses could include more responsibility as far as scheduling tours, recording, public relations, releasing CDs, and managing money. These are just factors that occur should a music label accept you. A huge factor is also more fierce competition among independent musicians due to a decreasing allotment of space for new talent in already firmly established music labels.
Works Cited
Fox, Mark. “E-commerce Business Models for the Music Industry.”. Popular Music & Society June 2004: 201 -220.eview 2005: 483-488.
Harrower, Andy. “Copyright issues in internet music”. Contemporary Music R
Sernoe, Jim. ““Now We’re on the Top, Top of the Pops”: The Performance of “Non‐Mainstream” Music on Billboard ’s Albums Charts, 1981–2001.”. Popular Music & Society December 2005: 639-662.
Phillip Monier
Pre-Writing:
Hopefully the purpose for this intro is to help me get a grip on exactly how I am going to organize my paper and in what order I plan on laying my information out in. As for it’s purpose is for my readers, I hope that it will present my research in a quick and easy way way so that the reader knows exactly what thy are getting themselves into when they start reading my paper. Also, I really hope that at least the first few sentences hook my reader into wanting to read further through and spark interest in my research. I think that the introduction will be different from the rest of the paper because I really will try not to elaborate to much in the introduction, just spit out hooks really.
As for who my audience is, I really am doing this research in the hopes to help inform musicians and those interested in the music industry alike. That means that, at least on a stereotypical level, I am trying to appeal to starting musicians, really die hard music fans, and music business majors. As for how I plan on tailoring this introduction for that group of people I wont be afraid to skip over common knowledge like what a single is or what a copyright is. This allows me to go more in depth into how these things work or what their purpose is.
Post-Writing:
I think that the purpose of this introduction was met fairly well. I very clearly spelled all of the questions that I plan on answering throughout my research and the topics that I plan on touching on in my paper or presentation. I think that Any of my reader’s will know exactly what I am about to go into further detail about when they read my introduction. I think that I did a pretty good job with using references to hook the readers by mentioning numbers and interesting facts. As for how well I met my audience’s needs I think again that I did a pretty good job. I wrote it in a casual manner that isn’t to formal and invites the reader to keep going instead of intimidating them. Introduction
