It is evident from the effects in the music industry that revolutionary changes have occurred over time. Over the past years, technology has contributed a lot to the main changes in most industries. Moreover, technological changes globally have led to the major changes in the music industry. Innovations in the industrial revolution have brought about vast improvements in the music industry from 1800’s (Smith). Actually, changes in the industrial revolution lead to improvements in musical instruments, therefore, helped composers to improve on music production (Andrews). For instance, if one listens to past records that were produced before and during industrial revolution like Edison Amberol Records, Cole Banjos, and Columbia Record and current records produced after industrial revolution, a big difference will be noticed.
In addition, technological changes in the industrial revolution period resulted to change in how the method of printing and disserting music (Spreadbury). In the medieval time, there were no different catalogues of music only traditional and religious were present. Over a period time, different music catalogues were introduced because of the change in technology and rise of music composers. This paper will look closely at the history of the music industry and its products, for instance, music catalogue, published song sheets brought about by the changes in the industry. Such as the Washburn, Band Catalogue, and Chicago express just to name a few.
Technology has continued to dominate in the music industry, therefore, leading major changes therefore production of durable and improved materials (Miayf.com). Presently, various methods present music, which include photographic plates, composer’s manuscripts, music typewriters, and computer software, for instance, fruit loops. Nowadays, the recording of music has replaced the song sheets, thus, making it possible for the music to play on radio stations and entertainment joints.
The music industry has grown making it possible for people to listen to the music by downloading and streaming the music. Unlike in the past where people had to buy CDs and tapes to listen to music, people can now easily get music by use of the internet through sites like ReverbNation, iTunes, TuneCore and Youtube (Richardson Andrews). Therefore, catalogues such as the 1901 Edison Phonograph are not in much use nowadays. However, with the rise in distribution, there is the problem illegal sharing of the music, which is a big challenge. The illegality of music sharing due to easy access to music led to the introduction of different laws in the music industry to protect musicians. For instance introduction of copyright laws introduced ensure that music is not pirated.
Next, with the increased levels of music accessibility to people, companies have expanded their catalogues. Over time, the categorization of music has changed due to the increased production of music by companies. The earliest example of music was mostly religious music, which included psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Mostly those who produced music were servants in the church (Kerr Dobney). From the 15th century to 18th Century, religious music dominated in the America. The period of religious music was known to Biblical period. During the American Revolution, religious compositions by composers were featured however only the plainsong of the Roman Catholic Church has survived to date.
In the 18th Century, there was the development of folk music through the oral tradition music. There was a lot of evolution of music in America and Europe; therefore, the countries pioneered the development of music catalogue. In the 9th Century, major developments took place that included suppressing of the chant traditions, reinventing of notation, and singing of the polyphonic song. Thereafter, in the late 13th century there was the development of sacred music, which later was suppressed by the church. A century later in the 15th Century printing of music sheets contributed to the immense dissemination of different musical styles (Axford).
The biggest change was evident in the 19th Century especially begin of the mid-19th Century. In Mid-19th Century, there was the increase in different music catalogues because of the rise of different musicians, producers, and composers. Pop, classic, soul, and rock music dominated during that era to early 20th Century. Musicians, for example, Michael Jackson was well known in the mid-19th Century for their good music. It was in the mid-19th Century when audio and video music that came into life (Axford). From then, different catalogues have evolved such as religious songs and secular music, for instance, hip hop, RNB, and rock. Because of different music catalogues, musicians now specialize in a specific genre of music. People now listen to any kind of music without choosing where music is produced.
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