chapter 4. Audio Flashcards
Recordings Function
Entertainment
Cultural Transmission (passing on culturally relevant values)
Education (vocab, dance, rhythm), styles and trends (how to talk/dress)
History of Recorded Music
“First non-print form of mass media” Phonograph (T. Edison) - used tinfoil to record phone messages Graphophone (Alexander G. Bell) - used beeswax to record audio Gramophone (Emile Berliner) - used discs Grooved vinyl albums 8-track tapes Cassette tapes, walkman CDs Digital recordings (mp3)
Music Industry Today
Major labels: Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group.
Indie labels make up 66% of all music, but only 20% of all sales.
Problems: difficult for small labels to get big; digital piracy
How record industry works
Record labels are the talent gatekeepers
“Payola”: secret payments in return for increased airplay
Distribute via iTunes, CD, amazon
Determine pricing
Industry Outlooks
technologies to prevent illegal copying Shutting down file sharing sites Single song downloads vs. full album Subscription services (spotify, Apple Music)
Broadcasting
comes from sowing seeds. Point-to-point communication.
Types of Radio
Amplitude modulation (AM) Frequency modulation (FM) -- less expensive Sat. radio and internet radio (XM and Spotify)
Heinrich Hertz
demonstrated existence of waves
Granville T. Woods
invented ‘railway telegraphy’ between moving train and station
Guglielmo Marconi
invented radio telegraphy (“the wireless”). He made real-time comm. possible with the telegram
Lee de Forest
the father of radio because he added voice to radio transmission
Radio Act of 1927
(Federal Radio Commission)
Those on radio have civic duty to broadcast responsibly
This system favored high-powered stations
FCC
(Fed. Comm. Commission)
Radio station owners must be US citizens
Policy encouraged consolidation (US radio controlled by 11 groups)
Radio today
East of Mississippi (W), West of Mississippi (K)
Reduce costs by using digital systems
Local radio station may have a DJ in L.A.
