Peterson & Berger: Tin Pan Alley

Question 1

What type of explanation do Peterson and Berger give for the birth of rock n roll?

Answer 1

An industrial explanation

Question 2

Describe the music industry from the 20s to the 50s

Answer 2

-dominated by an oligopoly of 4 firms, each tied to a radio or movie comapany
-maintained control of entry; wasn’t expsensive to enter (recording was cheap)- rather they had diagonol integration (meaning they controlled the means of promotion through their relationship with radio networks and film musicals)

RCA, Columbia, Decca, and Capitol

Question 3

What does it mean that Tin Pan Alley had downstream market power?

Answer 3

-They also controlled distribution (retail)
-labels would own shelves in a store where they could sell their records

Question 4

How did Tin Pan Alley exert power through cover versions?

Answer 4

They would buy rights to smaller songs and would then be covered by popular artists

People preferred to hear a well known singer

Question 5

What does it mean that Tin Pan Alley controlled things through co-opting surrogate consumers?

Answer 5

could control distribution through radio netwroks, movie soundtracks, and vaudeville

Question 6

Main ways Tin Pan Alley controlled the music industry

Answer 6

1. Diagonol Integreation & co-opting surrogate consumers
2. Downstream market power
3. Cover version