The internet has changed almost every aspect of our lives from how we access the news to how we do our shopping - from how we communicate with our friends and family to how we pay for bills. The way we listen to and purchase music is no different - never before has it been so easy to discover new music or book tickets to see a live act and it has therefore had a huge knock on effect for the music industry.
The music industry was caught unaware by the file-sharing application Napster, founded in 1999. Although it was forced to close due to copyright issues, file sharers found many ways of acquiring free music. Confusion over the legality of such issues and a lack of legitimate means to purchase music online meant that many people felt fine file-sharing.
An apparent reluctance to sell music digitally online had to come to an end and today there are many places where music can be bought online, the most popular of which being the iTunes store. Digital Rights Management (DRM) initially limited how or where music could be played and was seen as penalizing people who chose to purchase music legitimately. Today the vast majority of music does not use DRM.
As well as using the internet as a source of income, the music industry has come to realise that the internet has the potential to be used as a powerful promotional tool. While official websites and newsletters can appear too corporate or dull, by using social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter, fans can feel like they are more connected to their favourite artists. Other websites like YouTube also offer an easy way for the music industry to share with fans their artists' music videos and create interest.
The music industry has often had to play catch up with pirates that are happy to download music for free. But in being forced to look at the potential benefits of the internet rather than trying to stop anyone doing anything, the industry may be able to find new creative ways of delivering music and merchandise to fans all over the world.
The music industry was caught unaware by the file-sharing application Napster, founded in 1999. Although it was forced to close due to copyright issues, file sharers found many ways of acquiring free music. Confusion over the legality of such issues and a lack of legitimate means to purchase music online meant that many people felt fine file-sharing.
An apparent reluctance to sell music digitally online had to come to an end and today there are many places where music can be bought online, the most popular of which being the iTunes store. Digital Rights Management (DRM) initially limited how or where music could be played and was seen as penalizing people who chose to purchase music legitimately. Today the vast majority of music does not use DRM.
As well as using the internet as a source of income, the music industry has come to realise that the internet has the potential to be used as a powerful promotional tool. While official websites and newsletters can appear too corporate or dull, by using social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter, fans can feel like they are more connected to their favourite artists. Other websites like YouTube also offer an easy way for the music industry to share with fans their artists' music videos and create interest.
The music industry has often had to play catch up with pirates that are happy to download music for free. But in being forced to look at the potential benefits of the internet rather than trying to stop anyone doing anything, the industry may be able to find new creative ways of delivering music and merchandise to fans all over the world.
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