week 2-3

During the initial classes, I could not help but notice Paul’s love for music, especially punk and rock’n’roll. He seems to have a particular interest in collecting items that reveal to me the generation in which he grew up.These items; records, books, leather jackets or what ever they might be, exemplify how the music industry evolved along the years, how this industry adapted to keep up with the general needs and interests and how these interests in buying music change. In 1990 music was sold for the music but then the industry shifted towards more visual and aesthetic attributes. I believe that these changes were caused by the complex of inter-related cultural and political events, which in this case would often be express through artwork and music and presented in many different forms and methods. For example, the release of the Sex Pistols’ album “God save the queen” was timed to coincide with Queen Elizabeth's Silver Jubilee celebrations and it sold with great success.

This evolution in the music industry did not stop there and soon even cassette tapes went out of date. Artists of today are inspired by the industry of past generations; they build on old-fashioned methods, adapting and repackaging them for business purposes. For example the Sonic youth mix tape is available to listen to for free on the web. http://www.sonicyouth.com/jukebox/jukebox.html

Recently the Ipod has provided a more tactile and visual object that provides a different kind of listening experience - i.e. on the web, music videos, music sharing etc. It has also completely erased the Sony portable tape and C.D. player “walkman”.

So what I have learned is that the music industry as it used to be is over and as Paul said in class ”If u can digitise it, give it away”. Finally it was interesting and inspiring to watch a speech by Steve Jobs through which I have come to understand that it is important not to forget who we are and how we got to where we are.