American Music: History and Trends

• These notes cover key questions from Chapter 6, focusing on the history, cultural role, trends, and future of American music.

Tin Pan Alley

• Tin Pan Alley significantly shaped popular music's growth.
• Tin Pan Alley's music differed from classical music in its accessibility, focus on popular appeal, and song structure.

Technological Developments

• Technological advancements, like the phonograph, radio, and the internet, boosted popular music's expansion helping it reach wider audiences.
• These technologies facilitated music production, distribution, and consumption, enhancing its progress and cultural impact.

20th Century Music Genres

• Several genres emerged in the 20th century, including blues, jazz, country, rock and roll, R&B, soul, funk, hip hop, and electronic music.
• Each genre has specific musical elements like blues' chord progressions, jazz improvisation, rock's guitar riffs, and hip hop's sampling and beats.

Cultural Factors

• Cultural elements like social movements, economic conditions, and demographic shifts shaped the popular music industry in the 20th century.

Music's Cultural Influence

• Music influenced culture by reflecting and shaping social values, behaviors, and identities.
• Music and culture are related through a continuous exchange, with music mirroring cultural trends and, in turn, influencing them.

Record Labels

• A record label is a company that markets recorded music and music videos.
• The "Big Three" record labels are Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group.

Major vs. Indie Labels

• Major labels have extensive resources, distribution networks, and marketing capabilities, offering artists broad exposure but less creative control.
• Indie labels provide artists greater autonomy and focus on niche markets but have limited resources and reach.
• Advantages of major labels include larger budgets and wider distribution.
• Disadvantages of major labels include less artistic freedom.
• Advantages of indie labels include more creative control and personalized attention.
• Disadvantages of indie labels include limited funding and marketing.

Vanity Labels

• Vanity labels came about to allow established artists more control over their work.

Peer-to-Peer Sharing

• Peer-to-peer sharing networks initially harmed the music business by enabling widespread illegal downloading.
• Digital music evolved from illegal downloads to legal online stores, like iTunes, which provided a way for consumers to purchase music.

Streaming

• Streaming disrupted the music industry by changing how music is consumed, shifting from ownership to access via subscription services.

Publishing Rights

• Publishing rights are vital as they protect songwriters' and publishers' ownership of musical compositions, ensuring they are compensated for their work.

Chapter 6 explores the evolution of American music, highlighting the impact of Tin Pan Alley and technological developments. It traces the emergence of genres like blues, jazz, and rock and roll during the 20th century. Additionally, it will explore the profound cultural factors shaping its trajectory.