Albini "The Problem With Music"
Please note: Albini's essay is rated pg-13 for language. He's got some important things to say about the music business, but he doesn't always say them nicely.
What is A&R, and what does the A&R rep do?
What is a "deal memo" and why is it important?
How is it possible for a band to sell hundreds of thousands of records and still see little in the way of profit?
Seabrook "The Big Sellout"
What has happened to the “barriers to entry” in the culture industry?
Who are the “new mediators?” Who are the “old mediators?”
Marketing has taken a greater role in what part of the entertainment industry?
What is the “big grid?”
What is the “small” or “intimate” grid?
Why are music videos important to Seabrook?
McLeod "Happy Birthday, Screw You"
Who is most likely to enforce penalties for copyright infringements?
What do copyright laws try to prevent?
Why does McLeod care about copyright?