Key points

Convergence: The coming together of multimedia digital data technologies allowing words, audio, video, graphics and animation to be linked and routed together via broadband to create two-way communications. The idea being to produce, distribute and share.

Synergy: Similar convergence but used to describe how companies can pool their resources and exploit products in different markets.

Institution: Refers to the companies and organisations that provide media content and involves an understanding of media as business.

Audience: This refers to the way in which people engage with the media. The new digital media: convergence, uder created content and social networking have transformed the audience from a traditional 'mass' into a 'fragmented' definition.

Production: Recording music.

Distribution: Promoting new music and getting it into shops, on the radio and downloaded for payment.

Consumption: People buying C.D.'s, downloading music, paying for live concert tickets and purchasing related products.

Vertical Integration: Were a media company profits from all aspects of production, distribution and consumption.

Fans: supporters of a certain artist or band in the music industry.

Early Adopters: An early adopter or lighthouse customer is an early customer of a given company, product, or technology; in politics, fashion, art, and other fields, this person would be referred to as a trendsetter
Consumption: the using of a resource.

Digitialisation - Integrationof digital technologies into everyday life by the digitization of everything that can be digitized.

Analogue music - An audio signal is an electrical representation of, i.e., is analogous to, a sound waveform. The signal's voltage fluctuates in the same pattern as the speaker cone that reproduces it. Analog synths use oscillators, filters, amplifiers and other electrical components to create electrical signals analogous to the audio wave forms they are trying to represent.

Globalisation - growth to a global or worldwide scale, a band becoming recognisied around the world

Convergence of technology - Converged technologie typically combine voice, data, and video often on a single platform

Piracy - illegal downloading of music

download - downloading of music

sampling - sampling of music

streaming - listening to music online via a secondary source

Distribution - the release of the music, distributioning music to sellers and buyers

record deal - A multi album record deal is contract deal between an artist and record label that states that the label was release a predetermined number of albums by the artist

plugging - the act of telling people publicly about a product, event, etc

A&R - Artists and repertoire (A&R) is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.
Peer to peer - Stands for "Peer to Peer." In a P2P network, the "peers" are computer systems which are connected to each other via the Internet. Files can be shared directly between systems on the network without the need of a central server. In other words, each computer on a P2P network becomes a file server as well as a client.


web 2.0 - use of bands giving away music and advertisment and also blogs, podcasts, song uploads.

Multitrack - Having, using, or produced with multiple recording tracks

Major record label meaning - The music industry (or music business) sells compositions, recordings and performances of music. Among the many individuals and organizations that operate within the industry are the musicians who compose and perform the music; the companies and professionals who create and sell recorded music

Independent record label - An independent record label (or indie record label) is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. Indie record labels are where a great number of bands and musical acts get a start, and where many find their success.

Niche audience - Relatively small audience with specialized interests, tastes, and backgrounds. Many important forms of social creativity are of direct interest only to niche audiences.

Mainstream audience meaning - Mainstream is, generally, the common current of thought of the majority. However, the mainstream is far from cohesive; rather the concept is often considered a cultural construct. It is a term most often applied in the arts

Active audience - audience members who already are interested in an organization, issue, or cause. Instead of waiting to receive information on it, they seek it out from many sources and when doing so, they speak as well as listen.

Audiophile - A hi-fi enthusiast