Intro to Mass Communication - Chapter 6 - Music

Phonograph

A 19^th century sound reproduction machine that originally recorded onto a tinfoil sheet wrapped around a cylinder

Gramophone

The U.S. brand name for the phonograph; the gramophone used a disc instead of a cylinder

Tin Pan Alley

A term used to refer to the area in Manhattan in which singer-songwriter and publisher teams worked in the early 20^th century

Vaudeville

A popular form of variety entertainment in the early 20^th century that included singing acts, magicians, comedians, and acrobats

Ragtime

A jazzy style of piano music characterized by a syncopated melody that was influenced by offbeat dance music and music

Jazz

An improvisational style of music that emerged in New Orleans in the 1930s, characterized by syncopation and heavily accented rhythms

Blues

A 12-bar musical form with a call-and-response format between the singer and his guitar that originated in the Mississippi Delta at the turn of the 20^th century

Payola

The illegal practice of receiving money from record companies for playing particular songs on the radio

Rhythm and Blues (R&B)

A combination of blues and jazz that was a precursor to rock and roll

Rock and Roll

A blend of rhythm and blues, country and western folk, and gospel music that developed in the 1950s

Merseybeat

Term used to describe the music of blends originating in the Mersey area of England during the 1960s, e.g. the Beatles

Surf Music

Carefree, hedonistic music that developed around the California surf culture in the 1960s and characterized by twanging, distorted electric guitar sounds

Soul

A blend of R&B, pop, gospel, and blues music

Motown

Successful record label founded by Berry Gordy Jr. in Detroit; the Motown sound is characterized by smooth, soulful R&B tunes

Folk

Unpolished genre of music based on oral traditions and often associated with the social protest movement of the 1960s

Folk Rock

Folk music played with electric instrument

Glam Rock

Extravagant, self-indulgent form of rock that incorporated flamboyant costumes, heavy makeup, and elements of hard rock and pop

Disco

Commercialized dance music that became popular in the 1970s and is associated with extravagant, glittery costumes

Punk

Minimalist, angry form of rock that includes simple chord structures and often includes politically motivated lyrics

Hip-Hop

Urban culture that incorporates activities such as break dancing and graffiti art with the musical techniques of rapping, sampling, and scratching records

Gangsta Rap

Controversial form of hip-hop that highlights gang violence

Grunge

Subgenre of alternative rock named for its characteristic sludgy, distorted guitar sound

Great Migration

The mass exodus of rural Southern Black individuals to urban Northern cities in the United States during the first half of the 20^th century

Mississippi Delta

Region in northwest Mississippi, home of the Delta blues style of music

Chicago Blues

Electrified style of blues created in Chicago when migrant bluesmen from the South combined elements of Delta blues and urban blues

Civil Rights Movement

The 1950s and 1960s political movement that pushed to end racial segregation and gain equal rights for Black Americans

Segregation

The post-Civil War separation of black and white individuals. Segregation was maintained by “Jim Crow” laws, which forbade interracial marriage and forced business owners and public institutions to keep their Black and white clientele separated

Producer

The person in charge of the overall recording process. From contracting session musicians to overseeing the budget. A producer is usually a talented musician with knowledge of the technical processes in the recording studio

Hijacking

The practice of releasing a cover version of a song by a white artist on the heels of a hit by a Black performer

Performance Royalties

Money received by songwriters and publishers every time one of their songs is played on a radio station, television show, film soundtrack, or other for-profit arena. Performance royalties are tracked by performing rights organizations, which collect fees on the publisher’s behalf

Oligopoly

A market condition in which a few firms dominate an industry’s production and distribution 

Indie Record Labels

Independent record companies, also known as Indies, not affiliated with any of the Big Four

Vanity Labels

Spin-off indie labels financially backed by one of the major record companies and headed by high-profile artists to create a “label within a label”

MP3 Files

Compressed digital audio files that are small enough to transfer over the internet while maintaining high audio quality

Napster

A centralized online file-sharing system that enabled users to download and share free music. Napster was closed down for copyright infringement in 2000 and relaunched 3 years later as a subscription service

iTunes

A free computer application, first launched for the Mac computer in 2001 and later expanded to include PCs, that converts audio CDs into digital music files, organizes digital music collections, and plays internet audio

iPod

A portable MP3 player, launched by Apple in 2001, that is compatible with iTunes software. The iPod is the best-selling brand of MP3 player on the market

Thomas Edison

Invented the phonograph in 1877

Emile Berliner

Took inspiration from the phonograph and invented the gramophone; founded the Berliner Gramophone Company to manufacture his discs 

Opera Singers

Were the stars of the 19^th century (music generated most of the sheet music sales in the U.S.)

Sheet Music

How other performers could see how the music was played 

Classical Artists

Exalted for their individuality and expected to differ stylistically from other classical artists

Popular Artists

Praised for conforming to the tastes of their intended audience

Copyright Act of 1911

Had imposed a royalty on all records of copyrighted musical works to compensate composers and authors

Radio and Radio Broadcasting

Emerged in the early 1920s and caused both gramophone and sheet music sales to suffer; an affordable medium that enabled listeners to experience events as they took place; Development was a threat to the entire recording industry

King Oliver and Louis Armstrong

Famous jazz musicians: ____ and his protege _____ (considered by many to be one of the greatest jazz soloists in history)

Famous Blues Musicians

W.C. Handy, Ma Rainey, Robert Johnson, Huddie Ledbetter (Leadbelly)

Electric Guitar

First produced by Adoplh Rickenbacker in 1931 changed music by intensifying sound and creating a louder volume that could cut through noise in bars and nightclubs 

Muddy Waters

The first to electrify the blues through the use of electric guitars and to blend urban style with classic Southern blues; Mississippi born guitarist who moved to Chicago in the early 1940s; Revolutionized the blues by combining his Delta roots with an electric guitar and amplifier; Style was peppier and more buoyant than the sorrowful country blues

Overdubbing

Which they played back a previously recorded tape through a mixer, blended it with a live performance, and recorded the composite signal onto a second tape recorder; Guitarist Les Paul with song “Lover (When You’re Near Me)” began to experiment with this

Golden Age of Radio

1920s - 1950s; Number of licensed radio stations in the United States exploded from 5 in 1921 to over 600 by 1925 

Recording Industry

1950s introduction of the television; radio focused on music and joined forces with the _____   ________ to survive

Top 40 Format

In 1955 radio stations created the

Alan Freed

Payola came to a head in the 1960s when Cleveland, Ohio, DJ ____ _____ and 8 other disc jockeys were accused of taking money for airplay; Following his trial, an anti-payola statute was passed, making payola a misdemeanor crime

Elvis Pressley

Singer and guitarist – became the “King of Rock and Roll” and further helped make music written by Black people acceptable to mainstream white audiences; considers first rock and roll icon; helped to popularize rockabilly - a blend of rock and country music - with Black audiences

Rock and Roll

Little Richard and Chuck Berry were early pioneers of ____ ___ _____; style of music had widespread support for style of music among teenagers and widespread dislike among the older generation

The Beatles

Combined elements of skiffle – a type of music played on rudimentary instruments, such as banjos, guitars, or homemade instruments – doo-wop, and soul; Four mop-haired musicians from Liverpool, England created a genre of music first known as Merseybeat, named after the River Mersey; Appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, a top-rated variety program, was then the largest audience ever for an American television program (approximately 1 in 3 Americans (74 million) tuning in)

Beatlemania

term coined to describe fans’ wildly enthusiastic reaction to the band (The Beatles) – soon extended to other British bands

Rolling Stones

Second most popular of the British bands; First appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show featured suggestive dances and lyrics were deemed lewd and vulgar prompting Sullivan to denounce their behavior

Famous Surf Artists

Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, and Dick Dale

Famous Soul Artists

Vocalists such as James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, and Wilson Pickett

Berry Gordy Jr.

Producer and songwriter who developed soul music through the creation of his Motown label, which would become one of the most successful businesses owned by a Black entrepreneur in American history 

Famous Folk Artists

Joan Baez; Peter, Paul, and Mary; and Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan

• “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are A Changing” 

• Attempt to reach a broader crowd inspired the folk-rock genre 

• Won the 2016 Nobel Prize for Literature 

Protest Music

Music in the 1960s was closely aligned with the hippie culture, in which some viewed taking drugs as a form of personal expression and free speech; Jimmy Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, the Doors believed the listening experience could be enhanced using mind-altering drugs

Famous Glam Rock Artists

Slade, David Bowie, the Sweet, Elton John, Gary Glitter

Famous Disco Artists

KC and the Sunshine Band, Gloria Gaynor, the Bee Gees, and Donna Summer 

Famous Hip-Hop Artists

Grandmaster Flash, Furious Five, Public Enemy, and Ice-T (early artists)

Hard Guitar Rock

Early 1980s a second wave of rap artists brought inner-city rap to American youths by mixing it with ____ ______ ____; Pioneered by groups like Run-D.M.C. and the Beastie Boys

Famous Gangsta Rap Artists

Tupac Shakur, the Notorious B.I.G., Dr. Dre, Easy-E, Ice Cube, and Snoop Dogg

West Coast Rappers

(Snoop Dogg and Tupac); Favored gangsta rap

East Coast Rappers

(Notorious B.I.G. and Sean Combs); Stuck to a traditional hip-hop style

Electronic Music

So called because of its reliance on plugged in synthesizers and drum machines to create music – has its roots in disco but found success on its own terms 

Slavery

Has been a haunting but essential part of American economic, social, and cultural life; Point to this as providing roots of much popular music to this day (Banjo and the drum have roots in African music editions); Foundation for jazz, rock, and country music – is an expression of the experience of enslaved people

Delta Blues

Mississippi Delta people who moved to Chicago created this type of music; (characterized by guitar and harmonica) identified by its rhythmic structure and strong vocals

Berry Gordy Jr.

Motown sound; Believed that by coaching talented but unpolished Black artists, he could make them popular in mainstream culture; Hired a professional head an in-house finishing school, teaching his acts how to move gracefully, speak politely, and use proper posture; Had success with the Supremes, the Temptations, the Four Tops, and Martha and the Vandellas

Teenagers

Prior to World War II, music created for adults; after the war a new target audience emerged: _____ as they had more freedom and money due to their parents not forcing them into the military

45 rpm vinyl records

Affordable option for teens with allowances

Dick Clark

Radio presenter in Philadelphia; Acquired enough advertising support to turn local hit music telecast Bandstand into a national television phenomenon; Result was the launch of American Bandstand in 1957, a music television show that featured a group of teenagers dancing to current hit records

Pat Boone 

Most successful cover artist of the era; six of his recordings reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard chart

Little Richard

Dressed in flamboyant clothing with a pompadour hairstyle and makeup, he was an exotic, androgynous performer who blurred traditional gender boundaries and shocked 1950s audiences with his blatant campiness; Wild onstage antics, bisexual tendencies, and love of post-concert orgies (So outrageous that it was not taken seriously)

Record Labels

Companies that record, produce, distribute, market, and promote musicians

Three Types of Labels

• Main labels 

• The subsidiaries of the main labels 

• Independent labels 

The Big Four

• Universal 

• EMI 

• Sony 

• Warner

(In 2012, Universal took over EMI resulting in what we have now (The Big Three))

Big Three

As the 2020s began, accounted for 65 percent of all music sales

Independent Labels (indies)

As the 2020s began, accounted for the other 35 percent of all music sales

R&B

Independent Labels enjoyed a boom during the rock and roll era when ___ music soared in popularity; Between 1955-1959, the U.S. market share of the major companies had dropped from 78 to 44 percent while the market share of independent companies rose from 22 to 56 percent

Sun Records

Played an important role in the development of both rock and roll and country music by releasing records by Elvis Pressley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, and Roy Orbison

Punk Era

During 1970s ____ ___, in which groups rebelled against big company control, indie labels profited from the anti-mainstream, anti-corporate attitude of the punk rock bands

Advantages of Indie Labels

• Generally smaller, enabling them to respond to changing popular musical tastes more quickly than large companies with more cumbersome processes and procedures in place 

• Can focus on niche markets, tapping into regional trends 

• Shorter path from creation of the music to distribution and promotion makes it easier to maintain the artist’s original version 

Reprise Records

• Seen as the first vanity label 

• Founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra 

• Warner Music eventually assumed control over Reprise 

Apple Records

• Ultimate example of a vanity label was _____ _______, created by the most dominant musical group of its time, the Beatles 

• Eventually signed other acts 

• Group found other numerous stars (Mary Hopkin, Badfinger, Billy Preston, and James Taylor 

CDs

Taken over back in 1999 

• More smaller and more portable than vinyl albums 

Had some disadvantages 

• Relatively expensive 

• Could not purchase one song, but had to get the entire disc 

Napster

1999 a Northeastern University student Shawn Fanning dropped out of school to complete work on a software project that would simplify finding and downloading MP3 files by any user on the internet 

• Result was a free downloadable program called ____

iTunes and iPod

Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, launched

Publishing Catalogues

Established as money makers for artists and music companies

Clubhouse

• Invitation only social media app created in 2020 that allowed for conversations in “rooms” that can hold groups of up to 5,000 people 

• Started as a more tech-oriented space, with appearances by Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, performers such as Drake, found it a way to interact directly with audiences in ways that even a live performance could not 

Taylor Swift

• Naive artist when she signed first contracts and lost entire control of her early catalog 

• In 2020, learned that many of the rights to her first six albums had been sold by her former manager 

• With no legal right to regain her early works, she began re-recording all the albums as new productions – which she then made sure to own 

Pandora Radio, Soundcloud, Spotify

• Artists would receive part of a royalty payment each time their song was streamed 

• Streaming company would make money from advertisements played on a free version and subscription fees if listeners wanted an ad-free Premium service 

Phonograph and Gramophone

1870s: Brought sound recordings into people’s home