-Divided We Stand! Segmentation of Rock into Sub-Genres-

Since the 1950’s, rock & roll has risen to be among one of the most popular music genres.  People love to debate its origins, but the fact of the matter is that rock was a hybrid of various music genres, which then blended to take on the identity of this new, hip genre of the 50’s called rock.  Blended genres included blues (evident in the original version of “Hound Dog” by Big Mama Thornton), jump-blues and western swing (Bill Haley and The Comets’ “Rock Around the Clock”), and R & B (especially white artist covers of songs, such as by Elvis Presley). 

By the 1960’s though, there was even further converting of blues songs into rock songs, particularly by rockers from England.  During these times, radio stations and new recording labels began creating new music genres and developing new artists, respectively.  Through all of this, it led to the rise of not only new sub-genres, but more importantly the rise of new audiences whom have never been served by any record label or radio network.  Ultimately by the late 60’s-early 70’s, rock would become segmented into its more or less current various and distinct sub-genres.  The addition of punk (The Sex Pistols) and glam rock (David Bowie), fusions of rock with R & B, soul, and Jamaican rhythms added ska (The Specials) and reggae (Bob Marley) along with various additions to rock in the 80’s and 90’s has further led to the segmentation of rock into sub-genres, which still stand today and are backed by distinct recording companies, radio stations, and their loyal fans. 

-The Internet Puts a Spin on Music Technologies! …Then Raises Copyright Issues-

The advances in music technologies are very fascinating, albeit gradually progressive…  True, the short and sweet of the story is that music recordings evolved from an analog format to a digital one, but the exact stages are what’s important to bear in mind; particularly the current Internet music technologies.  This type of audio format quickly rose to replace CD’s as the primary choice of people’s music storage and playing, and it isn’t terribly difficult to see why: a computer hard drive can store thousands upon thousands of music data files, and also allow the user to download/acquire music without having to transfer or copy the music files directly from any hardcopies, like a CD. 

However, as beneficial as Internet music technology has been, it has also opened the door to huge challenges in copyright laws.  The most apparent is the issue of file sharing: the advances in technology has made it incredibly easy for people to transfer music files to one another and download files themselves, without having to pay any fees to the artist or recording company.  However, a more intriguing issue is actually concerned with copyrighting ownership.  Economically and historically, it was the record industry executives (‘The Suits’) who held this control by having artists sign over the rights to their songs in their contracts.  But now through Internet technology, many new entrants are allowed in music recording, production, and distribution-Some music groups avoid record contracts and sell/distribute their own music over the Internet.  For groups whom were signed with a company, this now leads to a clash on who really holds the rights to the songs: the group who put their blood, sweat, and tears into making it, or The Suits?

-The History of Popular Music and where it’s Going-

From music’s long and complex history, was can gather an idea as to where the business of music is heading towards.  ‘The Suits’ are always working diligently to garner large market shares in the industry, done by seeking target genres so as to accommodate a particular audience.  Due to the amount of companies in the industry, heightened competition has stressed the importance of music research and targeted marketing so that a company may gain a competitive advantage over its competitors.  This in turn places great importance on who makes the key decisions for recording, distributing, and promoting the music: In essence, the music industry has become and most definitely is a big business-Even if it is all about entertainment. 

Music is also progressing in artistic and even political statements, though it doesn’t quite occur often…  Artists have taken political stands and shown their personal views and beliefs in their music, spanning many various topics and issues.  Artists illustrate their positions regarding from a presidential administration’s actions/visions, laws or regulations, to current trends or concerns such as violent influences from media forms or inhumane acts committed by a particular group.  In general, artists are able to literally express and relay onto others what they feel through the very lyrics in their music-almost like a personal insight into the artist. 

-History of the Radio: Understanding how Internet, Podcasting, and other Audio Media will Develop-

Radio has a very deep and intricate history-Marconi and other early inventors were standardizing the technologies during World War I, running concurrently with the US Navy accelerating its advances of radio for their use.  The US government opposed foreign control of such crucial technology for their military purposes, and the Navy held control of radio until after the war, and it was then where radio was returned to the public.  By 1920, Frank Conrad began the first regularly scheduled radio broadcasts, drawing interest and national coverage.  As radio became more and more popular, more businesses and institutions even latched onto it: retail stores used radio to promote their goods, newspapers posted headlines, and even schools and churches saw the educational and informational possibilities by utilizing the radio.  Eventually, advertisers were charged a fee for broadcasting their content, which was based upon the amount of air time spent.  The radio spanned from entertainment (music, variety shows, sports, etc) to news, promotions, and much more, including political broadcasts. 

Based off this, was can infer a great deal on how internet radio, podcasting, and other audio media are going to develop, and in some cases have ALREADY developed.  Due to the type of society we’ve grown and are accustomed to living in, these types of audio medias have already had Commercial Forms woven into them.  There are constant ads all around us in our consumer driven society, which means that you will certainly find ads in the media: picture ads on internet radio sites, pre-recorded advertisements and sponsors during pauses in a podcast-all aimed at trying to get a product out to the listening audience. 

The same can be said of these audio medias developing in both Political and Artistic Forms.  Since radio is a great tool to get one’s ‘voice heard’ so to speak, radio media can easily be used to express, influence, and spread the political views and beliefs of those broadcasting.  It’s most definitely being used in both podcasts and internet radio, especially when a political news group such as Fox utilizes the technology of the radio medias.

As for the Artistic Forms, they would most obviously correlate to the entertainment that everyone is accustomed to ever since the rise of radio broadcasts, for what we’ve had or even currently have on radio will typically make the leap onto internet radio and the like.  Radio broadcasts on New York hit radio station Z-100 are also broadcasted online for those unfortunate enough to not be near a radio: They play the music we love in addition to providing entertainment in the forms of interviews with popular celebrities, and even the hilarious ‘Phone Tap’ prank calls are online.  Also, popular shows (both on TV and internet web-isodes alike) have since become podcasts, and can be downloaded onto a person’s iPod via iTunes so that the person may view and listen to the show during a time of their leisure, even if they are out and about.

-Making Radio a More ‘Local’ Medium Again? Regulation of Large Radio Groups-

Since the rise and subsequent domination of select radio group giants, there has been much debate and consideration given to developing new regulations in order to break up these large radio groups, with the ultimate hopes of making radio a local medium again.  While the thought of reduced competition in any given industry and even possible monopolizations are quite scary to think of, applying that thought and concern to the radio field is rather…Extreme, to put it lightly.  I honestly don’t believe that new regulation can be justified to break up large radio groups and OPTIMISTICALLY make radio a more local medium again.  This is because a vast majority of people have already become so accustomed to these large groups, and a break up would cause a huge shock and possibly even shake the very foundation of the current radio media model.  Consider this: These select groups have become such giants in the industry because they have and continue to run well thought out business models; they know what their audience wants, and they give them a successful blend of it, including news, entertainment, politics, etc…  By breaking up such groups, it breaks down that fully established order and structure, which means smaller groups have to pick up the individual pieces and run it themselves-Pieces that were once all handled collectively by a large group.

In addition, the large groups don’t exactly ‘kill off’ the smaller, local groups as people might fear is the case.  Every city and town can, and usually do, have their own local radio group(s) which cater to the SPECIFIC demands of the local residents; ie, local news from around the town.  It’s key to note that both large and small local radio groups can co-exist due to the different purposes they serve.  Large radio groups are more of a major and generic group, since they would play popular music or music of a specific genre (jazz, rock, country, etc…) as well as broadcast national news such as Presidential messages and economic information like the country’s spending deficit.  In contrast, the smaller and local radio groups are able to provide information specific to the town in which they’re located in.  They can cover an event at a local recreational park, recent muggings within the area, and other such topics that would useful and RELEVANT to that specific town.  Both are very beneficial to the public, and although the large radio groups have a strangle hold on most areas of the radio industry, smaller local groups will always have that niche for their local towns, and with that they’ll be sure to continue to hang around the air waves. 

-The Web is DEAD, Long Live the Internet!-

The growing trend in today’s society shows that the Web is rapidly fading into the memories of people, due in large part to the rapidly growing use of the Internet. It’s first important to understand the difference between the two terms, since most people think they mean the same and can be used interchangeably… The Web is basically a browser, we use it to look up and search things online, whereas the Internet is more of a pipe line which moves and drives things online. To understand it more so, the Internet is allowing things to come to us instead of having to search online for it! A great example would be Facebook: most that have one, log into their profile while online, and find that they don’t stray onto other sites while signed on Facebook. Additionally, advances in technology in general are rapidly excelling to the demise of the Web: with smart phones and apps in today’s society, people can get things quickly without having to rely on the Web and search for it.


Going back to the point on Facebook, it is the inarguable ruler of the Internet as of now. As mentioned previously, most people who log into Facebook are so content for being on the site for those hours that they don’t even bother to go to any other sites. This is because of all the features Facebook has to offer: its main purpose, being a social network in which people can communicate with one another, sending and receiving messages, uploading and viewing photos, etc… In addition to these uses, Facebook now brings many things TO the people: With the advertisements at the margins, people can now go DIRECTLY to their interests without searching for it, and it’s all based upon the information the profile holds. If someone lists themselves as a New York Yankees fan, Yankee apparel and tickets might come as an ad, for instance. This demonstrates how things are done faster and more efficient through the Internet, rather than the Web.

Google, in contrast is the supreme king of the Web. Its purpose IS to conduct searches on the online, displaying many results for whatever a user’s inquiry might be. Asides from this, they also have a unique position in advertising: Google manages both traffic and advertising (sales) that appear on their site, which in turn means that Google has made it impossible for any other business to even compete against it through means of the Web.

Apple is another heavy hitter in the ‘Web vs Internet’ battle. Apple, of course, is an innovative company that seems to have an endless list of creative and new technological ideas. They, like Facebook, tie more towards the Internet through perhaps the greatest innovation yet: Apps. It is perhaps the rise of Apps that has truly sped up the demise of the Web…Take into consideration their motto: There’s an App for that. Whatever people may need or want, they can simply go to the App and immediately attain it: The weather, the current news, a new pair of shoes, just about anything imaginable can be had!

There are a few key issues which New Media is facing today… While it certainly is making things, ‘Better, cheaper, faster’, people have to stop and wonder exactly at what cost is this being achieved. It used to be about getting one’s voice heard, their thoughts and views addressed to the masses and spreading ideas. Under new models being seen, it is moving more and more towards a stressed focus on money rather than ‘the voice of the people.’ Going further with the point, it’s key to realize that media can be both good and bad, depending on if it supports itself or not. But perhaps the biggest issue would be about censorship in New Media. Since it is more open to people, anyone can say anything they’d like via the Internet, messages, etc… Should some things be censored or regulated, based upon sensitivity to an issue or topic, or would it be an out-right violation of Freedom of Speech? It’s a very tough topic to ponder given the views of both sides to the argument, but it’s one that should be bared in mind given the enhanced access of media to people.

-What Convergence has meant in my life and how it affects me-

Convergence has meant a great deal to my personal life, as I’ve been raised in this ‘digital age.’ When I use my cell phone, I’m able to send and receive not only calls but text messages, I can also browse the Web, look up information, etc. It has come to the point where everything is literally at my finger-tips. When I log onto Facebook, in addition to having another channel to communicate with others, I also have ads and information coming directly to me. Without really ever realizing it, this convergence has had a huge affect on me. Things feel as if they’re more ‘simplistic’, more instantaneous: information, interests, communications, everything is readily available at any time now.

-Ways in which New Media are affecting careers-

New Media is affecting careers because with advancing technology and convergence, it makes jobs and careers more hostile and ‘insecure.’ Many entry-level openings become available due to high turn over rates in the media field, where the older and more experienced workers retain their positions. So in turn, the more experienced and knowledgeable a worker is with New Media, the more ‘job security’ they might have. It also plays a huge role in Globalization, the integration of a more unified communication and trade between countries throughout the globe. People are now able to speak live with other people around the world: calling Microsoft for a problem will connect you to a representative in India to help solve the problem. Businesses are able to expand into new areas much more fluidly, given the fact that new areas of operations are able to stay in near constant contact with central headquarters back in the mother country.