MEDIA & SOCIETY: MUSIC
What is “pop” music?
Where does it come from?
“The Culture Industry” and the “Mass Culture” Critique
•"mass culture" is produced for masses, not individuals
•Made for passive consumption
•Culture (such as pop music) is just another commodity
Theodor Adorno “On Popular Music”
Adorno’s Characteristics of “Popular Music”
1. Standardized
2. Popular music promotes passive listening
3. Popular music functions as "social cement"
 the "rhythmically" obedient type and the
"emotional" type'
Federal Regulations
• Radio Act of 1912
• During World War I the U.S. Navy
took over all radio
• Government forced British interests out of US radio
• Formed a new company
– Radio Corporation of America - RCA
• Radio Act of 1927
– Federal Radio Commission
– Establish standard broadcast bands
– Frequency allocation
David Sarnoff
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Marconi Wireless operator
“Radio music box”
Became director of RCA
Opposed commercial sponsorship
Commercial Sponsorship
• AT&T had always charged for long distance
– Also “Ship to shore”
• Natural next step?
Network Radio
• AT&T established the first network
– Network: interconnected stations
– Affiliates: contract with network for content
• RCA launches NBC network
• CBS
• FCC orders RCA to sell one of its networks
Radio Days
• decline in recording industry
• used live music
• new program genres
– Situation comedy
– Dramas
– Quiz shows
– Soap operas
Radio in the Age of Television
• Prime time radio audience moved to television
• Shift from a national to a local focus
• New radio format featured recorded music
– payola
FM began distinct rock formats
– Focused on segmented audience
– More channels available in given market
The New Radio Networks
• In 1970s and 1980s radio almost
completely local
• 1990s brought “radio groups”
• Telecommunication Act of 1996
– Deregulated ownership
– “cross ownership”
Radio Groups
– In business of owning and running stations all over
country
Clear Channel Communication
– Advertisers can reach a national audience
Current Radio Format
• Playlist specified by music director
• “on air personality” not disc jockey
• Many AM stations emphasize news and
talk formats
Radio Diversity?
• Scarce resource means should operate in
public interest
• Deregulation means fewer locally
programmed
• But may be more formats in same market
Music on the Internet
• CD drives in PCs
• Downloading and uploading digital music
Copyright of music
– Copyright: legal privilege to use, sell, or license
creative works
– Royalty fees: Fee paid to use intellectual property
– encryption
Radio and royalties
– ASCAP and BMI (Music licensing groups)
• 1% to 2% of a radio station’s gross
• Future model for downloading?