Evolution of music in different countries
How has music evolved in different countries? What factors have been the catalyst for their development? Has music become so westernised that we have become ignorant to changes within music across different countries and continents?
For me, I think researching this topic would educate me a lot on other countries’ music. Majority of the artists I follow and listen to daily are from either the UK, or North America. Therefore, I don’t know a great deal about artists from other countries, nor could I explain any kind of evolution that different countries have experienced when it comes to their music, whether that be genres, or technological advancements.
is music a social construct?
How does social class effect music genre? Does having a higher/lower social class separate you from certain music? Does education have an impact on your taste in music? Do we just assume that a difference in wealth and education means that music genres are divided among social classes? Do upper class people really prefer classical music or blues in oppose to heavy metal and rap?
This would be a very interesting topic to research. I think as a society, we kind of assume that people with different class status’ listen to completely different music, primarily based on their wealth and education. therefore, I think it would be interesting to see if that is true, or if it is just an assumption.
how has technology changed the music industry?
How has technology changed throughout the years? How was music made in the past, and how could it change in the future? What impact has the advancement of technology had on the music industry? What still needs to change? What didn’t really need to change at all?
I am aware that technology has advanced a lot with music (as it has with almost everything else). However, I don’t know much about the technology that used to be used, and how the advancement within technology has helped the music industry for better or for worse. Researching this topic would give me an insight into how technology has really changed within the music industry, and how it has impacted it.
what are the challenges of being an independent artist?
How much does being an independent artist strain you financially? How many independent artists ‘make it’ in the industry? What impact does social media have on independent artists?
From what I have seen and from what I follow on social media, platforms such as TikTok have been very beneficial for some independent artists to generate some following, and therefore generate streams etc. on their music. However, I would like to research more into what other challenges – aside from streams and followers – an independent artist may face, and the reality of producing and distributing music independently. In my final project last year, I wrote and produced a song, mostly on my own. Therefore, I am interested to know what this is like on a bigger scale, without the help of tutors and friends.
will streaming completely substitute physical copies?
A lot of streaming services have seen an increase in both their users and subscribers, and also the amount of artists uploading their music on to them. Will streaming services completely overtake CDs and vinyls? What impact has Covid-19 had on these substitutions? Are physical copies now considered ‘old school’? Are streaming services more reliable?
I currently listen to most (if not all) of my music through streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music. I very rarely buy physical copies, unless I have reason to. I feel like streaming services have become a lot more convenient to finding new music and new artists, but I also understand that there is still a huge percentage of people who do prefer to have physical copies. By researching this topic, I will know more about music distribution, which will help me if I would like to continue producing and distributing my own music.
the importance of music in film
‘Silent’ films – Buster Keaton. What effect does music have in films? Why is music so important in films? Why are musical films so popular? What impact does music have within the film industry? Composers – Hans Zimmer, John Williams, Max Steiner.
Before studying music, I studied film, looking at different components of film making, including music. Whether that be diegetic, or non-diegetic music, I still have an interest in the importance of music within films, especially within the silent film era. Looking into this topic will help me broaden my knowledge of film music, as well as different composers and their contribution to the development of music within the film industry.