Music In The Digital Age

For the past 50 years, major recording companies have dominated the domestic music business, having created a symbolic relationship with music distribution and promotion partners radio and retail and acquired a significant portion of music publishing (Friedlander).
             In the music industry, the concept of massive spending on promotion, marketing, and distribution is what gives the major labels their competitive edge. The Internet makes copying and distributing recorded music fast, cheap, and easy (Mann). Lowering these costs via the Internet allows independent labels, once unable to compete with the majors in terms of promotion and distribution, to survive in a business where capital talks and good music walks. The growth of digital distribution will result in the balance of power shifting away from large-scaled entertainment companies to the independent artist favored record label (Harris). The major labels are in court fighting battles trying to keep possession of the pipeline. The issue of who has rights to distribute music online has been a sticking point since the early days of the Net. Major labels have a lot to lose under a new business model.
             Independent Internet record labels, on the other hand, have really nothing to fear. Thus, for a number of reasons, the Internet seems to be a hero for independent labels. In an industry where capital equals success, the Internet is a champion to the small business that cannot compete financially with the big boys. The Internet does not require large sums of capital, merely good music (Anderson). Previously, one of the main attractions of a major was distribution. Perhaps the greatest advantage the Internet has to offer is a free and easy means of getting music to listeners without relying on a third party. So, if the Internet is.inherently independent, it's because it offers a self-determined means of distributing music (Nielson).
             Internet record labels allow small and independent artists to contact the public directly, eliminating the need for manufacturing packaging, warehousing, and distribution of product.