Blog 2
History of Music Distribution
and
Current Distribution Practices
How was music marketed in the mid to late 20th century?
In the 1700s and 1800s, music was largely funded by the state, the church, and wealthy private patrons, or was simply played in the home by amateurs. Publishers were able to sell thousands and thousands of copies sheet music to the musically literate public of “hit songs” to be played at home on their pianos. The constant production of new songs that could capture the public’s attention became a booming model for publishers and songwriters. The 20th century expanded this model of mass distribution. There became a larger and larger demand for dance bands, and published arrangements of popular songs for them to play. The “band business” became a huge market between WW1 and WW2. Simultaneously, the technology for recording performances onto a record became better and better, and more and more Americans purchased record players and albums. But the biggest boom came with radio. In the 1920s radio set producers started broadcast networks. (After all, you can’t sell radios if there’s nothing being broadcast.) At first the programming was free, but radio producers soon realized they had sold nearly everyone a radio and they needed a way to generate a new stream of revenue. There entered the advertising model which has supported radio for generations (with the exception of Public Radio) and now, in the 21st century, also provides the model for streaming services like Spotify.
In the 1930s the recording industry dipped with the great depression as Americans began to favor radio (since it was free). But In the late ’30s, as the US started to come out of the depression, the advent of swing music drove young people to buy records again. The jukebox industry also began to boom, which increased the sale of records. This model continued through the mid 1940s.
The 1990s marked the beginning of the end for the big record companies. First came the CDR which allowed people to copy CDs. Records were very difficult to copy. Tapes were easier to copy but copies were reduced in quality (and tapes could be a pain to listen to and they broke easily). But CD duplication offered people a way to share music in full quality without paying for it. Soon on the heels of the burned CD was the MP3, followed quickly by sharing sites like Napster which allowed people to share recordings quickly and easily without spending a dime.
How do musicians market their music now?
Effective music marketing happens when you work in a way that maintains your identity as an artist. This means engaging with your current fans through email campaigns, your music website, playlists, or blogs.
There are some other ways that market the music
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1. Develop A Presence On Social Media Platforms
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2. Create TikTok & Short-Form Content
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3. Post Content Regularly Online
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4. Paid Advertising
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5. Email Marketing Campaigns
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6. Perform Memorable Live Shows
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7. YouTube For Musicians
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8. Live Stream Your Music Online
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9. Connect With Music Fans 1-1
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10. Feature On Music Podcasts
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11. Collaborate With Other Influencers & Musicians
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12. Get Your Music Playlisted On Streaming Platforms
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13. Reach Out To Bloggers & Journalists For Press Coverage
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14. Run Contests Or Giveaways
How do and have the big labels marketed music?
Record labels often promote their artists through social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Artists and labels use these channels to share behind-the-scenes footage, promote upcoming events, and connect with fans. They also spend a lot of money on advertising to get the attention of their target consumer groups.
What forms of media are used to distributed music?
Music distribution is the process of getting your songs available to stream or download on music stores and streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music, plus social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
What purpose do record labels serve?
The main role of a record label in the music industry is to handle the distribution and promotion of their signed artists' music. The label makes money by taking a portion (usually half) of the ownership of the artist's music. A record label will use its platform to generate sales and streams of its music.
The record companies have many of these resources. They also have tremendous connections with promoters, radio stations and other media outlets. More importantly, they know exactly which music monetization channels are most effective today and where monetization is likely to go in the future. The basic question artists should be asking themselves today is whether the influx of money can have a huge positive impact on their careers. This is where record labels come into play. If an artist needs studio time, wants to shoot a music video, or wants to go on tour, they either have to self-finance, put things on hold, or let the record company cover those costs. The artist has to decide how big they want to sign in exchange for what they get. The record company has to decide if it's worth it for them to invest in signing the artist and paying that money. If the record company thinks they can make money from the artist's music, then a deal can be struck. At the end of the day, only the artist can decide if they want to sign with a record label.
