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The Music Industry - 1950s

Date post: 22-Oct-2014
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A look at artists and institutions during the 1950s
11
MUSIC IN THE 1950 S
Transcript
Page 1: The Music Industry - 1950s

MUSIC IN THE 1950S

Page 2: The Music Industry - 1950s

Radio—Before the rise of the internet (on demand music), radio was important in getting artists airplay, which then meant they’d be more likely to sell many records.

Television—Music videos, as we now know them, did not exist in the ’50s.

Records Albums & Tape—These were purchased directly by the audience and could be listened to on demand. The Compact Disk (CD) hadn’t been invented them to people listened to music on ‘Vinyls.’

HOW DID AUDIENCES CONSUME MUSIC?

Page 3: The Music Industry - 1950s

Emergence of Rock’n’Roll—this included artists such as Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry.

Classic Pop—artists such as Frank Sinatra.

Blues & Jazz—Ray Charles, Nina Simone.

Folk & Country Music—Johnny Cash

WHICH ARTISTS AND GENRES WERE POPULAR?

Page 4: The Music Industry - 1950s

ELVIS PRESLEY

CHUCK BERRY

FRANK SINATRA

Page 5: The Music Industry - 1950s

Classic Pop music was popular because it provided familiar sounding music. There was more of an emphasis on the artist’s voice than there is nowadays.

Artists like Chuck Berry made Rock‘n’Roll influential by incorporating things that weren’t popular before the 1950s, such as: electric guitars, guitar solos, showmanship, and a focus on teen life (which appeal to the youth.) Rock’n’Roll was also considered to be quite rebellious and unconventional (Elvis Presley interpreted many African American songs) which again appealed to the youth.

Blues artists focused more on upbeat, rather than melancholy, music.

Rockabilly spawned from Country Music, where there was more of an emphasis on catchy beats, electric guitar, and acoustic bass.

WHY WERE GENRES POPULAR?

Page 6: The Music Industry - 1950s

Especially within the youth, subcultures based around gang culture or ‘greasers’ emerged in the 1950s. This led to rejection of authority, and therefore meant they’d prefer to listen to more unconventional styles of music, namely Rock ‘n’ Roll.

A lot of this rebellion came about due to the Beat Generation: this was the name given to a group of writers who emerged in the 1950s. Their style was based around innovation, nonconformity, and a more progressive stance on drugs and sexuality.

The best selling single in the 1950s in the UK, “Rock Around The Clock”, sold 1.39m copies. The best selling single of all time in the UK, “Candle In The Wind”, has sold 4.91m copies.

SUBCULTURES AND TRENDS

Page 7: The Music Industry - 1950s
Page 8: The Music Industry - 1950s

MUSIC INSTITUTIONS IN THE ‘50S

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During the mid 20 th century, aspiring artists started small; they performed locally, hoping they would be discovered. They were seen busking and working in low end jobs to go to Hollywood/Tinsletown for their chance.

In some ways, this does occur today. There are thousands of artists who are talented; they write, sing, produce but simply can’t be discovered because record labels construct artists for guaranteed chart and financial success

HOW WERE NEW ARTISTS FOUND AND DEVELOPED?

Page 10: The Music Industry - 1950s

Musicians would also rely on radios playing their songs (“airplay”) as marketing for their music.

Musicians had to market their image as well as their voice. This would be done by starring in their own movies, often featuring their current music. This is an example of cross media synergy; Elvis was a big advocate of this.

When not making movies, rock stars would have their own teen-aimed television series such as American Bandstand.

Musicians would continuously be on the road; to reach new audiences in diff erent countries and regions.

HOW WAS MUSIC MARKETED (CROSS-MEDIA SYNERGY)?

Page 11: The Music Industry - 1950s

In the United Kingdom during the 1950s and 1960s, the major record companies had so much power that independent labels struggled to become established.

Several British producers and artists launched independent labels as outlets for their work and artists they liked, but the majority failed as commercial ventures or were swallowed up by the majors

In the United States, independent labels and distributors often banded together to form organizations to promote trade and also to simply match up to the big labels

MAINSTREAM VS UNDERGROUND


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