According to Nietzsche, life without music is a mistake. Indeed, there are few creations of mankind that are as integral to life as music. Over the centuries technology has impacted music and the profession of musicians. The Internet is perhaps the greatest disruptor of music changing the distribution ways of music, legally or not.
In my New Technology class of 2013, Eric Nielsen did research on how technology over time, beginning with Edison’s phonograph all the way to the current age of the Internet, has changed the profession of creating and performing music. Eric looks at the state of professional musicians in the current age and provides information on how they make money.
Finally, Eric addresses the question: has the digital age created a more lucrative environment for professional musicians?
New Technology Paper: The Impact of the Digital Age on Professional Musicians
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