Research Project

The Business of Making Music

Image: Daniel Bedingfield. Copyright: Getty Images, available from Education Image Gallery

Just think of the music industry and what image is conjured up in your mind? Spandex-clad, bouffant-haired posers à la Spinal Tap, teen superstars like Will Young or Daniel Bedingfield, scantily clad girl bands like Girls Aloud or stiff shirted classical players at the Proms?

Whatever it is the chances are we have an image of a job that many of us would like to do. But what is the reality of the music industry - is it the glamorous showbiz lifestyle that we tend to think of or is there more of a darker and less exciting side to it?

This research project is going to look at some of the key issues in how the music industry operates and how business decisions can often outweigh artistic merit and endeavour.

The aim of the project is to build an understanding of some of the business aspects of the music industry and to look at how artists in the industry attempt to survive.

• What Do You Know About the Industry?
• What is the Music Industry?
• Analysing the Industry
• Property Rights
• An Insider's View
• The Bay City Rollers
• The Report