“The Culture Industry” and the “Mass Culture” Critique "mass culture" is produced for masses, not individuals Made for passive consumption Culture (such as pop music) is just another commodity MEDIA & SOCIETY: MUSIC What is “pop” music? Where does it come from?

Theodor Adorno “On Popular Music” Adorno’s Characteristics of “Popular Music” 1. Standardized 2. Popular music promotes passive listening 3. Popular music functions as "social cement"  the "rhythmically" obedient type and the "emotional" type'

Federal Regulations Radio Act of 1912 During World War I the U.S. Navy took over all radio

Government forced British interests out of US radio Formed a new company –Radio Corporation of America - RCA

Radio Act of 1927 –Federal Radio Commission –Establish standard broadcast bands –Frequency allocation

David Sarnoff Marconi Wireless operator “Radio music box” Became director of RCA Opposed commercial sponsorship

AT&T had always charged for long distance –Also “Ship to shore” Natural next step? Commercial Sponsorship

AT&T established the first network –Network: interconnected stations –Affiliates: contract with network for content RCA launches NBC network CBS FCC orders RCA to sell one of its networks Network Radio

decline in recording industry used live music new program genres –Situation comedy –Dramas –Quiz shows –Soap operas Radio Days

Prime time radio audience moved to television Shift from a national to a local focus New radio format featured recorded music –payola Radio in the Age of Television

FM began distinct rock formats –Focused on segmented audience –More channels available in given market

In 1970s and 1980s radio almost completely local 1990s brought “radio groups” Telecommunication Act of 1996 –Deregulated ownership –“cross ownership” The New Radio Networks

Radio Groups –In business of owning and running stations all over country Clear Channel Communication –Advertisers can reach a national audience

Playlist specified by music director “on air personality” not disc jockey Many AM stations emphasize news and talk formats Current Radio Format

Scarce resource means should operate in public interest Deregulation means fewer locally programmed But may be more formats in same market Radio Diversity?

CD drives in PCs Downloading and uploading digital music Copyright of music –Copyright: legal privilege to use, sell, or license creative works –Royalty fees: Fee paid to use intellectual property –encryption Music on the Internet

Radio and royalties –ASCAP and BMI ( Music licensing groups) 1% to 2% of a radio station’s gross Future model for downloading?