Queen's University Belfast hosts David Arditi as he talks about streaming culture, musicians & power in the music industry

Watch again here

A joint seminar by Music Events at Queen's & QUB Arts Management & Cultural Policy

There is nothing like experiencing a live concert, but for close to 100 years, the power centre of the music industry has been recorded music. Whereas the route to a record contract used to be through bars/small venues on regional and national tours, now record labels sign young artists who are viral sensations as a result of their social media reach. Simply put, streaming platforms favour virality over everything else. Of course, this doesn’t cancel the need for live concerts, and shows can be important for the construction of viral acts. From the local concert scene to streaming distribution, data provide power to those who engage in social media. This talk explores the changes that streaming and social media bring to the music industry with special attention paid to the impact on live performance.

David will talk from his latest book. A Q&A will follow chaired by Dr Kim-Marie Spence

David Arditi is an associate professor of sociology and director of the Center for Theory at the University of Texas at Arlington. His research addresses the impact of digital technology on society and culture with a specific focus on music. He is author of Streaming Culture: Subscription Platforms and the Unending of Consumption, Getting Signed: Record Contracts, Musicians and Power in Society, and iTake-Over: The Recording Industry in the Streaming Era and co-editor of The Dialectic of Digital Culture with Jennifer Miller. He serves as editor of the journal Fast Capitalism and the book series Critical Perspectives on Music and Society.