{"product_id":"popular-music-digital-technology-and-society-cultural-contexts","title":"Popular Music, Digital Technology and Society - Cultural Contexts","description":"\u003cp\u003eOur review of Popular Music, Digital Technology and Society finds it a well-grounded, readable study for anyone seeking to understand how digital tools have reshaped music culture. Nick Prior combines theoretical clarity with concrete discussion of technologies such as MIDI, sampling and smartphone apps to explain how creation, circulation and listening practices have changed. The single biggest reason to buy is its balanced explanation of concepts like assemblage and mediation together with practical examples of how the internet and mobile audio transform consumption and genres.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClear conceptual framing:\u003c\/strong\u003e The book clarifies terms such as \u003cstrong\u003eassemblage\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eaffordance\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003emediation\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003emusicking\u003c\/strong\u003e so readers can discuss technology and music with precision.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNew vocabulary:\u003c\/strong\u003e Prior introduces searchable concepts such as \u003cstrong\u003eplaysumption\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003edigital vocalities\u003c\/strong\u003e to describe contemporary practices.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTechnology focus:\u003c\/strong\u003e It examines the impact of production technologies including \u003cstrong\u003eMIDI\u003c\/strong\u003e, sampling and personal computing to show how sounds and workflows changed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eConsumption analysis:\u003c\/strong\u003e The book traces how the internet, viral marketing and streaming services reshape how people discover and access music.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMobile listening:\u003c\/strong\u003e Prior considers the rise of smartphone apps and mobile audio to explain shifts in circulation and ownership patterns.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAccessible tone:\u003c\/strong\u003e The writing balances academic authority with readability so non-specialists can follow debates in media and music studies.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is aimed at students and practitioners in \u003cstrong\u003ecommunication and media studies\u003c\/strong\u003e, music scholars and cultural commentators who need a compact, concept-focused account of how digital technology has changed musical production and consumption. It also serves well as a classroom text for undergraduate courses that bridge music and media.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReaders seeking technical manuals on audio engineering or step-by-step tutorials for music software should look elsewhere; the emphasis is social and cultural analysis rather than software instruction. Casual readers expecting a coffee-table history with extensive artist biographies may find the focus more theoretical than biographical.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eProvides crisp explanations of key concepts that ease engagement with contemporary debates in \u003cstrong\u003edigital music studies\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eBalances theory and examples, discussing technologies like MIDI and sampling in social and industrial contexts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eAddresses both creation and consumption, including the effects of streaming and viral marketing on circulation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eNot a technical guide to music production software, so readers expecting hands-on tutorials may be disappointed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePopular Music, Digital Technology and Society\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNick Prior\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScope\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSocial, cultural and industrial contexts of digital music\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTechnologies discussed\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMIDI, sampling, personal computing, smartphone apps\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTopics covered\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCirculation, ownership, viral marketing, streaming services\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eConcepts introduced\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAssemblage, affordance, mediation, musicking, playsumption, digital vocalities\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePopular Music, Digital Technology and Society is a concise, well-argued resource for students and researchers who want a concept-driven account of how digital tools reshape music culture. Its strength is linking technologies such as MIDI and smartphones to wider patterns of circulation and listening, making it good value for those studying media, music and cultural change.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes this book explain technical music production?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt discusses production technologies like MIDI and sampling in social and cultural terms but does not provide step-by-step software tutorials.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it suitable for undergraduate courses?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, the accessible tone and clear concepts make it appropriate for classroom use in media and music studies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it cover streaming and online distribution?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, the book examines how the internet, viral marketing and streaming services shape consumption and circulation.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick Prior","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48244571275483,"sku":"1848600445","price":163.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/71i6juFSbdL._SL1500.jpg?v=1771061730","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/popular-music-digital-technology-and-society-cultural-contexts","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}