History 2134A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Theo Parrish, Dewey Phillips, Sitaonair
13 Dec 2016
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ROCK N ROLL REVIEW
Reading Notes:
Chapter 1: What is Rock?
➢ Rocks various names – reflection of its inborn diversity
➢ First emerged in 1950s – marked by its audience
➢ Made for the youth
➢ Lyrics: riddled with ambiguity and vague allusions
➢ Singers provide two different types of sounds:
o Lyrics as a meaningful utterance
o Sound of the singers voice
➢ Genre: type/style/kind
o Expected patterns of sound
➢ Signature sound: unique sound of the artist
The Structure of Rock:
➢ Exists within a dense web of social relations that create, sustain, and change these forms of culture
➢ Result of interactions between:
o Artists
o Fans
o Mediators
Rocks Three Social Actors:
1. Artists:
➢ Performers = creators
➢ Musicians = composers
➢ Musicians who have been severely limited in creating careers are the most motivated
Distinctive Style: signature sound embodied
➢ Songwriter has more power/money
➢ Rock bands brand themselves (unique names and look)
o By 1970s – bands have unique names and looks for their visual representation
➢ Records need to sell hundreds of thousands of copies before earning any money
o 80-90% of bands don’t sell enough to break even
Two Basic Principles to Boost Selling Odds:
a) “Follow the Leader” – sign artists like those who are already doing well
b) Release records by stars – famous bands/artists
2. Fans:
➢ Because of fans, money enters rock structures
➢ Research on rock fans concentrates them into markets
➢ Demographic categories
o YET they are undistinguished consumers
3. Mediators:
➢ Connect rock artists with their audience
➢ Earn money by getting fans to give them money for tickets/recordings
o In return, give fans access to music
How music is mediated with artists to fans:
a) Enabling music recording by assisting recording process
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Document Summary
Rocks various names reflection of its inborn diversity. First emerged in 1950s marked by its audience. Lyrics: riddled with ambiguity and vague allusions. Singers provide two different types of sounds: lyrics as a meaningful utterance, sound of the singers voice. Genre: type/style/kind: expected patterns of sound. Signature sound: unique sound of the artist. Exists within a dense web of social relations that create, sustain, and change these forms of culture. Result of interactions between: artists, fans, mediators. Musicians who have been severely limited in creating careers are the most motivated. Rock bands brand themselves (unique names and look: by 1970s bands have unique names and looks for their visual representation. Records need to sell hundreds of thousands of copies before earning any money: 80-90% of bands don"t sell enough to break even. Two basic principles to boost selling odds: follow the leader sign artists like those who are already doing well, release records by stars famous bands/artists, fans:
