Changes within the music industry

With us living in a very quick technologically advancing age, the way we create and distribute has been completely reformed from 10 years ago. All industries, at the head of this, are expected to keep up with these developments, else their productions will be left behind. The ease of access right across the globe, which has led to globalisation of creative industries, has meant that the music industry now caters for more people across the globe than ever before.

Below are some new developments which have large impacts on the workings of the music industry:

Internet - every other new impact on the music industry has spawned from this. The opportunity to be able to share any sort of file across the entire world gives unlimited span for music sharing.
Facebook - the 'like' system on Facebook will show your friends what type of music you are interested in. From there, friends can easily access the music you are interested in. If they then like it, all of their friends can see it, and so on and so forth.
Last.fm - similar to above, your friends can see the music you are listening to and have listened to. It also gives you examples of other music you may enjoy, which therefore promotes many bands who are on Last.fm. This is a great way of advertisement and free legal music sharing for the artists.
Myspace - though previously this was used as a social networking site, Myspace has now become the biggest online network of signed and unsigned bands who want to host their music and promote themselves. Many bands now use Myspace as their official website, rather than having their own.
Youtube - with VEVO as a huge music provider as a Youtube user, Youtube has become an extremely easy way to access free music, and with the help of other websites, download it for free.
Spotify - perhaps the most widely used legal music sharing program, Spotify allows its users to search and listen to music, sometimes with a monthly cost, but however cannot be downloaded from the program.
Torrenting - this is the strongest online development to threaten the music industry. Websites such as Pirate Bay allow you to download entire artist discographies in mere minutes, due to partitioned file sharing from across the world. Almost impossible to police, large music companies tell stories that piracy is killing their business. This has led to lowering in music prices, and digital downloads.
Digital downloads/iTunes - gone is the day of the cassette or CD, we are in the age of the MP3. Downloading MP3's online is incredibly simple, and takes no time at all, which gives ease of access to legally bought music. Most consumers are encouraged to use this over piracy, for obvious reasons.

Much of these have led to globalisation, where the entire world is now able to access a huge variety of music. Though this can be seen as good for a music lover, it also constricts the amount of diversity throughout the world, as American imperialism means the music industry worldwide is dominated by their music.