Title: Internet Reformulation of the Music
Industry Supply Chain System
Abstract: Creative
goods such as music are very unique in nature and different from other forms
goods and services. Music is known as an experiential good (Bjorkergren,
1996; Hirsch, 1972; Holbrook and Hirschman, 1982). As a good, its value is
derived from the subjective experiences that rely heavily on the use of artistic
symbols, that act to manipulate consumer perception and emotion. The unpredictability
of such subjective experiences makes it extremely difficult to identify and
establish clear standards of product quality (Lewis, 1990; Turow, 1984).
This paper presents the results from 500 interviews undertaken with
music buying consumers and suppliers throughout Europe in 2004 - in independent
music stores, based in London (UK), Dresden (Germany), Helsinki (Finland)
and Copenhagen (Denmark). The purpose of the research was to determine the
extent to which the internet is altering patterns of consumption and in so
doing impacting on the supply and distribution of music. Previous works
(Hirsch, 1972; Molteni and Ordanini, 2003) point to the fact that most studies
of music production and consumers (fans) tend to be in the main, rooted in
the fields of sociology and cultural studies.
Author:
Gary Graham