Escalation
Nothing would ever be the same. No longer was music just a live, one-and-done experience. With all of the new technology developed, and yet to be developed, the medium was becoming more ingrained in society and business. The way music was to be experienced was undergoing its most impactful evolution, mostly during the 1950’s. While music technology was improving, rock stars were being developed. From Frank Sinatra to Miles Davis, the artists behind the music were becoming more well known and revered than ever before. “Singles”, a new type of release typically containing a song meant to promote an artist’s larger work, revolutionized the way music was digested. It was an excellent way to showcase what a particular musician creates, while inviting the listener/consumer in for more. I can tell you personally that singles influence my musical interests and what bands/artists I explore.The sale of singles would lead to full length albums, which would generate more revenue for the artist and record company the artist works under. Promoting, funding, and distributing an artist’s work, record labels were a growing industry that capitalized on the up and coming stars that would help build their business nearly as much as the label helped the artist. Like a professional sports team tries to draft the best players they can, record labels would sign prospects they believed would give them the most value. Whether it be money made from the artist, or building their companies’ image, an artist benefited the record label if they were successful. Now it was known that there was money to be made from musicians, the question was how would it change next and what would happen to the power of the artist?
