Convergence

Technology convergence benefit and damages the music industry in many different ways. A few of these are:

Benefits:

• It narrows the gap between the produces and the audience
• Allows the audience to access content instantly, therefore they can listen to music anywhere and easily.
• People buying the music can do whatever they wish with it, like put it on an ipod so can listen to it where ever they are.
• Opens up opportunities for artists to promote their work as there are so many way in which the can advertise their songs now.
• Free distribution, this is good as the artist does not have to spend extra money on getting their CD or Album out into shops.
• The artists songs are more likely to be heard as people are willing to listen to them on the radio or internet for free, if they like it they may be more likely to go out and spend money on it.
• Artists can set up blogs and twitter accounts so become more interactive with their audience. This is good for promoting them as well.

Damages:

• It allows the audience to steal the songs off illegal websites and send them to each other via things like bluetooth. This means that the artist and record label companies do not get money for the song.
• We no longer have all of the extra things you get with the CDs, like the lyrics, as people no longer buy them as it is easier, quicker and cheaper to download the songs.