NME Magazine

NME is renowned for its ‘voice of youth’ in the 70’s and 80’s, representing music, fashion and image against the norm. The magazine has had to change with the decline of readership, it now provides the in’s and out’s for the indie music industry. quirky reviews of gigs across the UK, fashion know how and interviews with the old and new feature in every issue.
With its thin rough paper pages, its fair from a glossy magazine with adverts of music events rather than high-end clothes. As it attempts to divert away from mainstream, commercialised bands suddenly appear when a new album is released or they stick with the well known. However it wouldn’t be profitably to go completely individual with such high competition. NME is still an enjoyable magazine to reead but has now become a small fish in a big pond.

Can pop music achieve genuine political change?

Music is a medium that reaches billions of people world wide, its easy access and availability provides a perfect tool for politics. Events such a live aid, live8 and many more have raised millions for world political change. Although, the music plays a huge part, it’s the audience that effectively causes the political impact.

Such events raise money for charity, however other artists are arguably hypocritical such as Bob Marley’s ‘Get up stand up’, a song against the capitalist’s but produced income for them. Michael Jackson raised awareness for world change, however made millions with his 'earth song' and consequently self-profited.

Despite the financial gain made by some, the lyrics touch people, its may not change politics but at least provide a voice for those suffering. Music provokes thought, with billions of the same thoughts, political leaders will always be influenced and pressured to make a change.

Does the emergence of the digital downloading signal the end for the music industry?

Throughout history, the music industry has notably been exceedingly cautious and negative towards change influenced by technology. Cassette was first introduced in the 60’s, however by the 80’s an anti piracy campaign was launched to crack down on piracy. Only until 2000 did piracy become hugely threatening when Radio-Head’s album became available on a free file sharing website called Napster. Downloaded by millions, the album was only truly commercially released three months after and was predicted to flop, however it did the opposite and went straight to number 1
Lawrence Lessig stated four categories of file-sharing, download rather then buy, sample music before buying, obtain music that you can but anymore and share non copyrighted material. I-tunes embraced the sample before buy with its short previews and legal downloads have now wiped off CD singles off store shelves. The music industry wont end with digital downloading, it will only get better and evolve into a more cost effective industry.