DIY Music and the Politics of Social Media

The emergence of social media in the early 21st century has been both a powerful emancipatory and democratizing tool for DIY musicians, but it has also been criticized as domineering and exploitative. DIY Music explores the significant challenges faced by artists navigating this cultural landscape, such as operating in the competitive, attention-seeking world of social media, dealing with a new abundance of data and metrics, and presenting their activity as cultural resistance.

Format: Hardback
Length: 184 pages
Publication date: 14 January 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

The advent of social media in the early 21st century heralded a new era of DIY cultural practices, emphasizing participation and democratization. However, in recent years, these platforms have faced widespread criticism for their perceived dominance and exploitative nature. For DIY musicians operating in scenes with a long history of cultural resistance, the question arises: Is social media a powerful tool for emancipation and democratization, or merely a new corporate adversary to be resisted?

DIY Music delves into the profound challenges faced by artists navigating this complex cultural landscape. It examines how anti-commercial musicians navigate the competitive and attention-driven world of social media, grappling with the abundance of data and metrics. It also explores how these musicians present their activity as cultural resistance, challenging the dominant narratives and power structures.

The book reveals that a platform-enabled DIY approach has become the norm for a wide range of cultural practitioners. This DIY-as-default landscape raises concerns about the depoliticization of the call to do-it-yourself, as it may lead to a homogenization of cultural expressions and a dilution of the unique voices and perspectives that contribute to cultural resistance.

In conclusion, the emergence of social media has brought about both opportunities and challenges for DIY musicians and cultural practitioners. While it has facilitated participation and democratization, it has also posed risks of domination and exploitation. DIY Music offers valuable insights into the complexities of navigating this landscape, highlighting the need for artists to be aware of the potential risks and benefits of social media and to actively engage in shaping its future.

Weight: 414g
Dimension: 235 x 158 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501359644