Music by Numbers: The Use and Abuse of Statistics in the Music Industries

The music industries are fueled by statistics, but many of these statistics are generated by the music industries themselves, and their accuracy can be questioned. This book explores the use and abuse of statistics in the music industries, with contributions from noted music business scholars and practitioners. It addresses five key areas in which numbers are employed: sales and awards; royalties and distribution; music piracy; music policy; and audiences and their uses of music. The digital age has prompted new ways of tracking the usage and recompense of music, as well as new means of monitoring and engaging audience behavior. This collection aims to expose the culture and politics of data and provides new ways to learn music by numbers.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 17 February 2023
Publisher: Intellect Books

The music industries are propelled by a multitude of statistics, encompassing sales targets, breakeven points, success ratios, royalty splits, website hits, ticket revenues, listener figures, piracy abuses, and vast amounts of data. These numerical indicators hold immense significance, exerting influence over the music that reaches consumers, determining the financial success of music makers, and shaping the policies of governments and legislators. However, it is important to note that many of these statistics are generated by the very entities within the music industries themselves, raising questions about their accuracy and reliability.

In order to delve into this intricate and often overlooked realm, this groundbreaking new book takes a sustained and analytical approach. While there exist books that provide insights into the workings of the music industries and academic critiques of music company policies, this is the first book to comprehensively examine these subjects from a statistical perspective. This significance is particularly noteworthy as statistics have not only been employed to explain the music industries but also play a fundamental role in their functioning. They drive key decision-making processes such as signing policy, contractual policy, copyright policy, economic policy, and our understanding of consumer behavior.

To provide a comprehensive examination of the use and abuse of statistics in the music industries, this edited collection brings together a diverse group of noted music business scholars and practitioners from around the world. The book addresses five key areas in which statistics are prominently employed: sales and awards, royalties and distribution, music piracy, music policy, and audiences and their engagement with music. The authors approach these subjects from various perspectives, employing a range of methodologies and analytical tools. Some of them critically evaluate the validity of this data and investigate its strategic utilization by music businesses. Others contribute to the generation of these statistics by designing surveys, conducting online projects, and offering candid self-reflections.

By exploring these topics from a statistical lens, this book offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics of the music industries. It sheds light on the ways in which statistics are employed to shape industry practices, influence consumer choices, and drive policy decisions. It also raises important questions about the transparency, accuracy, and ethical implications of using data in the music industries. This book serves as a crucial resource for scholars, researchers, industry professionals, and anyone interested in understanding the role

The music industries are propelled by a multitude of statistics, encompassing sales targets, breakeven points, success ratios, royalty splits, website hits, ticket revenues, listener figures, piracy abuses, and vast amounts of data. These numerical indicators hold immense significance, exerting influence over the music that reaches consumers, determining the financial success of music makers, and shaping the policies of governments and legislators. However, it is important to note that many of these statistics are generated by the very entities within the music industries themselves, raising questions about their accuracy and reliability.

In order to delve into this intricate and often overlooked realm, this groundbreaking new book takes a sustained and analytical approach. While there exist books that provide insights into the workings of the music industries and academic critiques of music company policies, this is the first book to comprehensively examine these subjects from a statistical perspective. This significance is particularly noteworthy as statistics have not only been employed to explain the music industries but also play a fundamental role in their functioning. They drive key decision-making processes such as signing policy, contractual policy, copyright policy, economic policy, and our understanding of consumer behavior.

To provide a comprehensive examination of the use and abuse of statistics in the music industries, this edited collection brings together a diverse group of noted music business scholars and practitioners from around the world. The book addresses five key areas in which statistics are prominently employed: sales and awards, royalties and distribution, music piracy, music policy, and audiences and their engagement with music. The authors approach these subjects from various perspectives, employing a range of methodologies and analytical tools. Some of them critically evaluate the validity of this data and investigate its strategic utilization by music businesses. Others contribute to the generation of these statistics by designing surveys, conducting online projects, and offering candid self-reflections.

By exploring these topics from a statistical lens, this book offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics of the music industries. It sheds light on the ways in which statistics are employed to shape industry practices, influence consumer choices, and drive policy decisions. It also raises important questions about the transparency, accuracy, and ethical implications of using data in the music industries. This book serves as a crucial resource for scholars, researchers, industry professionals, and anyone interested in understanding the intricate relationship between music, statistics, and the broader societal context in which they operate.

Weight: 494g
Dimension: 169 x 245 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789387520
Edition number: New ed