6 Technologies that Re-invented the Music Industry

6 Technologies that Re-invented the Music Industry

The music industry is an ever-evolving, always changing entity that never stops moving and adapting. Music connects with us on a deep level and always seems to have offerings for us, regardless of the economic, social, or political climate that we may currently live in.

This ability to rapidly reformat and refresh itself is paired with ongoing technological advancements to create a viable and powerful market.

Let’s take a look at what LINDSAY GUIÓN regards as six technologies that re-invented the music industry and what role they play.

1. The Phonograph:

Yes, that big horned disc player from history class really revolutionized the music industry and very well may have made it the powerhouse we know today. While it may be technologically obsolete, those who enjoy vinyl records owe a massive thank you to its ancestor, the phonograph. Invented by the Wizard of Melo Park, himself, Thomas Edison, this late 19th-century invention has evolved endlessly over the last century.

What started as a simple machine that used strips of paper to play music now is a staple for DJ’s everywhere and has so many buttons and knobs that it could easily be mistaken for something from a NASA space station. It takes something pretty revolutionary to create such a lasting effect.

2. The Radio:

Created at the turn of the 20th century, the radio is still around today, though it is quite a bit different. Music is played over the radio sparked a massive interest in creators and investors alike, creating the very foundation of the music industry as we know it now.

Without the radio, millions of listeners very well would have never heard much of the new music and no musical craze would have been born. Plus, radio paved the way for the television industry and the ability to enjoy entertainment within your own home!

3. Television:

Speaking of, the television industry and television as an invention both played quite a large role in the progression of the music industry. With the television came the ability to bring the image of the musician right into people’s living rooms, bedrooms, and every other indoor location, making it easy for fans to really connect with the artists they love.

4. Electric Instruments:

Acoustic instruments have been around for centuries, but the first electric instruments did not surface on any scene until their invention in the 1930s. As strange as that sounds to modern audiences who encounter autotune, synthesizers, and electric instruments like guitars in almost every song they hear, it is true! This invention had such an impact that we cannot imagine life without it now.

5. Tapes and CDs:

Before tapes and CDs, you could only hear music on the radio. While now we do not use them as often unless picking them up as a niche interest or playing them from the nostalgia bin in our garage, tapes and CDs were once cutting edge technology that took music from the home and car to anywhere imaginable.

For the first time, music became portable and fans were able to listen to specific artists and songs on demand! The power to play was at their fingertips!

6. Apps and the Internet:

Where we are now, we use apps and the internet almost daily to listen to music and media. It opened up the ability to instantly access millions of songs and play whatever you want, whenever you want on compact devices without carrying individual discs or tapes.

With our history currently sitting on an endless and infinite array of songs available in seconds, it is almost unimaginable where we will go from here.