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Popular Music
Topics, Trends & Trajectories



October 2011 | 296 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
An incredibly wide-ranging critical account of popular music. The book is an essential resource for all staff and students in the field' - John Storey, Centre for Research in Media and Cultural Studies, University of Sunderland

Organized in accessible sections and covering the main themes of research and teaching it examines:

• The key approaches to understanding popular music

• The main settings of exchange and consumption

• The role of technology in the production of popular music

• The main genres of popular music

• The key debates of the present day

Barbazon writes with verve and penetration. Her approach starts with how most people actually consume music today and transfers this onto the plain of study.

The book enables teachers and students to shuffle from one topic to the other whilst providing an unparalleled access the core concepts and issues. As such, it is the perfect study guide for undergraduates located in this exciting and expanding field.

Tara Brabazon is Professor of Communication at University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT).

 
Introduction: Walking on the Dance Floor
 
Approaches
Listening to Music

 
Visualizing Music

 
Dancing to Music

 
Thinking about Music

 
Writing about Music

 
 
Music Spaces
Sonic Architecture/Soundscape

 
City Music and Urban Spaces

 
Recording Spaces

 
Clubs and Pubs

 
Soundtracks and Filmic Spaces

 
Music Video and Televisual Spaces

 
Radio, Podcasting and Listening Spaces

 
MP3 and Downloading Spaces

 
 
Instruments of/for Study
Guitar Cultures

 
Keyboard Cultures

 
Drumming and Percussion

 
Voice

 
Turntablism

 
iPod

 
 
Genre and Community
Country

 
Folk

 
The Blues

 
Rock and Roll

 
Soul

 
Reggae and Ska

 
Salsa

 
Metal

 
Punk and Indie

 
Hip Hop

 
Disco

 
House and Post-House Musics

 
World Music

 
 
Debates
Intellectual Property

 
Censorship and Regulation

 
Race, Appropriation and Commodification

 
Girl Groups and Feminism

 
Boy Bands and Men's Studies

 
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgenderist Musics

 
Digitization, User-Generated Content and Social Networking

 
Music: Politics, Resistance and Protest

 
 
Conclusion: Walking off the Dance Floor
 
Sonic Sources
 
Visual Sources

An incredibly wide-ranging critical account of popular music. The book is an essential resource for all staff and students in the field
Prof John Storey
Centre for Research in Media and Cultural Studies, University of Sunderland


One of the most thoughtful, inspirational and engaging popular music texts of recent years. It deserves to be well-thumbed by popular music students, academics and researchers alike. Insightful at every corner, the text covers a kaleidoscopic range of subjects - from country music to copyright, Madchester to Myspace - and delivers a wonderfully clear, authoritative and lively invitation to think and write about music. As pedagogically enriching as it is analytically sophisticated, the text not only describes current digital music cultures, but also suggests fruitful movements beyond current orthodoxies of popular music studies. A serious intervention that just so happens to be a clear and accessible textbook
Nick Prior
Senior Lecturer, Sociology, University of Edinburgh



Great book but covers only a little of what we look at.

Mr FRED HANNAH
Media Studies, Cardonald College
May 19, 2015

Covers a wide range of relevant topics and gives in depth insights to popular music.

Dr Steve Parker
School of Film, Music & Performing Arts, Leeds Beckett University
October 6, 2014

good book to aid those on course for reading material for extra reading and information

Miss Deborah Young
Work Ready People, hit
July 17, 2014

Interesting and detailed book which informs the reader about the historical factors of the music industry. It is easy to read and informative.

Miss Sharron Stillyards
health and social care, northlindsey college
June 25, 2013

A refreshing and original approach to studying the music industries

Professor Martin James
Faculty of Media, Arts & Society, Southampton Solent University
October 12, 2012

This is an enjoyable read that covers a wide range of topics and genres around popular music. I've used this for Level 4 which seemed most appropriate, though Level 6 students did find the debates section useful and engaging in seminar discussions.

Dr Stephanie Piotrowski
Department of Media, University of Teesside
August 29, 2012

Very good to be used as an introduction of popular music and media

Professor Dr. Christoph Jacke
Faculty for Cultural Studies, University of Paderborn
August 17, 2012

Well-written and engaging book. Insightful and covering a wide range of subjects that makes it essential for music industry/popular music students. A must-read, in my opinion.

Mrs Paula Cordeiro
Communications, ISCSP (UTL)
July 31, 2012

Provides students with useful tasters

Dr Donna Woodhouse
HWB, Sheffield Hallam University
July 2, 2012

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1

Chapter 2


For instructors

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