Digitalization of the music industry: trends and prospects

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to analyze the main trends and trace the prospects of the music industry’s digitalization. The research methodology is based on the application of methods of scientific knowledge and systems analysis (deduction, induction, analysis, and synthesis). The scientific novelty of the obtained results is identifying and analyzing the main trends in the digitalization of the music industry and outlining the prospects for its further development and issues of its cultural research. Conclusions. It is emphasized that the technologies of social media, augmented and virtual reality, and artificial intelligence, streaming have radically transformed the ways of interaction between performers and listeners. Advances in music technology have stimulated the emergence of know-how in the creation of music, which, after all, is the essence of art. Emphasis is placed on the obvious need to study trends in the music industry – the irreversibility and unpredictability of technological change; also, the ambiguity of their evaluation encourages a thorough study of the digitalization specifics, which benefits of balanced implementation lead to its rapid spread and provide a growing impact on the entire music industry. It is noted that the principles of the music industry, new opportunities for music creation, options for interaction between performers, musicians, listeners and intermediaries, tactics of music consumption, as well as other transformations deserve special research attention. The culturological consequences issues of digitalization of the music industry also require consideration, including assumptions about the possible disappearance of the specialties of composer, conductor, performer, musicologist and others. The description of the transformations taking place in the industry can indicate the line of actions necessary to maintain balance in the situation caused by digitalization.

Ключові слова: music, music industry, virtual reality technologies, digitalization.