From our findings we found that the Internet disrupted the musical industry, bringing about an increase of diversity of genres. We saw an influx of genres beginning in the 90s, as the scope of genres was previously more dominated by rock and R&B which we infer was due to the limitations in technological sounds and lack of racial diversity in the musical industry. Between the 1980s and 1990s, people generally depended on actual musical instruments rather than electronic devices to creatively generate music. Moreover, rock as a musical genre was dominated by white men, whereas genres that proliferated later, such as hip-hop and rap are closely associated with artists of color. This was also represented our geographical maps; the superimposition of popular genres onto US maps conveys the cultural markers of the mainland United States - importantly, music of the Billboard Top 100, signalling what has become more or less popular over time. Throughout the years, we also saw an increase in gender diversity, where “female vocal” increased over time. We see an emergence of more obscure tags like “progressive rock” post-internet, as access to the internet increased, as well the number of unique songs and unique artists per year. Our data and readings suggest the musical industry has evolved and diversified a lot since the internet became ubiquitous in our society, increasing our access to music.
Although the data points to an increase in diversity, we find it important consider how the internet may have caused diversity in the Billboard Hot 100 charts to remain the same or even decrease. Our initial reason for believing diversity has remained the same, is because Billboard is the sole entity controlling the charts. Billboard chooses who goes on the chart based on “radio airplay and song sales." It is safe to say that the diversity in radio music is very low, including only songs in the Billboard charts, which causes a cycle of bias. Song sales have also decreased as the internet became more popular, as there was a mass increase in illegally downloaded music, and nowadays an increase in the use in music streaming services. Therefore, as these two platforms decrease in diversity, so does the Billboard charts. Another reason diversity may have decreased is due to the length a song reminds on the charts. According to Bruno and People’s article “The Top 10 Music Startups of 2011,” created by Billboard, states that “new music startups [are] aimed at solving the problems of the evolving music market,” problems, they go on to discuss, that are mainly in the discovery of music. This may be a reason that the length of stay of a song on the Billboard Hot 100 charts has increased as the internet becomes more and more popular. The longer a song remains on the chart, the longer it takes up a spot for another song, possibly of different genre, to enter the chart. Lastly, diversity may have decreased as the internet allowed artists to share audio and vocals. The ability to sample from other songs may have decreased diversity in music overall, thus decreasing diversity in the charts.
However, based on our data, research, and group’s personal playlists, we conclude that the emergence of the Internet has pushed the diversity of the music that we listen to. Our group unanimously agreed that “we listen to… pretty much everything (except country, Kendall added)”
Although the data points to an increase in diversity, we find it important consider how the internet may have caused diversity in the Billboard Hot 100 charts to remain the same or even decrease. Our initial reason for believing diversity has remained the same, is because Billboard is the sole entity controlling the charts. Billboard chooses who goes on the chart based on “radio airplay and song sales." It is safe to say that the diversity in radio music is very low, including only songs in the Billboard charts, which causes a cycle of bias. Song sales have also decreased as the internet became more popular, as there was a mass increase in illegally downloaded music, and nowadays an increase in the use in music streaming services. Therefore, as these two platforms decrease in diversity, so does the Billboard charts. Another reason diversity may have decreased is due to the length a song reminds on the charts. According to Bruno and People’s article “The Top 10 Music Startups of 2011,” created by Billboard, states that “new music startups [are] aimed at solving the problems of the evolving music market,” problems, they go on to discuss, that are mainly in the discovery of music. This may be a reason that the length of stay of a song on the Billboard Hot 100 charts has increased as the internet becomes more and more popular. The longer a song remains on the chart, the longer it takes up a spot for another song, possibly of different genre, to enter the chart. Lastly, diversity may have decreased as the internet allowed artists to share audio and vocals. The ability to sample from other songs may have decreased diversity in music overall, thus decreasing diversity in the charts.
However, based on our data, research, and group’s personal playlists, we conclude that the emergence of the Internet has pushed the diversity of the music that we listen to. Our group unanimously agreed that “we listen to… pretty much everything (except country, Kendall added)”