What About Music?

iTunes, Napstar, Youtube, Spotify—With the rise of music and video streaming services online, the music industry, traditionally centered on CD sales, is currently facing a very challenging period. This book dissects the former systems of the music industry and the phenomena currently unfolding within the music scene.

Social networking services like Twitter and Facebook, also featured in the book's title, have accelerated the growth of music streaming services. They have become a new means of interaction, enabling the formation of relationships between fans and artists without relying on mass media or facing interference from record companies.

Artists are now releasing their own music and videos in a DIY fashion, with content spreading through SNS. Furthermore, communication within these interactive communities, unfiltered and direct, provides both artists and fans with a tangible sense of connection.

Since the Great East Japan Earthquake, the demands placed upon music have clearly shifted. Amidst this, artists have actively utilized SNS. By bypassing the traditional process of packaging music into CDs and instead making announcements on social media, artists can share works imbued with their current emotions in real-time with their fans. Perhaps it is the 'new independent' artists, unbound by existing distribution methods and conventions, who are most needed today. We encourage you to grasp the intent behind Daisuke Tsuda's sending forth this book.