A Distribution Revolution: Changes in Music Distribution in the UK 1950-76

TY - JOUR

T1 - A Distribution Revolution

T2 - Changes in Music Distribution in the UK 1950-76

AU - Tennent, Kevin Daniel

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - Little business history has been written on the popular music industry while sociological study has tended to focus on the effect of the industry on society. This paper concentrates on how recorded popular music reached the customer, charting the evolution of the industry in the UK from a cartel structure distributing only to specialists, into an industry which allowed upstream entry freely but increasingly emphasised large-scale distribution through mass retailers by the mid-1970s. The paper examines the structure of music distribution in the UK prior to 1965 and how the industry adapted its distribution strategy to the changing environment after 1965.

AB - Little business history has been written on the popular music industry while sociological study has tended to focus on the effect of the industry on society. This paper concentrates on how recorded popular music reached the customer, charting the evolution of the industry in the UK from a cartel structure distributing only to specialists, into an industry which allowed upstream entry freely but increasingly emphasised large-scale distribution through mass retailers by the mid-1970s. The paper examines the structure of music distribution in the UK prior to 1965 and how the industry adapted its distribution strategy to the changing environment after 1965.

U2 - 10.1080/00076791.2012.712963

DO - 10.1080/00076791.2012.712963

M3 - Article

SN - 0007-6791

VL - 55

SP - 327

EP - 347

JO - Business History

JF - Business History

IS - 3

ER -