Cowboys and Indies
By Gareth Murphy
The Epic History of the Record Industry. Thomas Dunne Books, 2014.
Summary of Cowboys and Indies book by Gareth Murphy
A jam–packed chronicle of the recording industry over the last one hundred and fifty years, from the early inventions of talking machines to the music of the digital age, focusing on the founders of record labels and talent scouts that popularized jazz, rock’n’roll, hip–hop, and many other musical genres.
Chapters in Cowboys and Indies book summary
What do you get from this book? A wild ride on the rollicking roller coaster of the record industry
With the invention and improvement of talking machines, several new companies paved the way for a booming music business
Classical music was quickly replaced by “younger” genres like ragtime, blues, and jazz in the early twentieth century
The 1930s was a difficult time for America, but some artists and managers survived up to WWII and beyond
New labels came onto the scene just as new genres inspired several superstars and all their adoring fans
Motown and the British Invasion transformed the face of music during the baby boom era
Rock evolved over the next decade, while many producers and musicians struck big deals
The end of a musical era was brought about by drug abuse, supergroups, and an entirely different kind of manager
Disco and glam rock got people boogying, renewing interest in records and music in general
The New Wave excited music fans, as it brought a wider range of genres for them to choose from
A technological leap in recording disturbed the long–held production of music, but also provided new, profitable opportunities
As merged companies grew wealthy in the ‘90s, the next decade caused a crash that nearly sank them all
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Cowboys and Indies — Book Summary Snapshot
Who should read Cowboys and Indies book
- musicians and their managers
- record company execs
- talent scouts
- anyone interested in how music has reached our ears over the years
About the author of Cowboys and Indies
Gareth Murphy
The son of a concert promoter, Gareth Murphy grew up in Dublin, Ireland surrounded by all different kinds of music. After graduating from the University College Dublin, he traveled and worked at several different record companies, composing his own music in his free time. Now Murphy is a freelance writer and researcher who lives in Paris, France.
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