Influence of business, marketing & advertising (Rock n roll)

Resource Description

‘Examine the influence of business, marketing and advertising on the consumption of rock n roll.’

Business, marketing and advertising are the heart of rock n roll consumption. Advertising campaigns use TV, radio, internet, fashion, magazines, billboards and film. It began with a disk jockey coining the term ‘rock n roll’ on radio in the 1950’s, vinyl records and radio were artists only form of music communication apart from live tours and concerts. Record companies today have more finances and more promotional avenues in which to promote their artists, the marketing of rock n roll is a less tedious task with today’s easy access to media. Rock n Roll is specifically targeted to the teenagers of each generational wave, a term that only became popular in the 1950’s. Fashion is a huge social influence stemming from rock n roll, whether intended or not by the business side of rock n roll. Consumers focus on seeing artists as role models, in the 1950’s rock n roll was very clean compared to today’s multiple rock genres, although differing opinions followed the development of this music. The rock n roll industry focuses on teenagers, as they are very easily influenced by something as radical as rock music, especially if their parents are against it. Media was split between encouraging and discouraging rock n roll and its controversial artists; it still is today, a continuity that will never die. Advertising strategies were designed to shock adults and thrill teenagers to get the attention they needed, a great example of this was Hollywoods capitalism of Elvis’s pelvic thrusts.  Today film clips are designed to appeal directly to over sexualised teens, a rather good marketing strategy to keep rock alive.