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105th out of 718 books
—
487 voters
Ripped: How the Wired Generation Revolutionized Music
by
Greg Kot
A decade ago the vast majority of mainstream music was funneled through a handful of media conglomerates. Now, more people are listening to more music from a greater variety of sources than at any time in history. And big corporations such as Viacom, Clear Channel, and Sony are no longer the sole gatekeepers and distributors, their monopoly busted by a revolution -- an upr...more
Hardcover, 262 pages
Published
May 19th 2009
by Scribner
(first published 2009)
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Greg Kot examines the role of the Internet in bringing the consumer, i.e., the music listener, back into the picture in the music industry over the past decade. As broadband Internet has become more prevalent, access to music, either via download or streaming media, has become easier, but not without a price; the RIAA's reluctance - outright hostility, really - towards embracing the Internet forced fans to seek alternate routes towards acquiring music that was already too expensive in traditiona...more
An excellent look at the rise of digital music. It's fascinating to hear about different artists' attempts to circumvent record companies, the necessary evils of traditional distribution and marketing. Kot does a great job of providing different examples of artists' innovation in this well-researched, compelling book.
Kot examines the influence of the internet on the music industry, portraying the behemoth record companies as the Goliath that have fallen against the stones of the artists and fans that have harnessed the power of the internet to transform the way music is made and distributed. Specific chapters include the stories of Metallica, Arcade Fire, Death Cab for Cutie, Prince, Conor Oberst, Radiohead, and Pitchfork Media as examples of the various ways technology changed things. While at times the por...more
As the title indicates, Kot's book follows the digital revolution and it's impact specifically on the music business. Being born in 1981 and fairly tech-saavy, this is a revolution I fully participated in and continue to live through. Kot did an excellent job capturing some of the key points in the timeline and explaining those events in clear terms without dumbing it down.
As a 'music downloader', I was surprised that Kot was able to recount events that I was unaware of, or had slipped under my...more
As a 'music downloader', I was surprised that Kot was able to recount events that I was unaware of, or had slipped under my...more
In honor of the recent Grammy week in L.A., we thought it would be a good time to touch base with Greg Kot’s recent book, ‘Ripped: How the Wired Generation Revolutionized Music.’
Kot, the music critic for the Chicago Tribune and co-host of the syndicated radio show Sound Opinions, chronicles all the major events of the past decade relating not so much to the so-called decline of the music business, but the way in which smart and clever artists have made new and interesting uses of the technology...more
Kot, the music critic for the Chicago Tribune and co-host of the syndicated radio show Sound Opinions, chronicles all the major events of the past decade relating not so much to the so-called decline of the music business, but the way in which smart and clever artists have made new and interesting uses of the technology...more
This gets an extra star for being in the $1 sale at Borders and being such an unexpectedly awesome book!
When I saw that the author had written a book about Wilco I cringed. But, it's a dollar... what isn't worth a dollar?
What a fascinating book! It's probably quite dated, and the perspective was certainly skewed towards the artist/piracy/digital freedom side of the argument. But I agree with that perspective for the most part, and I enjoyed having more evidence to back up my beliefs.
I was pretty...more
When I saw that the author had written a book about Wilco I cringed. But, it's a dollar... what isn't worth a dollar?
What a fascinating book! It's probably quite dated, and the perspective was certainly skewed towards the artist/piracy/digital freedom side of the argument. But I agree with that perspective for the most part, and I enjoyed having more evidence to back up my beliefs.
I was pretty...more
Strictly speaking, I didn't read this book - I sorta browsed it after reading the first 30-40 pages.
I don't know what the problem is - I write email messages to people that are often three-four times longer than they should be (or so it seems after completing them) but I often find that non-fiction books I read any more seem like they would have been more successful as a magazine article than as a book.
I think this book is mis-sub-titled. It is far more about specific indie music groups than it...more
I don't know what the problem is - I write email messages to people that are often three-four times longer than they should be (or so it seems after completing them) but I often find that non-fiction books I read any more seem like they would have been more successful as a magazine article than as a book.
I think this book is mis-sub-titled. It is far more about specific indie music groups than it...more
Ripped is a decent basic overview of the digital revolution but Kot completely avoids the negative consequences of illegal file sharing from the small artist's perspective, preferring instead to point out the admittedly hysterical reaction of the Big 5 and RIAA. But the real victims of illegal file sharing are regular working musicians.
For every success story like the Arcade Fire or Death Cab For Cutie, there are a thousand other bands that will die on the vine because of illegal file sharing....more
For every success story like the Arcade Fire or Death Cab For Cutie, there are a thousand other bands that will die on the vine because of illegal file sharing....more
This is relevant to my interests.
This book is slanted towards indie rock music, but personally I don't mind. It put a few things into perspective for me, and raised my attention to aspects of the music industry I had never given much thought. Music technology and the ability to share, distribute, and promote it by the bands and fans themselves is advancing more rapidly than the outdated music industry has been able to adapt. Although this has given artists more possibilities, it has also come wi...more
This book is slanted towards indie rock music, but personally I don't mind. It put a few things into perspective for me, and raised my attention to aspects of the music industry I had never given much thought. Music technology and the ability to share, distribute, and promote it by the bands and fans themselves is advancing more rapidly than the outdated music industry has been able to adapt. Although this has given artists more possibilities, it has also come wi...more
Greg Kot's new book examines the role of king maker as the music industry shifts from local radio to the age of Clear Channel to the MP3 era with a clear time-line, a mix of public knowledge and behind-the-scenes interviews, and an optimistic view of American music's future for a concise overview of 21st century music trends.
Kot is at his best when talking about the emergence of Wilco and Arcade Fire, two bands that benefited greatly from early internet exposure. The chapter detailing the rise o...more
Kot is at his best when talking about the emergence of Wilco and Arcade Fire, two bands that benefited greatly from early internet exposure. The chapter detailing the rise o...more
Kot does a truly marvelous job tracking the industry's transitioning from the birth of Napster to the first signs of cloud-based music. Kot's collection of tales is framed with the artist's motivation in mind, telling the reader stories with deep, personal interview from the band and the fans. Of all the music industry books I have read so far, this is definitely the "coolest" one, drawing on the stories of Radiohead, Trent Reznor, Connor Oberst, Prince, and more, to relay the message of how the...more
The music critic for the Chicago Tribune writes about how the music business has changed with the advent of internet file sharing/free music downloads. He examines in detail how some artists have been able to adjust pricing, distribution and/or revenue sharing models so that they can continue (or in some cases, start) to earn money despite this continuing threat to music revenue. Also included is how the music industry continues to cut off their own feet instead of making progress.
This book is m...more
This book is m...more
Kot examines the role technology has played in shaping the music industry and how these entities (Internet, MP3s, MP3 players, music software, etc.) have come to replace CDs, records, instruments, the snobby knowledgeable friend. Kot's arguments are well-researched and his catalogue of quotes from artists, producers, managers, lawyers, and fans make an obvious case against the record label/management juggernaut, which by all accounts is not giving any favors to the artists. At times, the writing...more
this felt very immediate and succinctly (and entertainingly) covered how the music industry has struggled over the past decade with the advent of MP3s and how bands have successfully promoted themselves over the internet (and sometimes in spite of their own record companies). with chapters, interviews and/or sections devoted to radiohead, nine inch nails, wilco, the arcade fire, bright eyes, and others, it was fun and insightful to read about how technology has really changed the face of music.
a...more
a...more
2.5 Stars...mostly because I wanted (expected?) this book to be something a bit more interesting. It is a brief history of how the internet forced the music industry to change -- as seen through the experiences of Death Cab, Pitchfork, Saddle Creek, Wilco, Girl Talk, Arcade Fire, and others. At some points I felt like I had read far too many consecutive pages reading about a particular band's record catalogue and sound and story...as opposed to other things. Mainly, I wanted this book to take a...more
If you are considering reading this book and you are not an immediate part of the music industry, then you should. Most likely you will learn something or find a new way to justify your method of finding the music you listen to.
Greg Kot's book has done a great job of consolidating most of the information about the wireless revolution and its impact on the music industry. It is a very biased take (as most historical documents are, but this does little to mask who Kot believes the "bad guy" is), b...more
Greg Kot's book has done a great job of consolidating most of the information about the wireless revolution and its impact on the music industry. It is a very biased take (as most historical documents are, but this does little to mask who Kot believes the "bad guy" is), b...more
"Ripp" is a useful book for learning about the paradigm shift of the "wired generation" that has and is effecting the entire music industry. What this digital revolution has done is provided music artists a way to promote and distribute their work without being dependent on large music corporations. Kot does a great job of breaking down the history of this paradigm shift that has turned around the entire music industry.
Ripped is written in a journalistic style, full of personal interviews with...more
Ripped is written in a journalistic style, full of personal interviews with...more
Fascinating overview of how artists and record companies have dealt with technological innovations.
Reecord companies have become increasingly obsolete as music fans have found ways to obtain music for free. Artist reactions have ranged from Metallica's thuggish tirades to Radiohead's giveaways. This book examines the pros, cons, and surprises of each approach.
An unexpected bonus in Kot's book is the treatment of how rock journalism has rolled with these innovations.
I held back one star because s...more
Reecord companies have become increasingly obsolete as music fans have found ways to obtain music for free. Artist reactions have ranged from Metallica's thuggish tirades to Radiohead's giveaways. This book examines the pros, cons, and surprises of each approach.
An unexpected bonus in Kot's book is the treatment of how rock journalism has rolled with these innovations.
I held back one star because s...more
If you're interested in how the "shape" of music has evolved (most discussion from CD to mp3, though 8-tracks, vinyl and cassettes are discussed as well), how inept the record companies have been in adapting to the demands of their audience and that audience's technology, and if you want to know details about the ingenuity of Prince, Radiohead, Trent Reznor, you'll find this fascinating. Though I lived through the Napster/Metallica debacle, I found the chapter compelling for how hindsight can il...more
The recent history of mp3 is something that amazes me. A book that could be so dull is amazing. Do you wonder how it all started and music has to change and is starting to change with the internet and mp3 sharing? Ripped shows you what has been happening. Greg Kot doesn't do it in your boring history way either. He uses interviews and excellent stories to highlight what is happening. He talks about pitchfork changed the independent music scene. A scene that was hard to find before the internet....more
The subject is fascinating - how the music industry has transformed itself from a CD industry dominated bya few big labels and major radio conglomerates into an internet based, digital, file sharing anarchy. The book explores, briefly,how this happened, and touches upon what it could mean for the future. But most of the book is spent presenting cases studies, but the author spends more time writing about the music itself than how the band fit into the new ways of doing things. I would have found...more
This was my first free book to read and review.
This book is more for the younger generation and how the music industry failed to stay current with the internet. I found the book a little tiring in some spots only because I personally am not current with today's music scene.
I am a teen from the 60's and will forever be a flower child. When I was a teen, the radio stations played great tunes, we listened, bought the singles, then the whole album. We weren't interested in what the big record compa...more
This book is more for the younger generation and how the music industry failed to stay current with the internet. I found the book a little tiring in some spots only because I personally am not current with today's music scene.
I am a teen from the 60's and will forever be a flower child. When I was a teen, the radio stations played great tunes, we listened, bought the singles, then the whole album. We weren't interested in what the big record compa...more
Kot does an admirable job of summarizing the influence of the Internet in changing and attempting to democratize the music industry. Nothing revolutionary here but an enjoyable read nonetheless. Of particular interest to those who love music and who have a sneaking suspicion that those who control the output don't have the best interests of music lovers at heart--nor, in fact, do they actually have hearts. Kot's explanation of exactly how the industry works will likely confirm most previously-he...more
This book is a great basic overview of exactly what the title says. If you know a lot about Napster, Mettalica, Prince leaving his label, the Grey Album, Paul McCartney and Starbucks, and iTunes, than you won't necessary need to read this at all. For me it was just the right combination of stuff I knew a decent amount about but wanted to know more, and stuff I didn't know about but which tied right in with the other stuff I knew a bit about. Hope that makes sense. Anyway Kot is an easy writer. T...more
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I was pleasantly surprised by where the narrative went, as the middle section focused on individual artists and bands, and their navigation of the current music biz landscape. This provided a variety to the book, since Kot just didn't have enough new or insightful information to sustain a book length exploration of how digital innovation has effected the music industry. Nevertheless, many of those chapters about one particular musician had only tangential relevance to "the wired generation" and...more
It is a very odd experience to read a journalistic account of a phenomenon that is still going on, and on whose outcomes we can only speculate. Reading it now, and having observed many of the events and phenomena described in this book as they happened, a lot of this information feels superfluous and obvious, but at the same time I think this is a very important document - filled with primary resources - that people will be able to come back to in 20, 30, 50 years to see how they got wherever it...more
If you're even considering reading this book, trust me- DO IT. Every page is chock full of information; but, because of Kot's superb organization and dynamic writing style, it's never dull. No sentence goes to waste, as Kot takes care to explain fully and effectively the first time around. No dallying around with an author's personal indulgence here- it's clear Kot is from a journalistic background. He makes it easy to follow his reporting. His talent to write about music shines through as well....more
I just received an email that I am getting this from the First Reads Drawing!!!
Nothing is as good as free books
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This was a great non-fiction book. Some Non-fiction books, no matter how interesting the topic, are really boring and hard to get through. Greg Kot succeeded in creating a narritive that really explained what happened in the late nineties to the music industry. Massive conglomerates started buying up small labels as money makers, often dumping fledg...more
Nothing is as good as free books
_____________________________________
This was a great non-fiction book. Some Non-fiction books, no matter how interesting the topic, are really boring and hard to get through. Greg Kot succeeded in creating a narritive that really explained what happened in the late nineties to the music industry. Massive conglomerates started buying up small labels as money makers, often dumping fledg...more
Once I started this book I couldn't put it down. I knocked it off in 48 hours (which is rare for me in my 42nd year). Greg does a sensational job spelling out the state of the music business in a post-Napster world, citing many detailed examples of success stories as well as failures while maintaining a neutral position on the matter of copyright-infringement file sharing. I recommend this for anyone who enjoys music and seeks out musicians/band that are less commercial and take more creative ch...more
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The bulk of this work is a chronology of artists and their relationship to the record industry starting in the late 80's early 90's. File sharing, the RIAA, bands who work with and against their fans, and promotion/sales of music in the new age of internet technology are at the heart of Kot's book. Each chapter uses an artist/band or two to illustrate how the recording industry worked at that given time.
Having worked for a local record store chain in the early to...more
Having worked for a local record store chain in the early to...more
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