Product Description

Popular Music in Theory provides a critical introduction to the key theoretical issues which arise in the study of contemporary popular music.


This book is organized in a way that shows how popular music is created across a series of relationships that link together industry and audiences, producers and consumers. Starting from the dichotomy between production and consumption which characterizes much work on popular culture, Negus explores the equally significant social processes that intervene between and across the production–consumption divide, examining the ways that popular music is mediated by a series of technological, cultural, historical, geographical and political factors. This broad framework provides signposts to various tracks taken by the sounds and images of popular music, and also highlights distinctive theoretical routes into the study of contemporary popular music.


This volume is intended mainly for undergraduate and postgraduate students taking courses in sociology, media and communication studies, and cultural studies. However, it will also appeal to those who enjoy thinking and talking about popular music and who might like to delve a little deeper.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #186615 in Books
• Published on: 1996-11-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 248 pages

Review
"An excellent critical introduction to major theoretical issues and debates in the study of contemporary popular music, drawing on illustrative case studies that will be familiar to a wide readership. Clearly written and well argued, the book will be essential reading for students, researchers and teachers." Sara Cohen, University of Liverpool

"A bumper primer for the field as a whole ... instructive and enlightening." Q Magazine

"The book functions both as an introduction to theories in the field, and as an outline of a coherent theoretical model of its own." European Journal of Communication

Q Magazine
A bumper primer for the field as a whole ... instructive and enlightening.

From the Back Cover
Popular Music in Theory provides a critical introduction to the key theoretical issues which arise in the study of contemporary popular music.

This book is organized in a way that shows how popular music is created across a series of relationships that link together industry and audiences, producers and consumers. Starting from the dichotomy between production and consumption which characterizes much work on popular culture, Negus explores the equally significant social processes that intervene between and across the production–consumption divide, examining the ways that popular music is mediated by a series of technological, cultural, historical, geographical and political factors. This broad framework provides signposts to various tracks taken by the sounds and images of popular music, and also highlights distinctive theoretical routes into the study of contemporary popular music.

This volume is intended mainly for undergraduate and postgraduate students taking courses in sociology, media and communication studies, and cultural studies. However, it will also appeal to those who enjoy thinking and talking about popular music and who might like to delve a little deeper.

Customer Reviews

A must for all popular music students
As a popular music student I found this book extremely useful. I don't think I've written an essay without it! Even though I've had to read it for my coursework, I actually enjoyed it because I found it so helpful and interesting, particulaly the chapter on audiences.