free write #7

This paper did a really good job of completing the assignment. After reading all of the questions, the writer has shown that racism does exist through many different communities through out the world. He tells the audience the specific kind of racism that is going on. The author does a terrific job making sure that the audience knows exactly what is going on and that they have a good understanding of the topic on hand. The author also has an evolving thesis statement. I thought that it was a little unorganized but how he had explanations towards the end, and the way he works all of the quotes around his argument was really good. I thought it was impressive that he fused forms of media into his essay, including the street signs. It showed the backing evidence of what he was discussing in his argument. His primary research is the interviews he conducts and is essential in making his argument. The interviews really are the backbone of his argument and without them he would not have the proof he needed to prove his argument. The interviews with the police chief and the teachers, we very helpful to his argument. I think that the author does incorporate outside sources in a very smooth manner. He uses the sources to further develop his argument. He does this by inferring questions around these sources. He doesn’t just use the sources to back up his argument; he builds up his argument from these sources. The sources allow him to develop his argument even further.

I would give this paper an A-. The fact that his paper is on his hometown, it gives him a better knowledge of what is going on. He uses his primary data in a very positive way that really develops his essay. Also he makes his points very clear, and answers his points very clearly. The one thing I would mark off would be that the author needs a little smoother transition between selected topics of discussions other wise this essay is a very good depiction of what a good research paper would look like.

The music industry is going through a very difficult time right now.   There has been such a dramatic drop in CD sales in the past decade that many in the industry wonder just what the future holds in terms of being a financially viable industry.  Can the concept of one entire album, having a sense of cohesiveness and integrity, continue to stand on its own?  Steven Wilson, who writes for Billboard Magazine has an interesting perspective.  He believes that CD’s are not going to disappear forever.  In fact, he thinks that “the album” continues to carry a significant importance to the music industry.   He says that it is something you can hold in your hands and that you cannot get that with a digital download.  He infers that you get something special with a physical copy of a CD such as liner notes, album artwork, lyrics, pictures and more. “The true album – with the capital “A” is alive and well.” says Wilson.  An album is a collection of songs in a specific order that is supposed to work together in unity.

On the other hand, Antony Bruno, another writer for billboard magazine, puts for the argument that digitally downloading songs on the internet is much more manageable than buying albums.  An iPod can play songs in the order it was intended or just as easily mix up the order of the songs.  His stand is that this is the way to go because it makes the music more personal to each individual.

The truth is, in this day and age, computers and electronic devices completely surpass the old forms of media, including CD’s, minidiscs, 8-tracks, and cassettes.  Digital media is completely taking over and it is for the best.  People complain that you don’t get the “real deal” when you buy a digital download.  While this is true to a great extent, Apple and Amazon have been working on fixing that.  They are working towards putting full album covers, lyrics, liner notes and more with each digital download you buy.  Bruno thinks that CD’s are a thing of the past and people need to step into the future.  iTunes is taking over the digital download industry according to Bruno.  Apple is in a great position. They sell the music and they sell the devices you listen to music on. They have essentially created a win win situation for themselves, because they make money on both sides. They have revolutionized the music industry not just from the music point of view, but also even in terms of how you listen to it.  You no longer need to buy big fancy stereo equipment.  You can plug in your iPod with two speakers and have an instant music system.

To try to argue that the digital age will not take over the old fashioned forms of media is like a salmon swimming upstream.  There is not much to stand on.  Digital downloads are becoming better and better as the years go on.  There is new technology constantly upgrading what is out there.  It is constantly evolving.  People are beginning to realize that you can get everything you get with a physical copy as you can with a digital copy.  I would have to agree that CD’s are an endangered species.  The question, however, still remains of whether the artwork and presentation in this new digital form is as relevant and important in affecting the sales and marketing, as well as the enjoyment, of music in the album form.

Thesis: with the new age of digital music flowing through the music industry, and CD sales dropping to its lowest point ever. People are not buying full albums any more and the record companies are losing a ton of money because CD’s aren’t selling. Will albums start to loose there sense of togetherness because everything is turning digital and there is no physical object?

A) Steven Wilson – he is a British musician who has written for billboard magazine, so his background greatly deals with a lot of music. I think that billboard magazine is one of the biggest names and most credible sources in the music industry for industry information. I think the bias created with this is that they are very involved with music so the article is going to be leaning towards creating and using album covers because the author is a musician. Antony Bruno – he is also a writer for billboard magazine, but he is not a musician so the bias will be different than Steven Wilson’s.

B) I think the target audiences for these articles are executives who work in the industry, and researchers who are trying to think of new and creative ways to enhance album production. Both of the articles support keeping album covers alive. Antony Bruno’s article actually favors hard albums over digital copies, because you’re not getting the whole package when you buy a digital download. Your only getting an electronic copy, not the real thing.

C) The primary purpose of billboard magazine is to inform people of what is going on in the music industry. It tells you the top songs of the week, the top albums of the month, what companies are doing what. It really is a great magazine for people interested in knowing about the music industry.

The music industry is in a very difficult time right with the supposed drop of CD sales in the past decade and albums loosing their sense of integrity. Steven Wilson, who writes for billboard magazine has this to say. He believes that CD’s are not going away forever; in fact he thinks that the album is a huge importance to the industry. It is some thing that you can’t get with a digital download. His ideas are that you get something special with a physical copy of the CD. You get liner notes, album artwork, lyrics, pictures and more. “ The True album—with the capital “A” is alive and well.” An album is a collecting of songs in a specific order that is supposed to work together in unity.  There is the argument that digitally downloading songs on the Internet is much more manageable. An iPod can play songs in order just as easy as it can mix up eight songs. That’s exactly what antony bruno thinks.

In this day and age, computers and electronic devices completely surpass old forms on media, including CD’s minidisks, 8 tracks, and cassettes. Digital media is completely taking over and it’s for the better. People complain that you don’t get the real deal when you buy a digital download, which is somewhat true, but apple and amazon have been fixing that. They have working on putting full album covers, lyrics, liner notes and more with each digital download you buy. Bruno thinks that CD’s are in the past and that people need to look to the future. iTunes is taking over the digital download industry says Bruno. Apple is in a position to roll out new features across its online store and its devices at the same time. They have great thing going on. They sell the music, and they sell the product that you put the music on. Digital downloads are becoming better and better as the years go on. People are starting to realize that you can get everything you get with a physical copy as you can with a digital copy. Soon Cd’s will be no more.