Websites such as youtube, twitter, faceboook and spotify has had a big affect on the music industry as it has allowed more people that are signed to independent labels to be found. Also this has created superior marketing for the major labels also it has allowed people to not just become consumers but now prosumers.
Major record labels have taken digital distribution in their stride as it allows the consumer to build more of a relationship with the artist, they do this is by assessing how many likes the artists videos have, how many followers, fans and how many people have listened to their 'work'. this is a good tool for the majors as it also allow them to see who the fans are and the can make the work more nostalgic for the consumers. A good example of this would be Xfactors and One Direction ( One D) whist they were on the "talent contest" they were voted in each week up until the final. The vote were a great way to see what the audience liked as it gave them feed back on what the consumers wanted, One D also realised vlogs on youtube every week while they were on the show, getting over 1million likes in over 24 hours, The record labels take these things in to account and use them to improve the artists. This also come with its downside the fact that in contemporary society, consumers care more about the visualisation of music that the actual music itsself. A good example of this is Gangnam Style as the songs its self is not at all good, but it has been a massive hit with people as it has a dance that people remember also prosumers can do it and recreate it them selfs.
It has a large affect on prosumers and indie artist aswell. For the prosumers spotify, facebook and twitter is am excellent way for them to get there name out and into the prosumer market, the only down side with prosumers are they have a very niche following, normally its only other prosumers that take an interest in their work as it allows them to know what the competitors are doing. As prosumers work is mainly on youtube and spotify, it allows people to make music videos for prosumers, intern making them prosumers, this leaves out the need to be signed by a record label, due to the fact they can self promote using social networking websites.
Indie records relie massively on digital distribution as it is hard for them to get their artists know any other way as the major record label use synergy to get a lot of their artists know or promote them heavily on T.V and radio through interviews. Where as indie labels have to work harder to get them selfs know, they do this by self promoting and allowing the consumers to download the music free of charge and giving back to the people that made them known and not caring about piracy as it is free distribution.
A high level of digital distribution this does not have a massive affect on the marketing and consumtion for the industry it has only improved it.
