Routledge Companion to Digital Consumption

Question: Discuss about the Routledge Companion to Digital Consumption. Answer: Introduction People listen to music in order to get relief from stress and experts also believe that music helps in improvising memory and learning (Van den Tol et al.). However, Clynes stated that the reason for listening music is different and people listen to it based on three separate planes- the sensuous plane, expressive plane and sheerly musical plane. Thus, the primary objective of this essay is to emphasize on how people listen to music. Discussion Clynes portrays that most of the people listen to music for getting the sheer pleasure and an attractive state of mind of the musical sound. This sense of listening music represents the sensuous plane that is people listen to it without having a preference for a song or music. On the other hand, Van den Tol et al. stated that every kind of music is inspired by some emotion and possess an expressive power. Lepa et al. furthermore affirms by stating that every note of the music has a meaning and a person intends to listen music if these emotions match with their sentiments and expression. Clynes thus highlight that people usually are not conscious of the third plane- sheerly musical plane that represents the composition of the music and its rhythm. Thus, people listen if the song touches their heart no matter how much effort have been put into that for composing that music. The evaluation carried out by Belk et al. illustrates that people listen to music through different ways using different gadgets and applications. In conventional times, people listen to music by attending concerts and watching music shows; however, in contemporary times, people utilize the digital technology to listen to music (Clynes). In addition to that, Belk et al. furthermore highlight that people spend a significant amount of money for music. People buy music CDs and DVDs, subscribe to a music channel, purchase digital tracks and albums and buying tickets or passes for attending DJ event according to their preference for music (Krause et al.). Music streaming is the recent trend to listen music for people in every community. As a result, the sales of CDs, cassettes, vinyl and digital albums fell to 19.4% in 2015 (Krause et al.). However, Krause et al. highlight that CD sales were down by 16% but vinyl LPs enhances their sales of music records due to their effective promotional strategies. Van den Tol et al. moreover depicts that music companies also utilizes the promotional advertising strategies like the promotion of their music trailers in different music channels so that people can hear their music. In this way, other source of music usually gets less preference and is mostly not listened by the users. Belk et al. also evaluates that people listen to music in their leisure time like during travelling on their way to home or offices, parties and informal gatherings and while attending music concerts. Music companies also compose music according to different genre like jazz, hip hop music, rock music, metal, punk rock, in strumental or country music so that people can opt for their preferable genre of music. Conclusion Thus, it can be concluded that music is an integral part of human life since it was composed. Some people like music as it appeals an emotional linkage to them; while, some listen music to make their event more enjoyable. The listening process of music has also changed from conventional time to contemporary period, but the reason for listening music remain the same that is to attain a sense of happiness and relaxation of mind in their leisure time. Reference List Belk, Russell W., and Rosa Llamas, eds.The Routledge companion to digital consumption. Routledge, 2013. Clynes, Manfred, ed.Music, mind, and brain: The neuropsychology of music. Springer Science Business Media, 2013. Krause, Amanda E., Adrian C. North, and Lauren Y. Hewitt. "Music-listening in everyday life: Devices and choice."Psychology of Music43.2 (2015): 155-170. Lepa, Steffen, and Anne-Kathrin Hoklas. "How do people really listen to music today? Conventionalities and major turnovers in German audio repertoires."Information, Communication Society18.10 (2015): 1253-1268. Van den Tol, Annemieke JM, and Jane Edwards. "Exploring a rationale for choosing to listen to sad music when feeling sad."Psychology of Music41.4 (2013): 440-465.