Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the music industries in many negative ways. Nonetheless, it has also brought about new possibilities for music production, performance and distribution, as well as collaboration and networking. This chapter analyses posts and interactions in Facebook music communities (FMC) involving independent amateur songwriters from the Philippines to show how these ‘virtual music networks’ transformed musical processes and practices during the pandemic. Moreover, the implications of these networks for contemporary music making and business are also examined. As shown in this research, FMCs are regarded as do-it-yourself/do-it-ourselves (DIY/DIO) support systems and sites of career trajectory negotiation, which have been especially helpful to amateur musicians during the COVID-19 crisis. FMCs allow members to reciprocate support and achieve accomplishments as they participate in the platform. Moreover, these virtual music networks are not only devoted to a single artist but to the practice of independent music production for musicians across genres, skill level, experience and involvement in the music industries. This research re-examines virtual platforms as sites that enable independent musicians to participate in, reinforce and complement the mainstream music industries. It problematises the usual business model of reliance on major labels for music production, consumption and distribution in the Philippines.
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Notes
- 1.
Demo comes from the word ‘demonstration’ and is used in the music business to refer to a recording that provides a basic demonstration of a song.
- 2.
Jeepneys, also called jeeps, are a popular mode of public transportation manufactured and used in the Philippines. The vehicle originated from military jeeps brought by the Americans to the Philippines during World War 2, which was later modified by Filipinos as a public utility vehicle by adding a roof, an open rear and two long parallel seats that can accommodate about ten people on each side.
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Anacin, C. (2022). Musical Aspirations and DIY/DIO Practices in Online Communities of Amateur Independent Filipino Songwriters. In: Morrow, G., Nordgård, D., Tschmuck, P. (eds) Rethinking the Music Business. Music Business Research. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-09532-0_11
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