- The contemporary organization of the music industry
- The effects of technological change on production
- The history and politics of popular music
- Gender, sexuality and ethnicity
- Subcultures
- Fans and music celebrities
This new edition adds sections on the impact of digital media on popular music production and consumption and incorporates original ethnographic research on musicianship and musical practices. It will continue to be required reading for students of the sociology of culture, media and communication studies, and popular culture.