| It's no big secret that the way we listen to music has | | | | short preview. |
| changed vastly over the last few years. | | | | Such influence is now spreading to the mass media, |
| The emergence of bigger and better mp3 players has | | | | with radio stations and indie television shows that |
| led to a surge in music downloads, even going so far | | | | specialise in undiscovered talent seeing increasing |
| as to shape the way music charts are compiled. | | | | viewing and listening figures. |
| More of us now have access to a broadband | | | | As the software and price war continues in the world |
| connection, and many bands are now tapping into the | | | | of mp3 players - consumers now have access to a |
| online market in order to get their voices heard and | | | | wide range of players of differing sizes (both in the |
| records sold. | | | | player itself and how much data it can store) |
| Record companies are making use of a wide variety | | | | Music stores have played a huge part in making |
| of media and retail in order to get their artists heard - | | | | downloadable music available to the consumer, with |
| and now music is available to download from a range | | | | some predicting that receiving music down a |
| of different outlets - from your own PC to high street | | | | broadband line could eventually signal the end of the |
| record shops. | | | | physical CD single, normally available in the shops |
| Free downloads, offers with broadband packages and | | | | themselves. |
| exclusive tracks are just some of the ways in which | | | | And with many joining forces with the record |
| music corporations and independent artists are | | | | companies in order to offer exclusive content on a |
| attempting to make our ears perk up and take notice | | | | range of bands, music fans and consumers alike |
| of their material. | | | | appear to be going through a boom time. |
| Social networking sites have also played a huge part in | | | | As the world of downloadable music continues to |
| making music more widely available to the masses. | | | | grow, consumers could soon find themselves able to |
| Unsigned bands can now post material to pages which | | | | download that exclusive track from your favourite |
| are viewed by thousands each day, offering the | | | | band during your weekly shopping trip in future. |
| chance to download new material after hearing a | | | | |