News executives and owners justify their reluctance to invest in research and development and professional training because they aren’t large, lucrative companies. However, if they truly believed in securing a long-term future for their companies and their industries, Rasmus Kleis Nielsen finds this excuse flimsy. He cites Malaysiakini, an online Malaysian newspaper, and The Daily Maverick in South Africa as examples of small companies operating in challenging markets that still invest significantly in their future; if they can do it, then the entire industry can. Read full article here
Oddities
Why Do Modern Pop Songs Have So Many Credited Writers?
The music industry has changed dramatically over the last few decades – with the number of songwriters credited on number one hits more than doubling. This is due to a combination of factors, including money, the computer and a changing definition of what songwriting is. For example, if The Beatles’ classic “I Feel Fine” was released today, it would likely have four writers credited instead of two, due to the influence of producers, samples and interpolations. With the rise of lawsuits, artists now preemptively add songwriter credits to their songs, even if the similarities between their song and the source material are coincidental. It all goes to show that the music industry is becoming more complex and competitive. Read full article here