Abstract: "The Music Industry is a very complex world that embraces different and broad segments needing of academic exploration. The big majority of studies and/or academic approaches to this unique business world have been focusing greatly on the record labels side but have failed to address the role of those who make the music – the musicians/artists. This is exactly what the present study aimed to understand: What is the role of the musicians in the music business? Aren’t they one of the key elements, essential players, within the whole industry, if not the most important elements ever?
The industry of music includes a large number of creative and wise musicians/bands behind one of the most discriminated music genres in the music history – Heavy Metal Music. However, diverse studies have demonstrated that Heavy Metal is recognized as a music genre that generates profit, with an increasing legion of fans all over the world hence, also considered popular music. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to understand how Heavy Metal Music bands and musicians succeed and how they manage to conciliate artistic creativity and commercial demands. By making a multiple case study analysis within two different settings – Portugal versus Finland – it will be shown that Heavy Metal bands / musicians possess business skills that allow them to manage and conduct both the artistic and business activities of their music business. In some of the cases, it will also be raised their entrepreneurial skills in innovating and finding new ways of reaching the audience and becoming more successful whilst doing what they love the most – making music and playing it live."
(Source: ProQuest Dissertations Publishing)
Ciências Sociais e Humanas (Social Sciences and Humanities).