How Music Got Free Book Summary - How Music Got Free Book explained in key points
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How Music Got Free summary

Stephen Witt

What happens when an entire generation commits the same crime?

4.7 (29 ratings)
23 mins

Brief summary

How Music Got Free by Stephen Witt tells the story of the music industry's evolution into the digital era, from the birth of MP3 to the rise of pirated music. It’s a fascinating tale of technology, greed, and the enduring power of music that changed the industry forever.

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    How Music Got Free
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    Since the early days of the CD, some people realized there was a more efficient way to deliver music.

    When the very first CDs started appearing on the shelves of music stores, people who were familiar with data storage already knew these discs were an inefficient delivery system. This was especially true for those who studied psychoacoustics, the science of sound perception.

    As early as the 1980s, one German team working with empirical psychoacoustic data started experimenting with digital music compression.

    In 1987, a team lead by doctoral student Karlheinz Brandenburg came together at the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany. Their goal was to reduce the size of digital audio files by way of extracting bits of information and sound that were scientifically proven to be imperceptible to the human ear.

    Originally, the goal was to reduce the size of a CD track, which averaged about 1.4 million bits, to one-twelfth of its size, i.e., about 128,000 bits.

    After years of testing and collaborating, the team finally reached their goal. They took music from every genre and used the recordings of a single human voice, bird sounds and even jet engines in order to perfect their compression methods. Interestingly, the human voice on its own proved to be the most challenging sound to deal with. Fun fact: the team tested it by using the acapella intro to Suzanne Vega’s Tom’s Diner.

    The group continued perfecting their work and it wasn’t until 1989, when Brandenburg collaborated with James Johnston, who was working independently on his own psychoacoustic algorithm at AT&T-Bell Labs, that the quality of their compressed files started to sound indistinguishable from that of a CD.

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    What is How Music Got Free about?

    How Music Got Free (2015) tells the remarkable story of the mp3 file, from its inception in a German audio lab to its discovery by a man working in a North Carolina CD-pressing plant, who would eventually team up with a piracy group to bring the entire music industry to its knees.

    How Music Got Free Review

    How Music Got Free (2015) is a fascinating exploration of the music industry's transformation in the digital age. Here's why this book is worth reading:

    • It unveils the untold story of how MP3 piracy revolutionized the music industry, revealing the dark underbelly of the digital music era.
    • The book delves into the lives of key characters involved in the piracy scene, humanizing a complex issue and providing a unique perspective.
    • Through meticulous research and compelling storytelling, the author crafts a narrative that keeps the readers captivated, ensuring the book is far from boring.

    Who should read How Music Got Free?

    • Musicians and music consumers
    • Anyone interested in copyright law
    • Anyone interested in internet freedom

    About the Author

    A member of the pirate generation, Stephen Witt holds degrees in mathematics and journalism and has worked in economic development and the stock market.

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    How Music Got Free FAQs 

    What is the main message of How Music Got Free?

    The main message of How Music Got Free is the revolutionary impact of digital piracy on the music industry.

    How long does it take to read How Music Got Free?

    The reading time for How Music Got Free can vary but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

    Is How Music Got Free a good book? Is it worth reading?

    How Music Got Free is worth reading for its compelling narrative of the rise of digital piracy and its consequences for the music industry.

    Who is the author of How Music Got Free?

    The author of How Music Got Free is Stephen Witt.

    What to read after How Music Got Free?

    If you're wondering what to read next after How Music Got Free, here are some recommendations we suggest:
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