What is the main message of Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay?

The main message of Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay is a fascinating exploration of how popular music shaped society and vice versa.

Who is the author of Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay?

The author of Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay is Simon Napier-Bell.

History

Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay Book Summary - Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay Book explained in key points

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Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay summary

Name: Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay
Rating: 4 (22 reviews)
Author: Simon Napier-Bell

Simon Napier-Bell

The (Dodgy) Business of Popular Music

4 (22 ratings)

20 mins

Brief summary

In 'Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay', Simon Napier-Bell shares his journey as a music manager, his role in shaping pop culture, and the highs and lows of the industry. It's a window into the lives of music legends and an exploration of the power of music in society.

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Culture

Table of Contents

Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay
Summary of 9 key ideas

Audio & text in the Blinkist app

Key idea 1 of 9

What’s in it for me? Tune in to the rhythm of modern popular music history.

Music is always a reflection of society and the times. When slaves in the American South belted out work songs, their tunes reflected the hardships of their lives and the injustice of the world at large. And when, in the 1970s, Emerson, Lake and Palmer let the chords on their Hammond organ ring out, these futuristic sounds signaled the inevitable and continuing integration of technology into music.

Music interacts, changes and develops with society, and specifically with the emergence of new technologies, laws and trends. But because societies are largely shaped by economic interests, music also has a lot to do with business.

These blinks will guide you through the history and business of modern popular music. You will dance to jukebox classics, step into the jazz clubs of Chicago and New York and join the masses at Woodstock.

You’ll also learn

how copyright law changed the world of music;
how alcohol consumption boosted music sales; and
what the Hells Angels charged for security services in 1969.

The modern music business took its first steps with the invention of copyright law and the record player.

Music has been around in one form or another for millennia. And yet, in the grand scheme of things, it was only recently that songs began to be seen as individual, rather than common, property.

This distinction emerged with the first copyright laws, which not only created a new branch of the legal system, but also a new publishing market for songs.

It began in 1710 when the British court of law first recognized authors as having rights over what they wrote. Suddenly, authors now owned their work and got royalties from each sale.

This led to the first music publishing house, Chappell & Co., which was founded in the early nineteenth century after the owner of a piano shop, Samuel Chappell, joined forces with the famous pianist Johann Baptist Cramer. Soon they were collecting, publishing and selling Cramer’s sheet music to the public.

Naturally, it wasn’t long before others noticed that publishing sheet music was an easier and more profitable way for artists to make money than playing concerts. And the general public loved it because they could buy the sheet music, play the songs in their homes and hear music that they would never have access to otherwise.

But the world of music publishing really exploded at the end of the nineteenth century, when an innovation known as the phonograph opened up the doors for a whole new revenue stream.

In 1877, Thomas Edison produced the first commercial record player, making it possible for people to play recorded music in their homes.

For publishing companies, this meant they could now turn their attention away from sheet music and to the much more profitable world of records.

Sheet music could last years before it became worn down and tattered enough for a family to buy another copy, whereas a record would get played and replayed at such a rate that buying another one was practically inevitable.

Irving Berlin revolutionized popular music by changing its beat.

In the current age of instant access to music, it can be hard to recall or even imagine the thrill of bringing a record into your home for the first time. But when the public started buying records for home listening in mass quantities, the music industry exploded; before long, pop music was born.

Many new pop stars also emerged, and with songs like “Blue Skies,” “What’ll I do?” and “Always,” Irving Berlin would go on to be considered the quintessential American singer-songwriter.

Due to their outsider status, Jewish and black artists thrived in the music business.

Despite its popularity in the early twentieth century, the music business was not seen as a reputable line of work for much of the country’s Anglo-Saxon population. So it was left to the nation’s outsiders to push the industry forward.

Black artists were able to make a living by taking jazz songs to nightclubs around the country, helping the genre grow in popularity.

The advent of radio initially scared the music industry, but its potential soon became apparent.

It’s always hard to predict exactly how an invention will impact the world, especially with something as groundbreaking as the radio.

Indeed, when it was first made commercially available in the early 1920s, this device revolutionized the music industry.

Following Prohibition, the music industry grew as bars, clubs and Hollywood all generated new revenue streams.

For 13 years, the United States attempted to ban the production, distribution, and consumption of alcohol.

Much of the nation raised a glass when the order was repealed in 1933, including the music industry, which was happy to forge a mutually beneficial arrangement with the liquor business.

Following World War II, music became more international, focusing on rock bands and full-length records.

The next big shake-up in the music business happened after World War II when there was an increase in the exchange of music and culture between the United States and the United Kingdom. In the States, this led to what was known as the “British invasion” of music, with young people across the country succumbing to “Beatlemania.”

The Beatles first topped the US charts in 1964 with “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” which was quickly followed by “She Loves You” and “Can't Buy Me Love.”

Two festivals in 1969 offered important lessons about live music.

Two concerts at the very end of the 1960s changed the face of popular music for very different reasons.

The first was the fabled Woodstock festival, which, after considerable planning, took place over three days in the summer of 1969.

Over the years, many musical subcultures reached mainstream popularity, although they were often associated with drugs.

As long as there has been music, there have been different styles and genres, and even subgenres. Many of these styles have been closely associated with alternative lifestyles, some of which stay underground, while others become worldwide trends and change the music industry for good.

Many of these same musical movements have been closely associated with different drugs.

Sharing music files over the internet required the music industry to develop a new business model.

As we go down the list of major changes to the music industry, you might be able to guess where it’s headed. That’s right – the most recent wave of change in the industry began when music hit the internet and customers were able to stream any song at the push of a button without having to leave their homes.

The big turning point in this musical revolution was Napster, which was founded in 1999 by a couple of college kids by the names of Shawn Fanning and Sean Parker who created an online platform for sharing and discovering new music.

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What is Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay about?

Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay (2014) takes its title from a late nineteenth-century vaudeville song and explores how the music industry has evolved and adapted to various changes and inventions that have continuously revolutionized what we listen to and how we listen to it.

Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay Review

Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay (2015) by Simon Napier-Bell is a fascinating exploration of the history of popular music and its role in shaping society. Here's why this book is definitely worth reading:

With in-depth research and a wealth of fascinating stories, it uncovers hidden narratives and sheds light on the cultural impact of music throughout history.
The book offers unique perspectives on well-known music events and personalities, challenging conventional wisdom and providing fresh insights.
Through vivid storytelling and engaging anecdotes, it brings music history to life, making the journey through the book an incredibly enjoyable and enriching experience.

Best quote from Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay

The court had created the music industry.

—Simon Napier-Bell

Who should read Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay?

Music geeks with tastes that cut across genres
Pop culture historians
Readers interested in the music industry

About the Author

Simon Napier-Bell has a long and storied career in the music industry as a producer, the manager of the Yardbirds and cowriter of Dusty Springfield’s hit, “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me.” As an author, he’s also written the books Black Vinyl, White Powder and I’m Coming Down to Take You to Lunch.

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