Music by Numbers: The Use and Abuse of Statistics in the Music Industries - Paperback

by Richard Osborne (Editor), Dave Laing (Editor)

This edited collection examines statistics within the music industry. Its aim is to expose the historical and contemporary use and abuse of these numbers, both nationally and internationally. It addresses their impact on consumers' choices, upon the careers of musicians and upon the policies that governments and legislators make.

Author Biography

Richard Osborne is a senior lecturer in popular music at Middlesex University in London. He is the author of Vinyl: A History of the Analogue Record and coeditor of Mute Records: Artists, Business, History. He publishes widely in the field of popular music studies, including the blog Pop Bothering Me. Dave Laing (1947-2019) was one of the founding figures of popular music studies. He authored many books on popular music, including The Sound of Our Time, One Chord Wonders, and Buddy Holly.