Dietel-McLaughlin / WR 13300 & 13200 / Fall 2011 Research Essay Proposal Directions: After completing your concept map,

please complete the following proposal and exploratory draft. A printed copy of your completed concept map, proposal, and exploratory draft is due IN CLASS on Tuesday, 10/25. I will meet with you individually in the library to grade and discuss these documents, which will be factored into your final research paper grade (5 points for the concept map, 5 points for the proposal, and 5 points for the exploratory draft). To get full points, these items should be detailed and should reflect your careful thinking and planning. Your Name ____C.J. Von Bargen______ Research Question(s): What aspects of the digital age have altered the music industry? Working Thesis: Despite the threats of digital access, music industries have used digital media to their advantage to thrive in the digital age Possible Main Points in Support of Your Thesis (i.e., your claims, reasoning, and evidence): 1) __Digital storefront provide a one-stop shop for all your favorite artists__ Evidence to support this point ___29% music industry revenue is now digital___ 2) ___Artists identity management through MySpace and YouTube gives new ways to consume music__ Evidence to support this point __In 2008, over 2/3 American internet users viewed YouTube daily__ 3) __New frontiers of music access: smartphones & tethered self___ Evidence to support this point __devices saw a growing proportion of downloads in 2010__ 4) __Stricter government policies benefit al forms of copyrighted material_ Evidence to support this point __Policies discussed worldwide are creating a new rule of law__ Possible Objections to Your Thesis (or any of the points mentioned above): 1) ___Digital Piracy prevents the music industry from thriving___ Evidence that might be used to support this CA: _Debut album sales fell 77%_ Flaws in/response to this CA: __Artists establish their name digitally, then make income through live shows & merchandise______ 2) __Lesser known artists in music need income that should come from downloads__ Evidence that might be used to support this CA: _No major artist has built a career on live performances__ Flaws in/response to this CA: __Digital age makes it easier to see live performances__ A Few Possible Sources (give specific titles/authors): 1) __IFPI digital Music Report 2011_____ 2) _The YouTube Effect by Christopher Cayari___ 3) __Always-On / Always-On-You: The Tethered Self by Sherry Turkle___

C.J. Von Bargen Dr. Erin Dietel-McLaughlin WR 13300 10/25/2011 Exploratory Draft First Section: In this paper, I plan to argue that the music and recording

industries are actually thriving during the digital age, despite the common belief that piracy is destroying said industries. There is a general notion that the recording industries will die out in the near future because of the amount of illegal downloading of music that goes on through the web. I am very interested in music, in particular finding new songs or artists that suit my musical taste. There is a very large population in this digital age that shares this same interest. Because of this, researching the net effect of the digital age on the music industry is very important to show that this industry is not dying out, but rather thriving. Downloading services such as Napster and LimeWire have generated a lot of discussions about the ramifications of piracy on the recording industry, as well as the music industry as a whole. Therefore, my research will show that music piracy is not as damaging as it seems and that the music industry is instead thriving in this digital-based era of consumption. Second Section: The audience of this argument is intended to be those who are

actively acquiring new music through various mediums. In addition, those who consider music piracy to be the trademark of the digital music era would be an intended audience because their views would be at stake in the controversy of my research. The research will show this audience that digital age has in fact been a positive emphasis on the music

industry. This audience will therefore be in a position to be persuaded that, despite their beliefs, the music industry has not suffered major setbacks due to the emergence of digital consumption. Not only will this research help this audience realize the true effect on the music industry, but also current and aspiring music artists can benefit from this research. Musical artists, along with their recording companies, can benefit from this research by producing music while being confident that they can continue to thrive as an industry. I plan to convince my audience by connecting my main arguments to the themes of digital identity and community. I will introduce the topic of the music industry in the digital age. Then I plan to use strong statistics that show the power of my arguments. I will discuss various forms of digital media including purchases made on iTunes, the management of artists identity on MySpace and YouTube, and the emergence of music on the tethered individual. I then plan to introduce counterarguments to my thesis and show how my argument is strengthened by the responses to these counterarguments. Third Section: The sources I have found so far support my proposed arguments

very strongly. In particular, the Digital Music Report 2011 presented by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) covers the many effects of the digital consumption era on the music and recording industries. The source titled The YouTube Effect by Christopher Cayari does an excellent job of shedding light on how digital developments like YouTube greatly enhance the music industry. I am still looking for sources that address the effects of governmental policy on the piracy involving the music industry in its efforts to thrive in the digital era. Since my research is about digital media and music, the audience will therefore expect up-to-date information on the topic. To accommodate these expectations, I will use the most recent sources possible, such as the

previously mentioned Digital Music Report from 2011. The source material from the course will be integrated in nearly every section of the paper, as identity management is associated with MySpace and YouTube. Also, the tethered-self will be discussed in regard to cell phones and other devices that offer consumption of music. In general, the digital course theme will be found everywhere in this paper that deals with the digital music consumption. In terms of struggles, I am having trouble finding information in the form of books and other print-based material. My best sources so far are articles and online periodicals, but I have not found many books in support of my thesis so far. Fourth Section: In this project, I am concerned with making sure all of my

arguments directly address my thesis. Sometimes in papers I either struggle with, or forget to, address the importance of exactly why my arguments matter to the reader. I do not think I will have any trouble finding information on the topic of digital music consumption, but rather being able to show why it matters is what will most likely be my biggest concern in the writing process. In addition, being able to put all of my sources and thoughts together in the most effective order of arguments will be fairly overwhelming in an assignment of this magnitude. I think it may be difficult to organize all of these sources so that they make sense to the reader.