Introduction: In the past, music was an expensive business, where only people with a lot of money could enter and succeed in the industry. Changes in the music industry along with new computer technology have made it much easier for people without a lot of money to compose, produce and distribute their own creations. To better understand the music industry than it did in 2014, you need to look at its history. A lot has happened since the 1980s that have had a significant impact on the music industry. The development of computer technology has also had a great impact on music. Many things in these fields have allowed artists to connect with their fans in a way they couldn't before and with a smaller budget. In this article, the discussion will cover all these topics and the factors that help transform the music industry into something completely easier for new people to contribute to. History: In the early 1980s, record labels controlled what people could listen to. broadcast, distribution and production of records and selective promotion of music based on public opinion. The only possible option for an artist was to go through this system. To get high-quality music, people had to buy vinyl singles, albums or cassettes, and later, only CDs. There was no practical way to listen to music before purchasing it without listening to or recording the radio. The music was very limited by several record companies. Record labels in the industry select the music they think people want to listen to and try to sell the music. While many times artists pushed by labels don't succeed, there are also times when they do. Art... at the heart of the paper... skills have been transformed by the Internet, new technologies and other changes over time. What happens now is in the hands of the artists and their fans. Works Cited Calamar, G., Gallo, P., & Calamar, S. (2009). Record Store Days: From Vinyl to Digital and Back Again. New York, NY: Sterling.Haire, M. (2009, July 1). Brief history of the walkman. Half, 1-2. Retrieved from http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1907884,00.htmlKot, G. (2009). Ripped: How the Wired Generation Revolutionized Music. New York: Scribner. Prices for professional equipment. (n.d.). Retrieved from B&H Photo Video website: http://www.bhphotovideo.comTelecommunications Act of 1996. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://transition.fcc.gov/telecom.htmlThe Way Music Died. (2004, May 27). Retrieved December 16, 2013, from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/music/