| Abstrakt: |
I argue that streaming services like SoundCloud and Spotify are key elements of a two-faced virtual ecosystem – including social media and crowd-funding platforms – that independent musicians worldwide must navigate to achieve economic viability of their music. The two-facedness of these technologies lies in their promotion as democratic and open gateways for musicians at the same time as they actually serve as gatekeepers that throw up hidden walls along lines including national origin and language. I begin by introducing the music scenes of Beirut, Lebanon, where I have done ethnographic research since 2015. I then lay out the importance of online modes of sociality for these musicians and their fans, focusing on social media and streaming services. SoundCloud, in particular, illustrates the two-faced nature of these technologies. Throughout, I offer case studies of how several musicians and other culture workers are navigating the promise and constraints of these technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
