Being a “Global Music Platform”: Platform Work in Light-Tech Capitalism
Details
Serval ID
serval:BIB_5517EF054C5C
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Being a “Global Music Platform”: Platform Work in Light-Tech Capitalism
Journal
Social Media + Society
Publication state
Published
Issued date
07/2024
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Language
english
Abstract
While the literature on music digital platforms has focused mainly on the consequences of production and consumption, few works have looked at platformization from the perspective of companies active in the music business. Drawing on an ethnographic inquiry of Sofar Sounds—a London-based company that organizes intimate and secret concerts in unconventional spaces—I introduce platform work to explore the kinds of practices in which platforms engage. I identify three operations in Sofar Sounds’ platform work: the incorporation of Sofar Sounds concerts into digital devices; its financing by venture capital (VCs) funds; and the activation and generification of its global community. In conclusion, I argue that being a platform involves organizational practices and that studying these practices shifts our attention beyond a few limited successful companies. I propose that light-tech capitalism accounts for this mundane and unsophisticated aspect of platform work.
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Create date
25/10/2024 7:22
Last modification date
25/10/2024 14:57