If you love music and want to enjoy it while at your computer, "The Music Internet Untangled: Making the New Online Services Work for You," is the ebook for you. Andy Breeding, a corporate librarian and music aficionado, has provided an education on this important and contemporary topic for those who want to explore all avenues of the online music industry services. The organization of the ebook lets it serve as a guidebook to what could be a complex topic. After presenting a sweeping overview of the music industry in general, Breeding moves into specifics of the online music services through three major sections.

Section One introduces the background of 15 online music services. You find out the specific software requirements for each service as well as the pros, cons and areas the service is "best for" in each of the chapters. Section Two, provides information to help you build an in-depth knowledge base of music and the music industry. The author believes that "knowing what you are listening to is central to music discovery" (p. 12), and encourages the avid music listener to read as well as listen. You'll learn where to find and work with music charts, lyrics, biographies, and discographies on artists. The section is packed with directions to specific websites to answer practically any question you have on music, and the people who work in the music industry.  There is even a guide to music communities for you to participate in through email, forums, or chat rooms.

I particularly liked the seven-day plans presented in Section Three.  Breeding walks you through two Internet radio services, two personalized radio services, one online jukebox service and one downloading service. Each plan, which could alternatively be done in seven sessions instead of seven days, guides you step-by-step through every aspect of the service you select to try.

Boxed inserts found in each chapter relate interesting and important tidbits about the music industry such as why your favorite records may not be available on a legitimate online music service, and what musician often used the wrong version of his own song lyrics for fun in some of his concerts.

Breeding says, "certain situations call for a good conversation" (p. 126). The ebook he has written on the Internet music industry is worthy of conversation among those who love music and are ready to learn about Internet music services. 

Reviewed by Consuelo S. Meux
csmeux@hotmail.com

More Reviews of The Music Internet Untangled

More EbookReviews.net Non-Fiction Reviews