A direct-to-fan aproach for the music business

Abstract

The need for a professional structure often arises along the course of an independent artist’s career. This structure can be implemented in three different ways: by signing with a major record label, establishing a professional team with small intermediaries, or having a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) approach. The Direct-to-Fan (D2F) business model, supported by access to global communication networks and the web tools available online, helps independent artists leverage technology and perform business functions, such as management, funding, distribution, and promotion. This dissertation offers exploratory research on how disintermediation phenomena alter independent artists’ business models and practices, particularly the implementation of the D2F business model. This research adopted a realism-based philosophical approach that assessed the challenges for long-term success using D2F and emerging trends such as subscription model-based platforms and community record labels.

Date of Award	9 Jul 2021
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Peter V. Rajsingh (Supervisor) & André de Almeida Pinho (Co-Supervisor)