Reviewed by: Joanne Coates, Cardiff University, UKThe past decade has witnessed huge transformation in the ways in which we access and listen to music, both that which is independently produced and distributed as well as the more lucrative output of mainstream music labels. In this refreshing perspective on the rise of illegal peer-to-peer file-sharing and the impact of the growth of digitized music, Matthew David deconstructs some of the prominent commentary put forward by record labels and regulatory bodies who are striving to maintain the profitability of musical works. This is seen as imperative in a climate where digital music is freely exchanged online. In examining these prominent discourses, he outlines the fallacies that the large record labels still hold to be true about file-sharing and those who participate in the practice and, in the process, offers alternative approaches to understanding the fundamental shifts in the sector.The book firstly addresses the relevant existing theoretical debates; namely, the emergence of the network society, including an exploration of the complex interplay between technological autonomy and established social relations to understand the ways in which the music industry has been 'radically reconfigured' (p. 161). Chapters 3 and 4 then provide the reader with an account of the emergence of peer-to-peer file-sharing and the resultant threat that facilities such as Napster and Kazaa have posed to the established business model of the industry. David sets out a fundamental contradiction between the imposition of intellectual property rights (IPRs) that aim to protect the revenues of the mainstream music industry and the resultant stifling of creativity and innovation that IPRs promote in the denial of a 'creative commons' model of music exchange.Throughout, the author develops a sophisticated argument and covers a broad range of issues in his critique of the dominant economic models within the industry. Using a variety of case-study examples, he highlights the poor sustainability of such models given the rise of digitized content and the capacity of networked facilities to disseminate free music. Chapter 5 highlights the ineffectual nature of current IPR laws worldwide, noting the widespread misunderstanding amongst audiences as to how they are implemented; thus undermining the legitimacy of the industry in consumers' eyes. David notes that the failure of such heavy-handed surveillance methods and the use of encryption 8

User Generated Content WB World Bank Contents (4) Reflections on the Research 263 4.1 Strengths of the Study 263 4.2 Weaknesses of the Study and Future Research 264 Bibliography 267 Appendices 283 Oaks: Sage.