The question is likely to include some of the key terms below. Know what they mean.

production =

• recording and mixing music
• formatting it (copying to CD, creating audio files for download etc.)
• designing and producing artwork (CD / digibox packaging)

distribution =

• getting it into physical and online shops
• making available for download on a range of websites
• getting it onto radio and music TV
• licensing it to streaming sites etc.

marketing = a range of methods used to promote music:

• advertising
• appearances by artists
• social networks
• targeted interactive online advertising
• brand infiltration

exchange = the ways in which audiences obtain music:

• physical purchase
• purchase of pirated physical copy
• legal download
• illegal download
• social networking site
• streaming site 

consumption = what the audience does with the music:

• listen to it
• like it
• share it
• make playlists, share them
• share images & videos from gigs
• comment on social networks
• sample the music, edit it, rework it, produce something new with it, make a tribute video, upload that

Exam drill

Read the question

Remember this is an advanced level exam: do not attempt to just pick up your pen and start writing an answer.

Remember the question will ask you to present an argument as to how far you agree with a statement.

Work out what issue or situation or view the question is describing or proposing.

Examiners always criticise (and give low marks to) answers that just pour out everything the student can remember about the industry. You must answer the question they give you and address all the terms in it.

You will have to think for a while to work this out and to think what you will include in your answer.

Select from what you know and jot down things that could be relevant:

• What things do you know about that might support what the question is suggesting?
• What things do you know about that might contradict what the question is suggesting?
• What things do you know about that might show the issue in a different light? Are there things that develop or qualify what the question is suggesting? Is there a different way of looking at the state of the industry? Are there issues that are more important than the one in the question?

Don’t expect to be able to simply agree or disagree with the statement. At this level you should be looking for subtleties and counter-arguments. Issues will be not so much black and white, as different shades.

Do look out for opportunities to discuss changes and developments: what has been changing recently? What has caused this change - is it industry-driven or audience-led?

Do look for advantages and disadvantages for both audiences and institutions.

Make sure you have examples - names, dates, numbers, statistics, trends, views / quotations. Use this time to think of enough examples and a wide range of examples.

Before writing your answer

Look over all your notes and decide the best order in which to write about the issues and the examples you have noted.

What could be good ways to order your writing?

Number your notes to show the order you will write about them.

Writing your answer

Introduction. Re-word the statement. Name your industry. Suggest the 3-4 angles on it or issues it raises that your answer will cover. A long introduction is unnecessary: get quickly into your argument.

In each paragraph

• Link it to the previous paragraph.
• Use a P-D-Q structure:

• point - state something about the issue or situation or view in the question
• data - names, dates, numbers, statistics, trends, views / quotations *
• question - explain how it relates back to the question.

* Make sure you explain enough about your data / examples so that the examiner can understand what you are writing about. Assume she does not know your examples, e.g. don’t mention Espresso without explaining what they are and what they do. Don’t mention Music 2.0 without explaining what it is, where it came from as an idea, or how it represents a new way of thinking about the music industry as a business. Each example should take 2-3 sentences to explain fully.

Conclusion: which of your angles / issues is the most important? What’s the bigger picture? How might the situation develop? What might the future hold?

Read what you are writing to check it is clear and is answering the question.

Keep checking the time and your progress through your numbered notes.

This question on the Music Industry and the one on the television drama are worth the same number of marks, so you must allow yourself 45 minutes to deal with it.

Remember what you will gain marks for:

• explanation, analysis, argument        20 marks        sustain your argument (3-4 sides)

explain each example

• examples                                20 marks        20 examples?
• relevant terminology                10 marks        name the techniques & practices

accurately