Technologically Mediated Transparency in Music Production

This article argues that several recent developments in popular music make the artist’s production process more transparent to listeners. By using loop pedals, by releasing the recorded stems of songs, or by uploading performative instructional videos on YouTube, producers “reveal” techniques used during the production process. Such revelations partly deconstruct earlier concerns from rock fans regarding the (lack of) authenticity of particular musics. Furthermore, we argue that these developments have a history in earlier forms of popular music, such as the “extended version” of 12-inch singles from the 1970s and 1980s. Here, songs were frequently stripped down to their core, making specific parts (and, by extension, specific arrangement techniques) more accessible to listeners.