The Rise And Fall of Popular Music

A history of the popular music industry (that is, commercial music) from the English pleasure gardens of the 18th century up to the recent collapse of the retail music industry as we had known it. The book's broad sweep takes in wars, depressions, demography, economics, technical innovation and much more, reminding us that music touches and is touched by everything else in our lives. The cover was designed by Jon Hamilton-Fford.