David is a professor of media, music and culture at the university of Leeds. His research focus and interests are on the media and cultural, creative industries, cultural policy the politics of musical experience, and how ‘cultural platforms’ are transforming media. He joined the University of Leeds in 2007.

production, contribution and reduction

David Hesmondhalgh says about the culture industry:

products exist as a result of their economic context:

* products are made within a commercial context and media is manufactured to create profit.

The media industry is a high risk business

*the impossibility of predicting audience tastes coupled with the high costs of production and the effects of mass competition mean that the business of making commercially successful media is very difficult.

The media industry is reliant on marketing and publicity functions

*Products need the oxygen of publicity if they are to thrive

Media products have limited consumption capacity

*Unlike other businesses, films, television and music – based products tend to be consumed as ‘one off purchases