Are subcultures a sign of revolt or a expression of style?

Subcultures were developed as a response to cultural and political situations of their time. They can be seen as a sign of revolt. For example, skin head culture in the UK was developed due to the working classes feeling of subordination to middle classes, especially in work opportunities. It was also a revolt against their parents, and a way for them to express themselves.
However subcultures can also be a form of expression. For example, punk. This subculture is largely dominated by a particular fashion which they used as a way to shock people and get noticed. They used their culture; particularly the punk music being created, as a way to rebel against the economic state of the time. Their creativeness aimed to cause anarchy with bands such as the Sex Pistols and The Clash dominating the music scene.
Subcultures are therefore both to express a form of style including that of fashion and music, but at the same time a way for young people to show their rebellion against society and it conformities.

Can popular music be a genuine force for political change?

Many musical artists music has been influenced by their opinions and interpretation of politics. A famous example of this is Bob Marley’s ‘Get up, Stand up’ in which he advocates and supports the counter capitalist politics of the Rastafari movement.
It is difficult to analysis whether artists such as Marley’s music can actually make a difference or whether it just makes the public aware of their stand in politics. John Street suggests “music has symbolic force that deploys power of language to create visions”. But is this purely personal to the artist?
Billie Holidays 1939 release of Strange Fruit caused controversy, and led to her having to find another record label to release it. It was described by Time magazine as ‘a piece of musical propaganda for the NAACP’
In more recent times using the example of Acid Rave music and its accosiations, led to Criminal Justice acts put in place to stop the subcultures criminal behaviour.
Artists have also used Music as a way to promote political issues. Band Aid was created in order to help people to recognise 3rd world poverty and debt, however although it was publicised worldwide, how much change was actually established?
So then, although music can contain, or help to promote political movement, it seems unlikely that it will create a force for change as little people will take action on what they hear.

Is DRM the best way to save the music industry?

Digital Rights Management is a way of protecting the copyrights of both music and film.
Today’s society is full of people ‘file sharing’, or perhaps more bluntly put, illegal downloading for free. This is problematic for the music industry because it means they are not receiving money for the purchase of a song.
Music downloads protected by DRM means that you have to pay for the download, and it can only be then passed on to a limited amount of people. This creates a solution to the problem of music (and film) piracy, and would keep both record companies and artists in profit as it may make more people to buy music.
However, although DRM’s are there to stop illegal downloading, there are still many ways to get tracks without having to pay. This proves the disadvantage to DRM’s because it may result in less people buying music, and regulations such as those put in place by i tunes having to be altered. Whilst music can still be downloaded for free, DRM will never have total control of the industry.