The Song Machine and Cultural Dialogue

Book Review: John Seabrook. The Song Machine. Inside the Hit Factory. Moscow, Ad Marginem Press Publishing House. 2023. 304 p.

Abstract

John Seabrook's book analyzes the phenomenon of popular culture and popular music. Hit is considered as a cultural phenomenon that significantly affects global cultural industries. It is noted that the advent of digital technology has radically changed popular music. The figure of a hit writer who creates music using new electronic means is emerging in the music industry. These changes lead to the emergence of hit factories and popular bands, specially created to meet the needs of a specific audience and its musical and cultural preferences. The presented research also raises the question of the universality of the production of hits and the dependence on the cultural context. The book is of interest not only to music historians, but also to researchers of modern culture.