Abstract
Paola Dubini and Bernardino Provera (2008). Chart Success and Innovation
in the Music Industry: Does Organizational Form Matter?, Journal of Media
Business Studies 5(1):41-65.
Key Words: alliances, innovation, growth, recording industry
In recent years, media industries are increasingly regarded as key settings for traditional
organizations to draw lessons upon as far as innovation strategies are concerned, due to
the structural changes they are witnessing, and to the high pace of introduction of new
products. This article addressed different innovation strategies by investigating the
competitive dynamics in the launch of new artists in the U.S. music market between 1991
and 2005. The results show that, in a creative setting affected by growing environmental
turbulence, established firms (majors) tend to adopt an emerging organizational form, by
establishing partnerships with independent organizations (indies), in order to
systematically introduce new products. The results also show that the partnership is a
winning form only when it is specifically aimed at exploration, that is to say, when it refers
to the launch of new albums by previously unpublished artists.
Paola Dubini and Bernardino Provera (2008). Chart Success and Innovation
in the Music Industry: Does Organizational Form Matter?, Journal of Media
Business Studies 5(1):41-65.
Key Words: alliances, innovation, growth, recording industry
In recent years, media industries are increasingly regarded as key settings for traditional
organizations to draw lessons upon as far as innovation strategies are concerned, due to
the structural changes they are witnessing, and to the high pace of introduction of new
products. This article addressed different innovation strategies by investigating the
competitive dynamics in the launch of new artists in the U.S. music market between 1991
and 2005. The results show that, in a creative setting affected by growing environmental
turbulence, established firms (majors) tend to adopt an emerging organizational form, by
establishing partnerships with independent organizations (indies), in order to
systematically introduce new products. The results also show that the partnership is a
winning form only when it is specifically aimed at exploration, that is to say, when it refers
to the launch of new albums by previously unpublished artists.
