AbstractsBusiness Management & Administration

Towards a model for digital distribution and value capture in the South African music industry

by Dumisani Nomagugu Nkala




Institution: University of Pretoria
Department: Gordon Institute of Business Science
Degree: MBA
Year: 2013
Keywords: Mobile broadband; Streaming model; Access model; Ownership model; Download model; Broadband Internet; South African music industry; Itunes; Spotify; Digital markets; Digital distribution; Value capture
Record ID: 1468719
Full text PDF: http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-02242013-110629/


Abstract

New digital distribution and value capture models have emerged on the global music industry scene in the last ten years. These models are highly dependent on a strong underlying communications and broadband internet infrastructure which is largely present in most developed markets. South Africa, however, is a developing country whose broadband infrastructure is still nascent and not as widely available or accessible. Due to the permeation of mobile technology, most broadband internet access is likely to occur through the mobile networks in most developing markets. This stands in stark contrast to developed markets where broadband internet access occurs primarily via fixed line infrastructure with mobile as a secondary option. This research set out to investigate whether digital value distribution and value capture models which succeeded in developed countries would be suitable for the South African music industry given the broadband infrastructure constraints and the different internet access methodologies prevalent in this developing market. This research employed an exploratory research methodology in order to investigate this question and found that a mixture of value distribution and value capture models would address the entire market requirement, with mobile-centric digital distribution models being most suitable for mass market deployment. © 2012 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. Please cite as follows: Nkala, DN 2012, Towards a model for digital distribution and value capture in the South African music industry , MBA dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-02242013-110629/ > F13/4/242/zw