This Is Not a Remix: Piracy, Authenticity and Popular Music

This Is Not a Remix examines music copying and reproduction practices in contemporary culture, with a focus on unauthorized remixes, bootlegs, and digital music sharing. The book challenges common assumptions about originality, authenticity, and creativity in the age of digital reproduction. The author traces historical examples of music copying and sharing from vinyl to mp3s, analyzing how these practices have shaped music culture. Through case studies and interviews, Borschke explores the perspectives of DJs, producers, and music fans who engage in unauthorized reproduction. The research spans dance music scenes, hip-hop sampling culture, and digital distribution networks, documenting how people create and share unauthorized copies. The book examines legal frameworks around copying while investigating how musicians and listeners understand authenticity. The work presents a nuanced take on piracy and reproduction in music culture, moving beyond simple binaries of legal/illegal or authentic/fake. It reveals how copying practices are deeply embedded in how we create, share and experience music in the digital age.

Not enough reader reviews exist online to provide a comprehensive summary of reactions. The book appears to be primarily used in academic settings. On Goodreads, it has only 2 ratings with an average of 4.5/5 stars, but no written reviews. No reviews are available on Amazon or other major book review sites. A review in the International Journal of Communication notes the book provides "an insightful analysis of remix culture and copyright" but suggests it could have explored certain technological aspects more deeply. Due to limited public reviews, a meaningful synthesis of reader reactions cannot be compiled. The book seems to have a small, specialized academic readership rather than broad consumer reach.

Sound Cultures: Readings in Modern Music by David Grubbs Explores how digital technologies and sampling practices have transformed music creation, distribution, and authenticity in contemporary culture.

The Recording Angel: Music, Records and Culture from Aristotle to Zappa by Evan Eisenberg Examines the impact of recorded music on human experience and the transformation of music from performance to commodity.

Retromania: Pop Culture's Addiction to Its Own Past by Simon Reynolds Investigates how digital culture and endless access to music history affects creativity and cultural production in contemporary music.

How Music Got Free by Stephen Richard Witt Chronicles the rise of music piracy through the interconnected stories of inventors, industry executives, and digital pirates who transformed the music industry.

The Death and Life of Music: Digital Technology and the Music Industry by Jim Rogers Analyzes the transformation of music creation, distribution, and consumption in the digital age through technological, cultural, and economic perspectives.

🎵 Author Margie Borschke spent years collecting and studying cassette mixtapes as part of her research into music sharing cultures and authenticity. 🎼 The book challenges the common assumption that digital copies are inferior to originals, examining how reproduction and sharing have always been integral to music culture. 💿 Despite focusing on modern digital piracy, the book traces copying practices back to sheet music in the 19th century and vinyl bootlegs of the 1960s and 70s. 📱 Borschke argues that music fans often prefer unauthorized copies and remixes because they feel more authentic than official releases. 🎧 The book's research includes detailed studies of DJ culture in New York City, Sydney's underground dance music scene, and early MP3 sharing communities.