Use of English

The Music Business

The music industry has (0) CHANGED dramatically in the last twenty years. In the past, most artists relied on record labels to pay for studio time and promotion, but today many musicians can record at home and release songs online. This has opened (1) .......... new opportunities, yet it has also made competition much tougher. For new singers, getting (2) .......... can be as simple as posting a short video, but turning that attention into a career is another matter. Many artists discover that they need to build a loyal fan base and keep (3) .......... with listeners on social media. At the same time, they must learn to make money from live shows, because streaming often brings in only a small (4) .......... of income. Managers and agents can help musicians make the right choices, but they also expect artists to work hard and be easy to (5) .......... with. A successful tour depends (6) .......... careful planning, from booking venues to selling tickets. And even when everything goes well, performers still have to (7) .......... with stress and uncertainty. In the end, talent matters, but so does the ability to (8) .......... up when things don’t go as planned.