ABSTRACT
In addressing the question of how meaning is produced in rock, a central role must be accorded to those who actually make the music. This is not, however, to concede full validity to the ‘creative artist’ view of cultural products, which sees ‘art’ as the product of the creative individual, largely unencumbered by politics and economics. Those involved in making music clearly do exercise varying degrees of personal autonomy, but this is always circumscribed by the available technologies and expertise, by economics, and by the expectations of their audience. Once again, it is a question of the dynamic interrelationship of the production context, the texts and their creators, and the audience for the music.
