ABSTRACT
Rational processes in popular music have been essential in the achievement of dominant control by major music companies. Recent Do-it-Yourself (DIY) participants, including megastars, have embraced emerging technologies to challenge the success of the majors. Charismatic participants disrupt established customs and practices. Digitalization has created a highly contestable industry landscape because it promotes a sustainable DIY environment. This chapter examines the extraordinary nature of charismatic power in an industry dominated by complex, Western capitalist legal-rational processes. Direct charismatic authority in the digital world connects performers to fans, thereby diminishing the power of major producers.
