This book studies the long-term developments in the South African recording industry and adds to the existing literature an understanding of the prevalence of informal negotiations over rights, rewards and power in the recording industry. It argues that patronage features often infiltrate the contractual relationships in the industry.

Introduction 1. The South African Recording Industry 2. Recent Industry Developments 3. A Segmented Music Market and Attempts to Capture it 4. The Wholesaling and Retailing of Music 5. Negotiating Value in the Music Chain 6. Organizing Relationships in the Recording Industry 7. Continuities in Patronage Arrangements Conclusion