“Black Vinyl White Powder: The Real Story of the British Music Industry” is a great read and an inside look at the British music industry from the 50’s to the 21st Century.
Simon Napier-Bell is of course the record producer , songwriter ,manager , talent scout and general show biz impresario who managed artists as diverse as the Yardbirds , Marc Bolan , Japan and Wham! to name but a few.
It seems he was at the center of everything happening in music and knew all the people and venues that were making waves - with a keen eye on new talent and music genres before everyone else could see - eg. Marc Bolan , Japan , Wham!
He structures the book via the changing landscape of drugs that fueled the music industry and influenced the music at that time: from pills in the 60’s , cocaine in the 70’s , speed and amphetamines in the late 70’s , Ecstasy or E in the 80’s and on.
It’s an interesting way to approach the changing musical genres - but it makes complete sense.
Go check it out - one wonders if we will ever see that swift changing landscape of musical styles - as small independent record labels and venues could pop up and start movements at that time - eg Punk and New Wave.
Today huge monolithic tech corporations and artists dominate the music marketing , creation and distribution - it seems hard to break through these days.
Anyway - more info here - its a great read!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/99758.Black_vinyl_white_powder