Artistic Production: Between Control and Freedom

This chapter examines the interplay between artistic freedom and entrepreneurial practices in the music world. It argues that music artists and music entrepreneurs share a common interest in creating conditions that enable action. While digital technologies and access to consumer data have reduced traditional gatekeeping and opened pathways for democratization, these opportunities do not automatically translate into artistic freedom. Freedom depends not only on the absence of external barriers but also on the capacity to act, which requires skills in technology, data interpretation, and entrepreneurial management. The chapter distinguishes between artistic decisions that shape artistic work and strategic decisions that establish conditions for it, highlighting tensions between intrinsic values (e.g., self-expression) and extrinsic values (e.g., financial gain). Ultimately, it examines the shift from a linear production model to a circular model in which audience feedback and listening data increasingly drive decisions.