Creativity versus Talent in the Music Industry

Running head: CREATIVITY VERSUS TALENT IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
CREATIVITY VERSUS TALENT IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY OF UK: A CASE
STUDY OF ADELE
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

1CREATIVITY VERSUS TALENT IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study is to conduct a secondary research on the creativity versus talent debate
in the particular context of the music industry of UK. Furthermore, for the effective conduct
of the study, the researcher had used the case study of Adele who in the recent times had
emerged as one of the most important singers of UK. Moreover, the researcher also tried to
highlight the manner in which the concept of creativity enables the musicians to effectively
use the talent that they have so as to compose the kind of songs or music which would not
only be appreciated by the audiences but also by the music critics. In this regard, it needs to
be said that the researcher had found that there exists a profound connection between
creativity and talent and creativity is more important since it not only enables the musicians
like Adele to effective use the talent that they have but also to compose compelling songs as
well. More importantly, the researcher had found that there are various factors which
influence the creativity of the musicians like their past experiences, their upbringing, the
audience that they catering to and others. The research after the completion of the study
found that there are various ways through which musicians like Adele can compete in the
music industry of UK through the usage of their creativity and talent like the fusion of
different musical genres, finding new sources of inspiration or drives, visiting some peaceful
picturesque locations so as to ignite their creativity and others.

2CREATIVITY VERSUS TALENT IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like thank all the people who have directly and indirectly helped me in the
completion of this research. Firstly, I would begin by thanking my Supervisor Mr.
...............for giving me the opportunity to complete my dissertation on the topic
“Creativity Versus Talent in the Music Industry of UK: A Case Study of Adele”. I would also
thank my adviser for being patient with me and also for helping me during all the stages of
the study. Moreover, I would also like to thank my family members and friends without
whose support I would never have been able to complete this dissertation.
Thank you,
.............................................
(Signature of the Researcher)

3CREATIVITY VERSUS TALENT IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................6
1.1 Introduction......................................................................................................................6
1.2 Background of the Study..................................................................................................6
1.3 Adele and her musical compositions................................................................................6
1.4 Research Aim...................................................................................................................7
1.5 Research Question............................................................................................................7
1.6 Research Objectives.........................................................................................................7
1.7 Rationale of the Study......................................................................................................8
1.8 Significance of the Study.................................................................................................8
Chapter 2: LITERATURE REVIEW.........................................................................................9
2.1 Introduction......................................................................................................................9
2.2 Music industry of UK.......................................................................................................9
2.3 Overview of the concept of creativity............................................................................10
2.4 Importance of creativity.................................................................................................11
2.5 Factors affecting the creativity of a musician................................................................12
2.6 Talent and its role...........................................................................................................13
2.7 Ways in which musicians can effectively use creativity and talent...............................13
2.9 Summary........................................................................................................................14
Chapter 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY...........................................................................15
3.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................15
3.2 Research Philosophy......................................................................................................15
3.3 Research Approach........................................................................................................16
3.4 Research Design.............................................................................................................16
3.5 Data Collection Method.................................................................................................17
3.6 Data Analysis Method....................................................................................................17
3.7 Ethical Considerations...................................................................................................18
3.8 Research Limitations......................................................................................................18
3.9 Summary........................................................................................................................18
Chapter 4: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION...........................................................................19
4.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................19
4.2 Findings..........................................................................................................................19
4.3 Discussion of Findings...................................................................................................22
4.4 Summary........................................................................................................................24
Chapter 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS...................................................25
5.1 Conclusion......................................................................................................................25
5.2 Linking with Objectives.................................................................................................25

4CREATIVITY VERSUS TALENT IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
5.2.1 Linking with Objective 1........................................................................................25
5.2.2 Linking with Objective 2........................................................................................26
5.2.3 Linking with Objective 3........................................................................................26
5.3 Recommendations..........................................................................................................26
5.3 Future Scope...................................................................................................................27
References................................................................................................................................28

5CREATIVITY VERSUS TALENT IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction
In this chapter, the research will highlight the aims, objectives, question and other aspects
of the research work. More importantly, the researcher also intends to lay the groundwork on
the basis of which the entire research work will be completed.
1.2 Background of the Study
McRobbie (2018, p.117) is of the viewpoint that the creativity versus talent debate is
perhaps one of the oldest ones within the musical industry and the people are curious to know
which one is more important for the musician, creativity or talent. As opined by Smith (2015,
p.183), creativity refers to the usage of original ideas or thoughts that the musicians use not
only for the composition of their songs or albums but also the manner in which they sing the
same. On the other hand, talent is generally seen as a quality with which an individual is born
and in the cases of some of the individuals it had attained through lifetime of hard work and
practice (Faulkner 2017, p.157). Needless to say, the budding artists are curious to know
which attribute they should focus on and this accounts for the wide popularity gained by the
debate.
1.3 Adele and her musical compositions
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, born in UK in 1988, is one of the most famous contemporary
singers and artists who had been highly acclaimed for the originality of her musical
composition and also the unique manner in which she sings them (Newkey-Burden 2015,
p.131). In this regard, it needs to be said that the majority of her songs have been composed
by her and in these songs, she tries to depict her own personal emotions and the things that
she herself faced. This is perhaps one major reasons for the highly personal nature of her
musical compositions and some of the most important ones in which regard are “Hometown

6CREATIVITY VERSUS TALENT IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
Glory”, “Someone like You”, “You Played it to the Beat” and others (Adele.com 2019). In
addition to this, because of the originality as well as high quality of her compositions she had
also received numerous awards like the Brit Awards Critics' Choice award (2007), 51st
Grammy Awards in 2009, Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and others
(Adele.com 2019). Furthermore, she had also composed the background musical score for
various movies like the James Bond series movie “Skyfall” (2012) and others (Adele.com
2019). It is because of the accolades as well as critical appreciation that she had received
within a very short time that the researcher had selected her for the purpose of the study.
1.4 Research Aim
The aim of this research is to understand the manner in which creativity and talent
helps the singers in the creation of their musical compositions in the particular context of the
UK singer Adele.
1.5 Research Question
The research question had been formulated for the study is-
1. How talent can be considered as one of the important aspects of creativity in the case
of Adele?
1.6 Research Objectives
The research objectives that have being formulated for the study are listed below-
1) To evaluate the different aspects of creativity focusing on music industry
2) To understand the role of talent of Adel in building her creativity in music
3) To find out the ways in which Adele can compete in the music industry with her talent
and creativity

7CREATIVITY VERSUS TALENT IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
1.7 Rationale of the Study
The issue that had been selected for the study is to understand the creativity versus talent
debate within the music industry of UK. This is an issue because of the fact that over the
years it had seen that numerous artists despite have talent and creativity have failed to attain
success (Cloonan 2016, p.176). This is an issue presently because of the fact that in the
present times a large number of people are trying to become musicians or trying to get into
the music industry (Kjus 2017, p.1017). However, at the same time it is seen that there are
musicians like Justin Bieber who shot to fame at the age of just 15 years yet failed to hold on
to the success (Stone and Stone 2019). Thus, by focusing on the attributes of talent and
creativity this study will show the attribute on which the budding artists or the musicians
need to focus on.
1.8 Significance of the Study
This will be an important study from the perspective of the music industry because of the
fact a large number of budding and even the famous successful artists or the musicians even
after getting success have failed. Thus, this research in a succinct manner will show the
budding artists and also the successful ones the attribute, namely, creativity or talent, on
which they need to focus so as to gain popularity and also to maintain the same.