Includes bibliographical references and index.

Musicians have often wanted to change the world, and many - from underground grime artists to mainstream pop icons - channel that desire through the political power of music. Music has a unique ability to unsettle the most fundamental political and social conventions - or, alternatively, to stabilize the status-quo. 'Sound System' is the story of one musician's journey to discover what exactly makes music so powerful. Years of touring, protesting, and performing have given Dave Randall an insider's view of the music industry, enabling him to shed light on the most tightly held secrets of celebrity, commodification, and culture.