Includes bibliographical references and index.

Marc Masters explores the surprising ups and downs of the cassette tape's journey through international music culture, showing us the cultural impact of cassettes on music listening, music portability, and music making itself. Winding through early hip-hop tape trading, the deeply personal act of making a mixtape, and even contemporary composers who use cassettes to create musique concrète compositions, this book chronicles the resilient do-it-yourself spirit of cassettes through conversations with scene-setters coupled with deep explorations into music history. More than just the most comprehensive history of how cassettes have changed music, this is also a vivid tribute to a format that refuses to fade away.,Provided by publisher.