About

David Arditi is an associate professor of sociology at the University of Texas at Arlington. He also serves as the director of the Center for Theory.

David grew grew up in Williamsburg, Virginia. Then went to Virginia Tech, where he received a BA and MA in Political Science. After deciding political science isn't political enough, David left southwestern Virginia for the DC suburbs to earn a PhD in Cultural Studies at George Mason University.

As a gigging drummer, David became interested in the livelihoods of musicians. His research is at the intersection of music, culture, and technology. David’s newest book is Streaming Culture: Subscription Platforms and the Unending Consumption, which explores the changing nature of capitalism in a society that places subscriptions above material commodities. Hi book Getting Signed: Record Contracts, Musicians and Power in Society explores the way musicians’ dreams become their source of exploitation. David is author of iTake-Over: The Recording Industry in the Streaming Era and co-editor of The Dialectic of Digital Culture. His research has appeared in Critical Sociology, Popular Music & Society, Journal of Popular Music Studies, Popular Communication, Media Fields Journal, and Civilisations. He also serves as Editor of Fast Capitalism.