IELTS Writing: The Music Industry
Music and the music industry
Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.
🎶 Building Skills for Music Essays
Master essential musical terminology, collocations, linking devices, and degree modifiers to write authoritative, high-scoring essays on the modern music landscape.
How to Use This Lesson
Give students 15 minutes to complete these warm-up exercises. Review answers as a class before moving to the essay task. Ensure students notice the prepositional links and formal register required for analytical writing.
First, practice the word forms and collocations. Then, review the essay phrases and grammar before the writing task. Pay close attention to how each cohesive device alters sentence structure.
● Key Vocabulary & Word Families
adv: melodically
adv: rhythmically
adj: lyrical
n: composition
adj: rehearsed
Part A: Word Form Mastery
5 QuestionsComplete each sentence using the correct form of the root word given in brackets.
1. The symphony opens with a hauntingly ____ motif that reappears throughout all four movements. (MELODY)
2. Traditional West African music is celebrated worldwide for its complex, ____ polyrhythms produced by percussion ensembles. (RHYTHM)
3. Critics praised the singer-songwriter for the emotional vulnerability and ____ elegance of her latest album. (LYRICS)
4. The orchestra scheduled an exhaustive series of ____ before embarking on their three-continent concert tour. (REHEARSE)
5. The opera was originally ____ by a young student in only three weeks. (COMPOSER)
Part B: Collocation Matching
5 MatchesMatch each Unit keyword on the left with its most natural collocational partner on the right:
Part C: Essay Cohesion & Linking Devices
5 QuestionsSelect the most fitting transition to complete each analytical sentence.
1. Streaming algorithms mostly recommend songs that are already popular. ______, lesser-known indie artists often struggle to find new listeners.
2. Certain genres undergo radical revival cycles across generations. ______, synth-pop from the 1980s has re-emerged as a dominant force in contemporary chart-topping productions.
3. Stadium mega-concerts deliver unmatched spectacle and booming audio-visual experiences. ______, intimate grassroots venues offer an authentic emotional proximity between artist and spectator.
4. Live music tours inject substantial revenue into regional hospitality and transportation sectors. ______, they support thousands of freelance technicians, riggers, and sound engineers.
5. While algorithmic playlists provide convenience, ______, nothing can replace the serendipity of browsing physical record crates in an independent vinyl shop.
Part D: Sentence Paraphrasing
3 RewritesComplete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first, using the capitalized keyword in brackets.
The way contemporary audiences discover emerging artists has ____ streaming services. [REVOLUTIONISED]
Seldom ____ fair compensation from per-stream digital royalties alone. [SELDOM]
Many historical music venues are closing down ____ in operating expenses. [DUE]
Part E: Quick Grammar Check (Modifiers & Intensifiers)
3 ItemsSelect the correct degree modifier (so / such / quite / rather / fairly) to complete each sentence.
1. Festival ticket prices became ______ exorbitant that several thousand loyal attendees boycotted the main event.
2. The acoustic hall was built with ______ meticulous attention to architectural detail that even a pin drop can be heard from the back row.
3. Reviewers found the headliner's encore performance ______ disappointing, noting that the sound mix muffled the vocal solos.
Warm-up Complete
Ready for the Essay Writing Task
Now that you have revised word forms, collocations, connective signposts, and modifier nuances, proceed to structure your essay body paragraphs with evidence-based reasoning and formal academic register.
Writing Task: Streaming vs. Albums
Apply the grammatical structures, cohesive links, and musical vocabulary you mastered in Module 1 to produce a formal, balanced analytical essay.
"Many people now listen to music on streaming services instead of buying albums. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?"
● Task Requirements & Constraints
Length & Depth
Write at least 250 words. Develop each argument with illustrative examples, reasons, and analytical depth.
Grammar Points
Integrate at least 3 degree modifiers: so, such, quite, rather, or fairly.
Unit Vocabulary
Use at least 5 Unit words (for example melody, rhythm, lyrics, composer, royalty, streaming, venue, rehearse, genre, soundtrack).
Structured 4-Paragraph Plan
Mandatory StartersTo guarantee cohesive organization across all four sections, you must begin each respective paragraph with ONLY the specified sentence starters below:
Introduce the topic in your own words and say which side you think is stronger.
Give one or two advantages, with a reason or an example for each.
Give one or two disadvantages, with a reason or an example for each.
Synthesize both perspectives and give your conclusive final judgment answering whether the advantages ultimately outweigh the disadvantages.
Pre-Submission Self-Check List
Review your written draft against these 4 mandatory standards before submitting for automated evaluation:
Essay Composition & Submission
AI EvaluatedGrading Criteria Assessed:
Type your complete 4-paragraph essay below. Ensure your sentences adhere strictly to formal academic English:
____ (In this essay I will discuss ... One advantage is ... However, one disadvantage is ... In conclusion, ...)Model Answer: Streaming vs. Albums
Examine how a strong upper-intermediate writer structures arguments, embeds vocabulary from this unit, and applies degree modifiers to build an authoritative evaluation.
In this essay I will discuss both the benefits and drawbacks of using streaming services rather than buying complete albums, before reaching a reasoned personal conclusion. In recent years, digital access has become so convenient that millions of ordinary listeners rarely consider purchasing physical CDs or vinyl records in high street shops.
One advantage is the remarkable variety of sound available at a very economical monthly price. Music enthusiasts can explore almost any musical sub-genre or film soundtrack in seconds without taking any financial risk. Modern online services provide such a massive catalogue that subscribers regularly discover independent singers and creative composers from every corner of the world. In addition, automated recommendation algorithms make uncovering fresh melodic tracks quite effortless, which helps diverse performers find loyal supporters internationally.
However, one disadvantage is the troubling financial situation experienced by many working musicians today. Because per-stream royalty payments are minimal, earning a sustainable professional living is rather difficult for emerging performers who must finance studio rehearsal time and live tours. Furthermore, people frequently shuffle isolated tracks on a digital platform instead of appreciating complete thematic projects. Playlists are fairly easy to build, but this fast consumption encourages superficial listening habits, which weakens the emotional impact intended by the lyricist and composer.
In conclusion, although uneven earnings for creators and fragmented listening habits remain serious issues, the convenience and democratisation brought by online distribution are undeniable. Audiences enjoy unlimited cultural exposure, while talented independent artists gain an immediate international stage without traditional gatekeepers. Therefore, I believe that the advantages of streaming platforms outweigh the disadvantages.
● Why This Model Answer Succeeds
Clear Four-Part Plan
Every single paragraph opens precisely with the required signpost. The argument moves logically from introductory balance to advantages, counter-arguments, and a decisive final stance.
Words and Phrases from This Unit
Instead of generic phrases, the writer embeds exact domain terminology: streaming platform, royalty payments, sub-genre, film soundtrack, melodic tracks, rehearsal time, lyricist, and composer.
All Five Degree Words
All five syllabus degree modifiers (so, such, quite, rather, fairly) are integrated naturally without sounding forced or repetitive.
Analysis Check: Model Essay Deconstruction
3 QuestionsDemonstrate your comprehension of the model essay's argumentation, vocabulary, and grammar structures.
1. In Paragraph 2, why does the writer use "such a massive catalogue that" rather than "so massive catalogue that"?
2. Which statement accurately represents the final evaluation reached in the conclusion?
3. In Paragraph 3, the writer states that emerging performers struggle because ____ per stream remain very low.
Type the 2-word collocation used in the text referring to financial compensation for recorded music.
Related lessons
Grammar: Intensifiers in the Music Industry
Music and the music industry
Grammar · 12 min
Reading: The Evolution of Recorded Music
Music and the music industry
Reading · 18 min
IELTS Speaking: Music and the Music Industry
Music and the music industry
Speaking · 30 min
Vocabulary and Pronunciation: Music Industry
Music and the music industry
Vocabulary · 20 min
IELTS Writing: Children and Smartphones
Technology
Writing · 40 min
Writing B2: Report on a Staff Survey
Work & careers
Writing · 25 min