Cosmonaut Rock: The Band Zodiac and Production of Popular Music Records in the Latvian SSR

The article outlines a contextual analysis of popular music production through the case of the early history of the band Zodiac (Zodiaks). The band’s first two widely popular records’ success is understood in the context of Western popular music trends and awareness of actual Soviet consumer demand. Marketing and consumption analysis highlights the integration of Soviet culture production and media. The article shows the production perspective applied in small-scale research, helping to understand historical systems of culture production in Latvia and the wider USSR. The production perspective posits opportunities for further small- and large-scale humanities research.