Deciding to return to earlier cultural studies texts, I've gotten through Richard Hoggart's The Uses of Literacy: aspects of working-class life, with special references to publications and entertainments (1957) which I do recommend, surely a classic that stands the test of time.
[An aside: also of note for popular music fans is the reference to a book 'Death-Cab for Cutie' -- seemingly a made-up name included amongst many others in Hoggart's discussion of the 'sex and violence' genre of popular reads at the time that was chosen by B.
