Hi all,
I wrote something a good while ago. I thought I'd share it where people may be more likely to see it. Let me know what you think.
What Has Become of Popular Music?
As I was out for my walk, listening to the extremely diverse play-list on my phone, I came to a disturbing realization. The quality of 'popular' music has declined over the past few decades.
Please, do not send me hate mail just yet.
I am not saying that all music has become stagnant... Just the majority of music which is considered popular.
There is a multitude of amazing music being made around the world by outstanding people. Many of these artists will never get the recognition they deserve, simply because they will be relegated to a small speciality label or be stuck as independent artists. While there is no problem with smaller labels or being independent, they simply do not have the means to promote these artists to the extent that they deserve. They do, however, for the most part, allow these artists to retain their artistic visions and integrity.
I will be the first to admit, that every once in a while, there are artists who break the rules and makes it quite far based entirely on their own merit, regardless of the limitations of their label, or lack thereof.
What really burns me up is that while the majority of these artists are struggling, fighting for their next gig in some sleazy dive, there are "artists" who are making obscene amounts of money for a couple hours of lip-syncing each night over what is essentially the exact same, overproduced piece of crap album you just bought on iTunes.
Why do these people continue to have top selling albums? because the major record labels tell you that they will. That's right, the record companies are spending massive amounts of money (not as massive as the revenue they get from you, the buyer of those albums, but still quite massive) getting radio stations to include the newest single to their "most requested" lists, or plastering the streets with billboards and posters, or making sure that every time you click on a link on the internet the page you are trying to get to has a picture of the latest flash in the pan pop star.
You might be thinking that radio stations actually listen to you, the listener, but they do not. Those "charts" they have for the most requested songs... have you ever noticed they are exactly the same as the charts you see everywhere else?
Find a list of the top albums of each decade from the 1960s to the 1990s (the 2000s as well if you can find one). What you will find is that in the 1960s the charts were, for the most part, filled with albums which are now considered classic albums. The 1970s were much the same with a few stray albums (which made me wonder when cocaine sales were at their peak that decade). While I do not necessarily like all of the music, I can agree that most of these albums deserve to be there.
Then comes the 80s with the exception of a few gems, the decade, well... is mainly a wash out. I really cannot wrap my head around how these albums, many of which I forgot even existed, managed to make it onto a list of best selling albums.
I wont get into the 1990s and 2000s as I will only infuriate myself to a level where I start thinking and acting like a brain damaged Hulk.
While I cannot change what is happening within the business of music, I can tell you, the reader of this, to expand the diversity of music you listen to. You do not have to like everything you come across, but try music you might not otherwise listen to. If you like Metal try some underground hip hop. If you like Jazz try some bluegrass. Just try something outside of your normal comfort zone.
Drew
I wrote something a good while ago. I thought I'd share it where people may be more likely to see it. Let me know what you think.
What Has Become of Popular Music?
As I was out for my walk, listening to the extremely diverse play-list on my phone, I came to a disturbing realization. The quality of 'popular' music has declined over the past few decades.
Please, do not send me hate mail just yet.
I am not saying that all music has become stagnant... Just the majority of music which is considered popular.
There is a multitude of amazing music being made around the world by outstanding people. Many of these artists will never get the recognition they deserve, simply because they will be relegated to a small speciality label or be stuck as independent artists. While there is no problem with smaller labels or being independent, they simply do not have the means to promote these artists to the extent that they deserve. They do, however, for the most part, allow these artists to retain their artistic visions and integrity.
I will be the first to admit, that every once in a while, there are artists who break the rules and makes it quite far based entirely on their own merit, regardless of the limitations of their label, or lack thereof.
What really burns me up is that while the majority of these artists are struggling, fighting for their next gig in some sleazy dive, there are "artists" who are making obscene amounts of money for a couple hours of lip-syncing each night over what is essentially the exact same, overproduced piece of crap album you just bought on iTunes.
Why do these people continue to have top selling albums? because the major record labels tell you that they will. That's right, the record companies are spending massive amounts of money (not as massive as the revenue they get from you, the buyer of those albums, but still quite massive) getting radio stations to include the newest single to their "most requested" lists, or plastering the streets with billboards and posters, or making sure that every time you click on a link on the internet the page you are trying to get to has a picture of the latest flash in the pan pop star.
You might be thinking that radio stations actually listen to you, the listener, but they do not. Those "charts" they have for the most requested songs... have you ever noticed they are exactly the same as the charts you see everywhere else?
Find a list of the top albums of each decade from the 1960s to the 1990s (the 2000s as well if you can find one). What you will find is that in the 1960s the charts were, for the most part, filled with albums which are now considered classic albums. The 1970s were much the same with a few stray albums (which made me wonder when cocaine sales were at their peak that decade). While I do not necessarily like all of the music, I can agree that most of these albums deserve to be there.
Then comes the 80s with the exception of a few gems, the decade, well... is mainly a wash out. I really cannot wrap my head around how these albums, many of which I forgot even existed, managed to make it onto a list of best selling albums.
I wont get into the 1990s and 2000s as I will only infuriate myself to a level where I start thinking and acting like a brain damaged Hulk.
While I cannot change what is happening within the business of music, I can tell you, the reader of this, to expand the diversity of music you listen to. You do not have to like everything you come across, but try music you might not otherwise listen to. If you like Metal try some underground hip hop. If you like Jazz try some bluegrass. Just try something outside of your normal comfort zone.
Drew