How The Music Industry Is Killing Music And Blaming The Fans

[Spudman]

Good story about the current state of music business.

http://thequietus.com/articles/06318-how-the-music-industry-is-killing-music-and-blaming-the-fans

[R_of_G]

...musicians have at the same time been told by the wider industry that there are still plenty of opportunities for them to make a living if they reverse long held principles: touring is now where the money is and records, cheap or even free, should be used to promote live performance

Interesting as this is where musicians used to make their money.

[msteeln]

The music making middle class is fading, as it is in society in general. Either you're a starving coffeehouse who cares?, or a megabux baffoon, with little room inbetween for quality music that will endure for more than just a week. The internet is obviously becoming one of the only ways to reach a wide audience, and arge scale touring is virtually impossible for most without corporate backing, and that means artistic compromises, if not total sellout. The industry that stole, overshadowed, and diluted a great thing is getting what they deserve, and it's long overdue. Unfortunately, the current effect scars everybody for now, but eventually things may work to be fairler for those that create and perform music that is more than momentary fodder.
The article states that people still want good music, but for years generations are increasingly becoming ignorant of what truly good music is, or even care, and the industry loves it = $$$ Quality for the last few decades has always struggled and the success' were the exception to the imposed rule, no matter which medium being discussed, music, TV, movies, print, etc., and the dumbing-down of America has been a huge success, at a huge cost to the regular Joe's. But a lot of blame does belong to the buying public/fans, for not demanding quality, instead they've helped create the monster.

Here's the take of a half-baked from the beginning, blowhole, who's mega-rich thanx to the industry's ways http://arstechnica.com/old/content/2008/06/gene-simmons-blames-fans-p2p-for-killing-music-industry.ars

[Spudman]

The article states that people still want good music, but for years generations are increasingly becoming ignorant of what truly good music is, or even care, and the industry loves it = $$$ Quality for the last few decades has always struggled and the success' were the exception to the imposed rule, no matter which medium being discussed, music, TV, movies, print, etc., and the dumbing-down of America has been a huge success, at a huge cost to the regular Joe's. But a lot of blame does belong to the buying public/fans, for not demanding quality, instead they've helped create the monster.


Yes they did create the monster all because of money. I don't blame the public though because they've been lead to believe that the only music for them was what the industry was pushing at the time. Record companies wanted as much money as fast as they could get it. So, like the cigarette companies, they sell to the kids to get the fast buck from the easily impressionable. Where the music industry fell short was in not getting the kids hooked for life like the tobacco industry did. If, as in the rise of super stars and super bands in the 60s and 70s, they would have promoted an artists development for the long run they would have had a much more stable business model, and the kids that got hooked on an artist's music would still be hooked 40 years later.

All because of greed they have slain the golden goose. Have no fear tough, music will prevail and it will still be a viable way to earn a living. It's just going to take a new model to make it work. Humans can't live without music.

[omegadot]

Hmm, I find a lot of issues with the article. It oversimplifies a LOT and makes a lot of assumptions between markets. I don't argue that these are important issues to musicians, but I find the treatment a bit weak.

The most important part is left out, too: luck.

[Spudman]

But I think that is one of the points being made. Even if you do attain some degree of luck, the sustaining of a career in music that will pay you, is going to be even harder if even possible, without some sort of paradigm shift.


Failure to compensate those whose work is more specialist, more confrontational, more subtle, more challenging, is an act of complicity in the silencing of social and political debate. Though democracy won't allow for musicians to be gagged, it can still price them out of the market.

And this is what I fear the most. The only music we may see in the future is going to come from those that are backed financially. Who knows if that is even going to be music that is good. It could be a serious loss of the music that represents social and cultural change that moves humans forward instead of keeping them at status quo. I think it's safe to say that current pop music is not the moving type of music that we had in the past. When we lose the music that provokes then big brother will have won and welcome to 1984.

[omegadot]

I guess I have found more and more good music coming my way lately so I have trouble agreeing that it's all going away.

[deeaa]

Lots of good points in that for sure.

One thing I feel is not usually acknowledged is the simple fact that there is a LOT more music around than there used to be.

In the early days of rock there were of course but a few big names, even in the 80's bands were something special...I don't mean that they're any worse now, but there's so many of them. And still people also even listen to Elvis etc. In other words, there is way more supply than ever before and it's piling higher and higher every day. A simple fact is that when there is surplus production, there is no way all of the producers can make the same incomes as used to be.

Even in the 90's it was relatively easy to get good gigs, even paying gigs, and there wasn't a band on nearly every Friday even in the centre of the town.

These days, every Friday there's a live band performing at least in 5-6 bars or other venues...and none get paid squat because if they demand more money, there's plenty of up&coming bands each better than the next lined up and hungry for gigs.

Damn hard to get heard in such situation. Pretty soon, if you ask around among 15-20 year old guys, up to half of them seem to be in some sort of band or at least play guitar or some other instrument.

[street music]

But I think that is one of the points being made. Even if you do attain some degree of luck, the sustaining of a career in music that will pay you, is going to be even harder if even possible, without some sort of paradigm shift.



And this is what I fear the most. The only music we may see in the future is going to come from those that are backed financially. Who knows if that is even going to be music that is good. It could be a serious loss of the music that represents social and cultural change that moves humans forward instead of keeping them at status quo. I think it's safe to say that current pop music is not the moving type of music that we had in the past. When we lose the music that provokes then big brother will have won and welcome to 1984.

Spud, I agree with you completely on this lack of good music at this point in time. I have noticed that even with AMERICAN IDOL the older songs were what the ones that drew the crowds attention and got the kids going. The Lady GAGA stuff as with many acts today are just stage shows and not really about song or music. It's about circus side shows and semi-nude dancers , nothing to do with great musicians or excellent song writings. I see it in a lot of genres of going back to remake of a classic rock song because they lack the real ability of being that complete artist. If we are to loose site of the great music from 60s, 70s & 80s then yes I think music itself is doomed. To many kids today think that if you just put a guy and a guitar on stage you have nothing. Let us hope that we can survive this stuff called pop to once again arise to see music and song to be heard and listen to for real meaning rather than just a show on a stage.