Why Is New Music Dying?

Hi,

Demanded the highest price ever paid an artist ... and there were other details I'm sure. Apple was appalled since it was almost twice the next artist they paid (Prince I believe it was), but they knew they did not have a choice and they would still make some money over it. But Paul and the Beatles would never learn how many times this or that song was sold, or how many albums were bought. But I sincerely doubt that sending someone like Paul a check at the end of the year for $632 dollars, is probably going to take the Beatles off Apple right away.

^ i honestly know nothing about streaming services because i NEVER use them but from what i've been hearing, it's nothing more than publicity

As far as more reliable sources like Bandcamp and downloading services, it's totally traceable and don't forget that many artists still sell old fashioned vinyl and CDs. Some even still do cassettes!

Since i don't rely on streaming services or someone else to play music for me i would just suggest that although the modern world is very different than the past, there have never been more opportunities.

These days one has to take a proactive role in discovering new music and not rely on radio or other sources of spoon fed music. Having said that we do have an excellent college radio station here in the Bay Area which plays some excellent obscure stuff! But that's the exception for sure.

Let's face it, unless an artist takes control of the business aspect of his / her art form, there will always be exploitation and that is just as true today as it was throughout the entire music industry's existence.

Looking at the larger picture though, artists now have the ability to be completely independent from all external sources of potential exploitation. If artists are unwilling or unable to take advantage of these developments is a completely separate topic.

As far as the mainstream music industry is concerned, it's true that it is vile and disgusting. An industry that once produced The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Queen have put all their energy into dance pop like Lady Gaga or "controlled" hip hop styles like Kanye West. In that regard music has deteriorated but why even focus on the powers that were when the new paradigm is still in its birth pangs?

Somehow i feel the new musical paradigm will evolve into something even better than we ever could've imagined but it will involve escaping much larger systems of control beyond the world of music.

Hi,

It's been said that huge creative moments within a century only happen once or twice. I think the 20th century had movies for one, and then the music craze thing that ended up birthing "progressive" for us, is the 2nd ... and I say that because music was not the only "art" that carried it. And this is the part that folks tend to overlook. A "scene" is much more than a fad, and lasts a lot longer. As an example, the punk thing was a fad, and died as quickly as it came up. "Progressive" was not a fad, but a direct result of the freedom and attitude that many other artists had, going back to the late 50's and early 60's, and already visible in many areas, in film, theater, literature and other disciplines. Rock music was one of those arts. The same as "jazz" although some are finding that the streak of jazz proceeded the 50's even, though finding recordings of it then, is difficult specially when the movie studios OWNED all publishing abilities and they were not going to fund anyone but their own "stars" ... so you have a "star is born" with a fake color screen in the background, and we find it far out! Plastic is already replacing the reality!