Business: Everyday, there is a new invention or idea that is presented in the music industries. We went from records, to CDs, to downloading songs off the Internet. We are always on an upward trend toward faster and easier ways of getting the things we want, including music. Digital sales have grown incredibly. A new site, EMusic, has started an online business in which they will provide people with over 3,000 labels. Music creates businesses to pop up everywhere. It is an ongoing business that will only grow with time.
Artistic Statements: Popular music went from being a way to express the various emotions you feel, mostly about love, to a way to make tons of money. Artists lately do not seem to care what they send out to the world, as long as they get something in return. This is a bad trend we are following. We need to get back to the times where people made music because it made them feel good, or because they wanted to give something back to their audiences. No one cares about making good music, but making the extra buck.Politics: Artists have always hidden political issues within their music. Nowadays, they have become more open about it and preach to their listeners. I do not like this trend. Songs are supposed to be about feelings, not about who you should vote for in the next election. Soon enough songs are going to be able to bash our presidents without getting in trouble. Children’s minds are going to be corrupted and they won’t even know it. Politics should remain out of lyrics of music.
I agree that the music industry is way to focused on making money and less forcused on the value of a good song. I think that some artists still care about making music that speaks to their audiences but their advisors wont allow it. The music industry really needs to stop thinking of ways to make a big buck and listen to what the artists have to say and what the audience wants.
ReplyDeleteKarin, I understand what you meant with music going into a 'bad trend' in terms of artistic statements, as you fairly argued many aim to make money rather than entertain or make the audience 'feel good.'
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid the sad fact of the matter is just like most things in life, music is-as you yourself pointed out-a business. It's a giant money maker, one in which many players are involved and because of this, it stresses the importance of always 'one-uping the rivals.' This means giving the majority audience what appeals to them, and that typically has nothing to do with feelings and emotions but rather, 'Man, this song is awesome! I love it, it sounds hot!' etc...
In addition to 'The Suits' seeking the popular hits to stay on top, the artists themselves also strive to be successful and relevant to the audience, which drives their overall income. It's just like a baseball player: they don't simply join the Major Leagues because they love the game, they also join because it can pay BIG depending on their skill and popularity (ie, endorsements). It's incredibly unfortunate, but that's the way things are in today's society... =/