Music in society today?

Question

In todays society, with a consumer culture and also massive media resources such as TV and the internet, has the value of music been cheapened or lessened? We now have hundreds of music genres and music channels on TV such as MTV and also cheap musical instruments and the internet (with sites like YouTube).

I've said for a long time that there is too much music around and so even a talented artist or band like New Order is seen as a product, both by record companies and also the public. The artsit then has their own mage and the merchandise that follows.

This isn't a homework assignment, just my own personal question! Anything appreciated.

When I talk of the value of music, i mean its significance in society. My question mainly centres around 'manufactured' music which makes up the majority of music now.
As for these wonder bands being discovered on YouTube, I have a problem in that their music is often then overhyped.
We are surrounded by music almost from when we wake up to when we go to sleep. I'm tired of it.
Also must add that I'm a bassist and (bad) musician myself. The sheer amount of music drivel I am subjected to daily makes me want to go and hug my bass guitar and cry....

Answer 1

I do see your point and I do agree with you to some extent but at the same time its nice to have such variety & choice. I appreciate lots of styles of music & its nice to keep up with them all. I know a lot of it is about marketing & making money but we're all out to make a living of some sort.

Answer 2

Well, Not exactly...

I mean, Yes that the Media helps - or perhaps better to say has their role on decrease the value of Music - including all kind of arts.
But the main problem is not the media, you need to know that these things already happen - in Western, since 17'th century in Classic period - atleast.
It happen because in that period of time runs power of those powerful - means monefull - people of the higher class of cast, where most of the musician - and artist - those days came from a lower class wich mean less money and need money wich could be obtained by working to the higher class family. Ofcourse the richer family - called patron, a person that funding artist - has their own idea of taste and strict their servant - artist are really a servant at that time - to write music of their own taste. This is when the value of art decreased, when they do it for money - or something else other then their own passion and idea.
The High Class people use the music to signify their Class, that's why this period - of Mozart, Paganini, etc. - are called the Classic period an the music become known as the classic music.

Well, as i said, the media is not the main problem. Media was only a tool to broadcast - or we could say advertise and sell - the music, If the Artist stick to their own idea of music, there will be no proble. But the problem is that the producer, the Record company - or we could call them as patron - strict the artist to make only music that sells, and the worse problem is that most of the artist - or you could call them celebrity claim them self as artist - obey their patron, may it be for money, for power, for fame, who knows...

But thank God that there is still some artist - real artist - that stick on their own idea. And thank God I'm one of them.


Hope this help
Bless You

Answer 3

As long as music is a business this is always going to happen I'm afraid. There's always someone trying to make money one way or another. I'm not against the commercialism of music per se - I know that many bands wouldn't have formed if there wasn't any money in it for them.
Chuck Pahaulnick (sorry about spelling - author of Fight Club) says some interesting things about silence, or rather the lack of it, in his novel Survivor.
I guess it's down to the individual on the value you place on music in the end-I read in Mojo (new issue) that 2007 could be the year of Joy Division with a film in the works, album reissues and many bands citing them as an influence. It's great that they may find a bigger audience through this. But what the public perception of them ,and the personal perception to someone who likes them, will probably be very different.
On the plus side, the band Sigur Ros, refused to let a bank use a piece of their music despite the reputed offer of a large sum of money, even though their music gets a lot of incidental use on TV and some in films

Answer 4

The "value" of music? Not sure what you mean by that.

"Too much" music around?

Let me answer as a lifelong writer/performer/recording artist. One one hand, the music scene - in terms of artist access - couldn't be better.

Because of the internet, new emerging talents can actually get their sound out "to the people," instead of having to appeal directly to a record label.

If a person or band is really talented and unique, they will rise above the others with a moderate amount of effort.

These days, one can purchase a decent digital recording board for about $1000 or, they can find reasonable studio rates in almost any big metro area.

And, never forget that music has its "market" like any other commodity. So as far as what you hear on radio or TV; that's just big business trying to promote the next fad. No surprise there. You see one "new" band, followed by a half dozen clones.

Except for the internet opening up a lot of new doors for artists, the music scene and business is the same as it's been for decades - there's a lot of crap out there and, if you look, there are some damned talented people, too.

Answer 5

I have to say that I dont believe this is a negative thing. With so many choices not only do people get to listen to what they want, but artists have so many more outlets to be heard. Plus, we as consumers arent force-fed record company artists of the week. People can enjoy all types of music thats mainstream and otherwise. Reguardless of how many musical outlets there are, there will always be superstars. If your worried the next Frank Sinatra wont come along, think again.But, he may appaear on youtube for the first time as opposed to be being in a local garage group! :)

Answer 6

Everything is a product today and that's a sad fact. While really not too talented bands can make millions the local philharmonic has to have fund raisers.

We've lost our sense of taste. Nothing wrong with any music, it's just sad that so many young people only like one kind and aren't even exposed to finer things.

I also think "quiet"is very underrated. EVERYWHERE you go it's loud music or blasting TVs. There's no where to go grab a quick meal and not be bombarded, no where to browse without having your head filled with noise. Studies have shown that humans need quiet to refocus their brains.

Interesting question--happy New Year!

Answer 7

i tend to not think to deeply about it and just enjoy it for what it was designed for! I'm quite appreciative off all the different genres out there as i have quite a vast taste when it comes to music, and im only 20 and alot of my friends listen to a wide range of music and its not the stereotypical genre of music you would think either, I think a lot of middle aged people would be surprised at how vast the younger generations music taste is!

I do however tend not to watch music videos as i found it influenced whether i liked the song or not, as i found songs i liked on the radio would not have appealed to me if i watched the video and its not about the video, or how the person looks its about the music!

Answer 8

classical track will always have an area in society because it truly is a most suitable and nicely crafted sort of auditory historic previous; each bit as significant as a newspaper headline, or in call for historic quote or mathematical equation or fashionable shaggy dog tale. track, more suitable than maximum issues, can sum up an era, or a idea, or a feeling, or an journey. beside this kind of track expands human understanding and expertise.

Answer 9

ive always liked a song with a good tune. where did they all go??
i cant stand the amount of swearing in most songs these days.
i have 3 sons and they all like different kinds of music. its ok when they listen on MTV or the like where the swear words are edited out, but when they buy or download these songs then there is no editing.
its hard enough bringing up kids to have manners these days without these so called "stars" putting words into their vocabulary that i have been trying so hard to keep out!
IT DRIVES ME MAD!!!!