Who agrees with me: Music has become a product that survivies on branding and marketing strategies?

Question

Modern day music has been absoultely commercialised. Every artist seems to want to sell more copies of their album and to keep their audiences engaged they come up with new looks and styles, fancy artwork, promotional activities, hard hitting lyrics with very little stress on their sound as such. For instance Eminem relies primarily on his whacko lyrics more than his sound

Sometimes you may not quite like the sound of a band but theres something about their maketing strategy that make you like them. For instance the Gorillaz, with the whole animation bit it really works- had damon albarn been a solo artist not many people would hear him.

Some struggling artists give themselves a makeover to change opinions about them- and it works for a few. Nelly furtado for example- what happened to her in the new album?

A successful artist is a brand alone worth millions.

Fickle consumer loyalties have probably led to this.

Whats your opnion about this?

Answer 1

i agree with you. The reason is that music has become much more visual, you have MTV, MySpace, YouTube...and basically the entire internet to find things about the bands. Back then, you bought the record and listened. Maybe an occasional concert, but it was mostly listening....and the bands focused on what they sounded like rather than their image.
It's not that artists have become less talented as time goes by, but it's the fact that they're focusing more on the media. This means videos, websites, and the overall image of the band. In other words, it's more of a publicity business than music.
That's why (in my opinion) the underground is flourishing....because those bands are not exactly affected by money yet--they don't have the resources to make videos and get all that media attention, but just do what they're best at. Play the music and nothing else.

Answer 2

i dentally agree with you!! there r so many singers out there who really cant sing but know people who know people. Then they go to the studio and have them fix up the music. I believe that there are many music artist that don't make it big time just because f who they go with. I also believe that not so good music artists make it big and they cant sing.. y? Its how we run everything now. Its all about who's with who and everyone has to be big and
famous with lots of money.. more more more lamo... but w/e

Answer 3

I agree with this for most of the population, but there are still music lovers like me out there who pay no attention to marketing and all that. There are great bands out there that barely anyone knows about.

Answer 4

In general I agree, that seems to be the way of the world. I listen to whatever I like and don't really care what anyone else thinks though.

Answer 5

Absolutely. I'm fairly young but I truly like the 60's and 70's, full of real talents----not a Hollywood fabrication.

Answer 6

You should do what I did and give up on music. I listen the National Public Radio all day everyday and do not miss music in the least. It's actually pretty stupid if you ask me... all they're doing is stealing your money...

Answer 7

Pop music, yes. There are other genres which are not commercialized at all.

Not all modern music is promoted or has lyrics.

Answer 8

i agree with you 100 % i've wondered before what would happen if someone conducted a social experiment of marketing someone completely unattractive, untalented, with no personality....basically if enough hype could make them a star, i'm pretty sure it could

Answer 9

I think that music is music; how it is marketed makes no never mind to me. I like what I like, and don't like what I don't.

Maybe you are too sensitive and prone to marketing tactics??

Answer 10

It's pretty much true. Sometimes it's not so much music as much as the way the powers that be want you to think (or not think).