[ Generally or Specifically ] what are your thoughts on the present state of the music industry?

Question

Disclaimer:

I've asked for "thoughts" here but...
I will also be more than happy to accept any attributing documentation or statistical information.

*Also, I don't do thumbs. I'll leave that up to you guys!

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Thanks to everybody who jumped in here.

There's no doubt that the industry has been in a "shakeup" mode for quite sometime. Most often, whenever ch..ch..ch.. changes occur (no matter the entity), the ramifications will result in some mud slingin and finger pointin.

My intent here was to try to get a "drift" of the "state" from the perspective of a diverse demographic of music connoisseurs.

As history tells us, sometimes change is good, sometimes not. It make take awhile but somehow...some way...it's all gonna shake out!

FANTASTIC STUFF!

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"the real Indie scene is bursting with talent"

"the profiteering "producers" are not making enuff money..they dont care about talent, all they they think about is money"

"The majority isn't always right."

"We have genres to suit everyone"

"when im at home and want to jam or cruising in my rod, i put on good old 80's rock and roll.."

"Pretty much gone to hell on a hoveround....."

"it all sounds the same"

"Artists are starting to leave big name labels"

"Today's music is certainly a far cry from what music used to be at one point."

"to find a real musician you'll have to go to a bar, honkytonk or speakeasy!"

"The culprit: downloads. No one has to make an album any more"

"the fakers will come and go"

"ALL new music is nothing but poor "karaoke-grade" drivel"

"As much as people like to complain about what is going on now, it's not as bad as it was."

"some of it is pretty good but everything is so steryotypical!!!"

Answer 1

I personally think it has a lot of work to do. The huge, corporate record companies have continued to put out cookie-cutter, dime a dozen groups that have little talent and almost nothing to set them apart from other bands. Granted, this has pretty much always been the case, not just in today's music world.
It seems as if more focus has come to the single. While singles are great and can really gain exposure for an artist, it's really going to be the actual album that sets the artist apart from their contemporaries. If I buy an album, I want to be blown away by it, instead of loving only one song out of 12.
Prices should also be adjusted. People are turning to Limewire and other P2P software because many album prices are just too high. I don't like buying CDs online, I want to go to a record store and buy something new and exciting, but I also don't want to pay $15 for it.
I also think the standards for "quality" music have gone down as well. But this is only a general statement. There has been good music and bad music in every decade. Sometimes it's been harder to find the good music. But in a nutshell, the industry needs to listen to its consumers. If they're tired of people stealing music, they should adjust their prices and take a chance and market a band that's new and has something unique to offer, not just a band that sounds like everything else. The industry should quit focusing on ringtones and one hit wonder artists just to make a quick buck. The only way the record companies will last is if they sign creative artists with the potential for longevity.
I hope this wasn't too long for you, and I hope it helps!

Answer 2

I think music has taken a fall for the worst. Music used to have intense guitar riffs, accompanied by great rythum guitar, and an awesome chorus line. Now songs seem in my opinion to lack the actual "meat" and is only left with meaningless fluff per say. Bands either scream, or whine. What happened to singing?

Also, bands used to create and perfom their own music. Now everyone relies on song writers and musicians to perform their music for them.

Today's music is certainly a far cry from what music used to be at one point. I mean back in the 70's and 80's, the most talented bands weren't able to receive a #1 hit because the competition was just far to fierce. Now any song can get #1 because there is nothing else to compare it to other then more lame drawn out songs.

Step it up, I want to hear some real ROCK!

Answer 3

The culprit: downloads.

No one has to make an album any more. They can just figure out what a particular social buying populace would want and cheaply throw out anything they make one at a time.

If downloads weren't so popular and easy, people would buy just the good albums and force the artists to put out more than one or two good songs.

There won't be another Metallica-like masterpiece; Prince protege trying to recapture the pop charts, R&B crowd and dance floor like 1999; one album with every song releasable like Fleetwood Mac's Rumours; any storybook Operation:Mindcrime challengers or Pink Floyd-esque Wall attempts without stopping the illegal and industry-threatening downloads.

Yes, the RIAA charges too much for their worth, but the government can certainly hold them accountable for their lack of ethics and monopoly. Pursue this angle instead of letting any two-bit web site manager putting out a drum machine copy of every song out there.

Answer 4

Emo bands like MCR and Fall Out Boy are tainting it cuz if that's the future.....sad
And the industry is so quick to label stuff and push the real true stuff below the "flavor of the week" stuff that it's sickening they just cram the same old stuff down your throat day in and day out,we're supposed to like rap remember--see what I mean but there will always be the real loyal fans who stick it out with their bands even without industry back up no matter what,the fakers will come and go,too much stereotyping and they have no idea what they're talking about

Answer 5

as a money making machine it's on steroids and high octaine. as far as the artistic side goes rap is like a virus! pretty soon we wont have any musicians that can play an instrument! they'll all be chosen for us by a tv game show,and brittiany will become the first lady! to find a real musician you'll have to go to a bar, honkytonk or speakeasy! hey wait a minute! that's where we started! go figure!

Answer 6

In a downfall, with the decline in album sales, and the turn to singles and ring tones money is being lost. Artists are starting to leave big name labels, although not many yet most notably Nine Inch Nails. And then with Radiohead and there marketing and release with In Rainbow's, it could lead to a change. I believe it has fell somewhat, only time will tell how much it has truly fallen, I don't believe it will ever totally fail though. But it's not what it once was.

Answer 7

Thanks to shows like "American Idol" - ALL new music is nothing but poor "karaoke-grade" drivel, "remixes" of EVERYTHING, and "bubblegum" pop (think Paris and Britney's albums).

That, and the crap that is coming out of Disney Studios - head over to the "Celebrities" section, and try finding a question about anyone else OTHER than Hannah Montana/Jonas Brothers/High School Musical...

And let's not even get started with the RIAA suing unemployed single mothers $50,000+ for simply downloading a few songs on Limewire!!!

>:(
>:(

Answer 8

As much as people like to complain about what is going on now, it's not as bad as it was.
Let me remind you of a few favorite artists from yesteryear:
Ricky Martin, Celine Dion, Los Del Rio (Macarena), Britney Spears (as a "legit" artist), N'Sync, Backstreet Boys, Marc Anthony, Baha Men (I never wanted the "dogs" to come out), Mariah Carey, Enrique Iglesias, Crazy Town, and 98 Degrees.
In all honesty, I would rather listen to the popular pre-packaged pop-rock of today than that stuff I just listed. At least the pop-rock bands write their own songs.

Answer 9

didnt care for it the past 10 years or so.. i think its coming full circle though..i can only speak for the rock scene, since thats mostly what i listen to.. i liked the 80's and early 90's rock when it was fun and the music was good.. not many rock bands now that are actually musically talented..i know people will disagree with me. and i know 80's was more glamour looking, but i actually liked the music..todays rock is like boy bands with instruments..i think its getting a little better though..

Answer 10

Of course, opinions are going to vary from person to person; along with genre to genre. While a lot of the "older" generation will be opposed to the modern "Scream-o" types of music, or Metal etc., a lot of the younger population are adjusted to it. Personally, I think the music industry is great right now. We have genres to suit everyone; we even have MODERN 80's bands (as confusing as it seems, they reproduce a 1980-esque sound) such as Wendy Icon and Vains of Jenna.