Why Is Most Music So Bad Today?

the bands that arent mainstream and all about the money are not being played on mtv because of that, because they dont play music just to bang out a few hits and please the media they play music to mean something - but it doesnt mean they're not out there, they are just a little harder to find

 

What I hate is listening to the same fucking songs played at least once every hour. Come on, there's more music than 20 "popular" songs played 24 hours a day. I have to hear the same shit over and over b/c that's what station is listened to where I work. I love the days when one of the supervisors brings in his Beatles CD's from his class.

Peace and love

 

Music use to have some lead guitar riffs. Not many bands have that today except for a few.

 

The big Hollywood money came in after Woodstock and repackaged the music to appeal to the masses. It's easier to sell mediocre art to the masses than true art. They created the "guitar hero" and "rock star" where before it was just about the music, the song. Good songs are the last thing the industry thinks about today. It's all about giving young people "stars" to identify with and emulate. The music dosen't even factor into the formula.

 

It's for several reasons:
1. people don't care enough about the quality of the music. its not necessary for the music to be good. it just has to be sold as "popular." it's not about music. its about fitting with the crowd.
2. any talentless attention-seeker can be a pop "musician." if you are willing to play the game and hopefully get lucky, you can be passed off as a musician.
3. building on the previous two reasons, you can remake a great song, turn it into crap, and people will eat it up. or you can steal a technique or signature thing from a real musician and most people will be too stupid to notice and will think you are really something.

but that's just my theory.

 

I didn’t read the entire article. However I agree with the little that I read. I watched a Tarkovski interview last night. Tarkovski was one of the best film directors ever. He said “Artists exist as a result of an imperfect world. You wouldn’t want to create harmony in a perfect world. You would simply want to live in it (harmony).” Life is full harmony in England. There are unemployment benefits. There are Student benefits. There are Job seekers benefits. There are old people’s benefits. We live in harmony. The world is not perfect. However there is an easy availability of funding. Why become an outstanding artist? Why not just enjoy the benefits.

 

It's always been rare for good music to be popular, I've come to realize. I think the early and mid 90's were an interesting exception (great rock and rap), but maybe that's just me. And I agree with the guy that said Grunge was very distinctive. I can somewhat understand not liking it if you are more into the musicianship of music, but I like the lyrics and the ideas in music most.. and the songs sound great to me. (and grunge is right here with me! I'd start a band with you, but i'm in illinois).

Here are some of the few "new" (some aren't so new, but they're still very active and rising) bands and artists that I like. If anyone knows any better, let me know. I hate that most of the bands I listen to have broken up: Noe Venable, Silversun Pickups, Blonde Redhead, Dredg

 

I haven't read the whole thread, but IMO the reason music is bad is that there is no drive anymore for the majority of people. Back in the day if you wanted to learn a song you busted your ass and figured it out. Now it's click click look it up on the net and either learn it, or get distracted from practicing and watch a little TV, maybe play some video games.

That shit wasn't a ready to go option in the 60s. There weren't so many media distractions. People DID things. Now a distraction is a moment away. As a result you don't have as many young people being masterful at their instrument. The popular musical genres of today prove it over and over.

 

There's more to music than popular music. Because of the Internet you have access to like 1000 times more variety than people in the 60's had.

 

'Coz it ain't got SOUL bro!!!! ......kids look at the $$$ side and that's all.....TRUE ART will fail in the end!!

 

You know, I've figured out exactly what's wrong with new music: It's boring. Simple as that... it's really fucking boring.

 

Page was the god of awesome guitar riffs.

 

When I was growing up I would listen to the Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin, Who, etc. My parents would ask, "How can you listen to that crap? They don't sing, they scream and that music is nerve wracking. You should listen to stuff like Frank Sinatra." I've learned that most people become accustomed to the music that was popular on their favorite radio station when they were in high school, and everything else is thought of as crap. If you think that all music today is bad, then you're just getting old. There are a few newer artists putting out good stuff, it's just a shame they're not in the mainstream.

Granted there's a lot of crappy music that is popular today, but it's the crappy music that seems to sell best. The people that buy the most music are the young, those that are in high school or college. A person's appreciation of better music grows as they get older, just look at the crap you were willing to listen to when you were a kid. Have you forgotten about Tiny Tim - Tiptoe Through the Tulips and Melanie - Brand New Key? I still can't believe I bought the album Sweet - Desolation Boulevard and the 45 of Good Morning Starshine by Oliver.



So why is most music bad today?

There are a couple of reasons. It's because that's what sells to the mindless kiddies of today, and you have to have a good looking video to go with it. What's driving music sales is no longer the music itself but the video, and it's been that way since the advent of MTV in the 80's. When you think of the price of producing a video, record execs are far more reluctant to invest in a unproven formula. Artists like Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen would never be given record contracts in todays market because they don't fit the mold. I'm sure they never would've gotten through the first round of American Idol. Instead you have people like Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears getting contracts because they're easier on the eyes when watching the video. The whole point is that the record execs just want to make a fast buck, they don't care if their biggest selling artist is just a fad as long as they can make big money this quarter.

 

In today's popular culture, stupidity and mediocrity seem to be more pervasive and accepted nowadays.


This trend has a direct correlation with the leaders on top.
If you have stupid leaders, then what do you expect.

 

I expect people that really want to make good music to ignore the easy money and just do that. And well, they just do that indeed. Logically you don't see them at the places you look to keep up with how retarded mainstream music is, but yeah, keep listening to the popular radio, watching MTV and complaining about it. You seem to like it!

 

Who are "you" referring to?

 

Everybody who is too busy getting negative about the mainstream shit and forgetting to take a good look for concerts in their neighbourhood or for good music (on the internet for example). Music isn't bad today, people who say that are OR too closeminded (everything sounds different then the sixties and thus suck mentality) OR too lazy. Complaining is just a lot easier then open your mind and search.

 

If preferring to listen to classic rock, rather than the kind of cRAP that's coming out nowadays means I'm just getting old, so be it.
I still prefer it rather than these stupid RAP music.

What else is RAP music other than general stupidity and mediocrity, pimped and glorified.

 

I agree 100%, Rap is crap. I still prefer classic rock.

When saying the there are a few newer artists putting out good stuff, I was referring to people like John Mayer.

 

There will always be those who stand out, putting better, quality material, even in today's prevailing low quality, mediocre atmosphere. Even if you took the effort to look for them, the reality is, their numbers are few and far in between.

There is not the mass base of good quality popular music that evolved unlike during the late 60's - late 70's, crafted by gifted virtuoso musicians with extraordinary talent, music now considered classic rock and still very much appreciated even today.

That is exactly the reason why most of today's music sucks. Less, and less gifted, talented musicians coming out, getting exposed and appreciated.

What we end up is pathetic low quality, meaningless noise, marketed as "musiK".