Is Old Music Killing New Music?

I am not sure I agree with the main premise of the article. It is an interesting question though. I worked in a record store for years after high school to pay for college. I saw trends ebb and flow constantly. I do think it's easier for record companies to push a known commodity rather than market new music. Maybe they've gotten lazy?

@tgilb 

There's a ton of great new musicians and music out there. 

I agree with you on that. Once I started using Qobuz and Tidal I began finding a lot of new music. 

One thing I know that has changed over the last 30 years here in the US is the reduction of arts programs in public school education. The arts are always the first to get the axe in every school district across America. I have some familiarity with the issues since my wife is a theater director and fine arts director for a school district. 

Parents and schools just don't push their kids into the arts (music, theater, art, etc.)  like they used to do decades ago. The focus is STEM and athletics. Athletics for college scholarships and STEM for the big engineering payout (🤣). All the people I worked with during my record store days were all art students and almost everyone was in a band. Those stores gave those kids a place to hand out and talk music and who was playing with what group locally. That is gone. 

@dabel that video was fantastic. thanks!

@mahgister great recommendation on the rudra veena. 

@jackshew 

+1 I completely agree

@clearthinker and @infection 

The author of the article doesn’t give a starting point for when they think "new music" starts. To me anything from the year 2005 and forward would be classified as "new music". I think that is around the time streaming started taking off and downloads had already surpassed physical sales.

Streaming killed the video star.

@jssmith 

It's very formulaic. Songs are now written by committee, so they're dumbed down to a common denominator.

I am quoting just a snip of your excellent comment. This is I think is the most accurate analysis of what "popular" new music has now become. Record companies have always been in pursuit of commoditizing music into a simple consumable product. Everyone sounds and looks the same. Just like vanilla ice cream.  

@dabel That is a great experience. The talent is absolutely out there. I love that they did a tribute to Prince. Phenomenal musician.  

@wolf_garcia life as a musician is a tough gig.  My brother used to tour the country as an Opera singer. He loved it, but it was a rough life being on the road almost all year.  

@fleschler 

 (I have 28,500 LPs, 7,000 78s and 7,000 CDs with all these types of music)

Wow! That is an impressive collection. Especially the 78s. 

@jssmith 

I don't know of or have heard of anyone middle age or older in my local sphere, at work, at the gym, or really anywhere except the Web who listens to new artists.

Very interesting. I had not thought of this before you made this comment. I find myself agreeing with your observation with the people I know in my age group. No one I know (except my wife) actually listens to anything outside of what they listened to in high school. Even when I suggest new music to my friends/coworkers they look at me like I am crazy and keep listening to the same 12 albums.

I constantly search for new artists/music and my wife will add them to her playlists much to the surprise of her students. I have always been told I have eclectic taste and maybe that is why I am now listening to groups like Morcheeba, Darkside, Monophonics, Ikebe Shakedown, and others. 

I wonder if this also affects how we select the equipment in our systems? Something else to consider. 

@hilde45 👍

@3sa_uk 

Saitama? Glad someone noticed and excellent question. I’m pretty certain it would be this…

I just want to share a link to a video of Leon Bridges as an example of outstanding “new” music. The talent is out there. I do realize the video is from 2016, but I think it meets the new music definition. Enjoy!

@gpgr4blu 

I admit I just recently heard of him and Khraungbin. Both are simply fantastic groups. I am waiting on the delivery of Texas Sun and Texas Moon. 

@tomcy6 

I am pretty certain your last post won’t remain in this thread very long. 

@tgilb no disagreement from me on that. Not everyone that releases music is actually good.

@dabel Gary Clark Jr is a phenomenal guitar player. Listening to his version of “Come Together” sounds like Jimi Hendrix playing the Beatles. Its awesome. 

@stuartk and @mustbethemusic 

You are correct. There is fantastic new music being released. We just have to work to find it. The record companies are lazy and only push what is easy to sell - nostalgic tunes and trendy instagram stars. The good new music seems to be released on smaller labels or else directly to their fans.

Take Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree) for an example. He is a phenomenal musician and song writer, but he gets no publicity outside his own fans. I learned of him four years ago in Reddit after looking for new progressive music groups.

I also realize that most people want to listen to the same music that their friends are listening to that month. They want to be part of something popular. A lot of us in this forum have eclectic tastes and will have to work to find new music that we like.  

@larsman I know it sounds crazy that I had no idea of Steven Wilson until about 5 years ago. I actually grew up listening to Pink Floyd, Yes, ELP, King Crimson and Genesis. I loved browsing record stores and even worked in one to get myself through college. When music switched to an on-line process it lost a lot of the appeal to me. I was so used to learning about new bands from coworkers and friends. That all stopped when it switched. Also, life happened and there was a long time when I couldn't afford buying music. 

Thank you for letting me know about the ticket sales. The last time he came through a town near my home I was 8,000 miles away working. Maybe I will get to see him this time.