So many factors to this discussion. The market splintering onto hundreds of sub genres, that are not just local... Social media as ways for artists to promote themselves in ways that never before existed.
Bands being able to sell merch directly from their sites. (They Might Be Giants makes millions directly from their site - Thomas Dolby announces a new downloadable EP and sells many in 24hrs, keeping a much higher profit margin then when he was on a label)
That being said, I believe much of todays music is meant to be disposable. Many pop/rock artists influence is other other 80's bands. The great artists of the 60/70's were often influenced (or outright stole) earlier forms of music that were purer in genre and rooted in tradition.
But on the fringe is so much good music from many genres. Here in NYC there are many really good eclectic acts.
This is what the music scene has evolved to, but the good part is that culture accrues, so we always can go backwards. I was just playing some 1949 Django Reinhardt yesterday, and some of the cuts even sound pretty good)
I believe as the culture begins to become acclimated to paying for content, and perhaps some DRM., other licensing schemes or the ability to close pirate sites (that is being debated in Congress right now and while the proposals go too far, perhaps a realistic one function properly) that artists will be able to make a living off their music and movies.
But to answer your original point, The Renaissance only lasted so long, and perhaps yes, ours is over. The last episodes of Mash and All in the Family were watched by a huge percentage of the American audience, all in one night. No shows get that market share any more....
Bands being able to sell merch directly from their sites. (They Might Be Giants makes millions directly from their site - Thomas Dolby announces a new downloadable EP and sells many in 24hrs, keeping a much higher profit margin then when he was on a label)
That being said, I believe much of todays music is meant to be disposable. Many pop/rock artists influence is other other 80's bands. The great artists of the 60/70's were often influenced (or outright stole) earlier forms of music that were purer in genre and rooted in tradition.
But on the fringe is so much good music from many genres. Here in NYC there are many really good eclectic acts.
This is what the music scene has evolved to, but the good part is that culture accrues, so we always can go backwards. I was just playing some 1949 Django Reinhardt yesterday, and some of the cuts even sound pretty good)
I believe as the culture begins to become acclimated to paying for content, and perhaps some DRM., other licensing schemes or the ability to close pirate sites (that is being debated in Congress right now and while the proposals go too far, perhaps a realistic one function properly) that artists will be able to make a living off their music and movies.
But to answer your original point, The Renaissance only lasted so long, and perhaps yes, ours is over. The last episodes of Mash and All in the Family were watched by a huge percentage of the American audience, all in one night. No shows get that market share any more....