Changing Industry/ Reformations in Popular Music

Music is something so important in our culture today. There are so many types of genres, so many different emotions music can conjure up. Music can make you feel happy on your saddest day. It can make you push through a hard workout and make you run that extra mile. It can comfort you on your lowest day. It can remind you of your first love, first kiss, and even the day you say "I do". Music can deliver a powerful message or a negative message. All in all music evokes emotions and passion, its something so beautiful and dangerous all in one.

Music has come a long way. Today the music industry is about money. The radio came to existence in the 19th  century. It was used to deliver news, stories, and broadcast music. People loved music, music was something that made people feel good, but soon new technology was created and the radio station has to find a way to renovate its self so it could stay in the market. The radio station collaborated with the Record Label Industry. Now a lot of the music we hear are just catchy beats used to lure people in. A lot of artist's do not write their own music anymore. Music use to be about telling a story, but now when one goes in to this industry they have to be sexy, youthful, and do what the record label demands them to do. They aren't cultivated and given the chance to find out who they are, and what message they want to tell the world. They are told who they are and what message they "will" tell the world.

 Artists are constantly under pressure about releasing albums and making deadlines. It's all about how many CD's are bought when the album hits stores or iTunes. There have been so many changes in music with tapes,cd's, and videos. Now we can listen to music online and download whatever song we want whenever we want. I watched a documentary in class called "Before the Music Dies" and in this documentary there is a big difference between musicians from that past and now. Anyone can be an artist as long as they look the part. With "auto tune" a device that helps ones voice sound in tune, this technology can make anyone sound good. In a way this is frowned upon. Music use to be about the voice and expressing how you feel whether it be about your happiest day, or your worst hour. Music was seen as something sacred, something you had to be born with, something that was seen as pure talent.

Music is a form of communication. It is very important and makes up the American Culture. These stars, these musicians that we are hypnotized by are  doing their job and there is so much corruptness and controversy surrounding the music industry. Music is something that should be appreciated, there are so many people out their that want to sing from the soul and it becomes hard to do that when a person signs with a record label. So maybe these artists that have a hard time putting out their stories should put their foot down and say "I want to do it this way I have the talent". In the end it all comes down to one thing and that is money. It's not about hearing, but about seeing and people must learn not to become slaves to industries.

The video above is a rap written by 3 artists complaining about the music industry and how music isn't what it use to be. the lyrics are vulgar but it goes into comparison with what is going on with the music industry and radio.