Music is at a Crossroads

I have two differing philosophies on today’s music industry. First of all (to begin with the less positive of the two), technology has allowed for new super editing devices that allow anyone off the street to be transformed into a singer (see Lindsay Lohan, who is on her third album I believe.) It’s sad to see famous artists get up on the stage and lip sync at a concert that the public spent at least $30 or up on. Where did the talent go? Though music’s new technology is amazing, and it’s great if it enhances an artist’s song/album, it should NEVER be a substitute for talent. It’s practicably just an accepted norm nowadays that artists will lip sync at a concert (luckily there are always true talents like Chris Cornell, Alicia Keys, and Kanye West to lighten the spirit.) I say if I’m going to pay money to go see a prerecorded show, I’ll just go watch a movie. At least you don’t have to pay to see someone dancing around on a stage pretending to sing to their CD.

Secondly, on a more positive note, ITunes, MySpace, YouTube and the like are revolutionizing artists’ marketing chances! Now that record labels are no longer the only chance (and in fact are in the process of demise) that a band has to be noticed, artist’s can represent themselves and get discovered. A whole new way for music to exist has been created. MySpace is free and anyone can use it!

I think the business can go either way. It is at a crossroads right now. Music is at the dawn of a brave new world, and hopefully, talent will prevail.

Ellen C.