Otaku-Of-Tom...
Subject: Music Is Dead
Date: October 5, 2003 @ 2:30 PM
Declining sales probably have less to do with Internet trading, and also less to do with the boycott than anyone has yet realized.

I theorize that declining sales and can more accurately be attributed to a fundamental lack of understanding on the part of the RIAA as to what it is that generates mass sales of music, resulting in a general loss of interest in music.

Recently the RIAA has been demanding that fans be as obsessed as they are with things that fans should never even have to think about. Basically the RIAA is demanding that we buy music for political reasons. Their point of view is that musicians who work for them have a God given right to be rich, regardless of the quality (or lack thereof) of their product. They are saying we must recognize our God given responsibility to pay for the extravagances of Eninem and Jenifer Lopez.

As a music buyer in the 70’s, no one ever got up in my face and said I was obligated to pay for the extravagances of Kiss and see that they were rich enough to live the lifestyle of rock stars. Rather, we thought of Kiss as a band who worked for us, not out of obligation or a desire to become rich, but rather for the joy of performing their art and the satisfaction of knowing they entertained us well.

Was this a realistic way for us to have thought of Kiss? Perhaps not. It may have just been a fantasy that we attached to rock stars that there was more to them than being money-grubbing exploiters of the public. But even if this was so, it was still this fantasy that endeared us to rock stars and inspired many of us to spend more on them than we could reasonably afford.

Today, the RIAA, along with sue happy band like Metalica, have utterly destroyed that fantasy, and replaced it with a glaring awareness of the music industry as something that exists for no other purpose than to exploit us for all we’re worth and give us as little as it possibly can in return. And they wonder why sales are dropping.

Without the illusion of nobility and artistic credibility on the part of musicians there can be no magic. And without the magic there can be no fantasy to inspire loyalty. No one seems to understand this. No one is going to buy a CD just to make an already too rich and overly pompous rock star even more rich and pompous.

The more effort the RIAA puts into getting people back into the CD stores, the more determined people become to stay out of them. No one responds to this idea of buying music as an obligation. You can only inspire people to open their purses by offering them a product they enjoy and can relate to – something that will become a significant part of their life, as music used to be.

It does not matter who is right or wrong on the issue of whether we should be allowed to download music for free. What must be recognized is the simple fact that music, as we knew it in the days when we supported it without a thought, is dead - bludgeoned to death by the fear tactics of the RIAA. It will never be what it used to be. And no matter what the RIAA does they will never be able to regenerate the spirit they have destroyed. So they will not be able to halt the dropping of sales.

I personally have vowed never to buy music while a musician or company is being obvious about looking over my shoulder to see that I do everything their way, and threatening to ruin my life if I don’t. Now imagine a whole generation growing up with that feeling that Big Brother RIAA is watching them. Imagine what this will do to their enthusiasm to become music fans. They will equate music with drugs, cigarettes and booze. It will become a vice – a bad thing that sensible people know is destructive and won’t play with.

The RIAA have become pushers of sex, depravity and social slavery to big industry. How can anyone ever look on them again as we did in the days when we financed them with our love in the form of the dollars we spent on their merchandise?

It is over. Music is dead. It’s time to chop down the old dead tree and hope that something new and precious will grow from the seeds it left behind.

Good read.

Very poetic and true. The industry reminds me of my father trying to get me to eat my veggies at dinner when I was a kid. "You will eat it and you are going to like it!!!"

the difference is that veggies were good for me and my father knew best.

I recently herd a interview from outkast, My favorute group. and they said themselfs theat rap was dead. They talked about cheeny you know that song "right thar" sucks hu. and how they havent bought anything new for a few years. just like me. the artist know the music is dying also. premanufactured crap. thats most of the reason. Out of all of brittney spears albums she wrote about 2 min of lyrcs, these people are actors. and most are bad actors. this whole thing was going to happen internet or not.

I rarely agree with anything.

I agree with this.

This is what i've been feeling the whole time.

I’ve been a percussionist since 4th grade (i'm in 14th now) never once was I thinking about how to make money off it. It’s just indescribable how it feels to perform in front of 100s-1000s of people let alone 10,000s and all these people can think about is getting that new lambo.... artists? My ass

What a load of crap. Music is not dead, music will never die. It's been around for centuries, for millenia, and has changed constantly the whole time. The only things that will die are cheap fads and greedy self indulgent corporations who literally try to control sound. There will always be musicians making music, and people that love music will always listen to them. The sooner we can break the RIAA loose of its slave-handling, the sooner we can take back what was once ours. Remember, they may be big and billions of dollars strong, but they are just men. Music is soul, and has been around longer than time can remember. I don't know when the day will come, but we will win this.

curtnerc,
Rap died a long time ago. There was a time when the core of rap wasn't "bitchz n bluntz" and songs written by people who get bored while in prison.

This is a great article.

**What a load of crap. Music is not dead, music will never die.**

Please note the last line of what I wrote is based on a Procol Harum song called "The Worm And The Tree." If you read the lyrics you will see that your point was included. I see this song as a poignant analogy for what has happened to music. You can read the lyrics here.
http://lyrics.net.ua/song/46305

Many people have words that say the same thing though not are always so eloquent. The lack of understanding the changes in market and failure of the business model to capitalize on it has been said in many ways.

You can stay greedy and hide it a long time, using other reasons to cover it with. Sooner or later folks get it. They come to an understanding of just how the cow chews the cabbage. Such has come about with in the public for the music industry and how they have tried to control the market and there any many competeing options for your entertainment dollar.

The best thing that the music industry had going for it was that the artists appeared to be for the people and of the people. There was a glamour that was there and Joe Blow felt a personal connection to the artist for saying what he felt. That brought repeat sales and long time fans. Something the music industry forgot about when a lot of the music was shelved into the vault. Now that is gone. Poor product with little connection to the public has been raped and died somewhere along the line. There is a reason people don't see value in the offerings of music as compared to other entertainment options. People are fed up with the outlandish prices and poor products that are offered for song. No amount of sueing will bring them back. Even now, more and more people are seeking music that doesn't involve the majors because of this. That market share will never be recovered. Ask the American Automobile companies as they are familar with this movement away from a product that isn't worth the money.

amendment: Music is alive, Mainstream music is dead.

Annihilated

Read a little deeper. The guy is not saying that music is dead in the sense that its gone from the face of the planet. Geez. But in terms of quality and spirit of what used to be..it is dead. Its still there..just lifeless and rolling along on an assembly line.
There are no more great bands like there used to be...the last of the great stadium bands are past history. There are these bands out there that can play...but they can't "PLAY"...the likes of stevie ray vaughn, jimmy page, hendrix, eddie van halen..etc are gone. No moire great musician to fill their shoes.
Its appauling to see what they are tring to pass off as rock now. Repackaged little girl and boy bands with guitars in their hands. Bands like Lilix, Avril LaVigne, Sky Sweetnum, are just a couple examples. all they are is repackaged crap and given a bad attitude look..but it's the same RIAA dumb garbage once again. Evrything has to be glittery..and hollywood herb-ish. Why do these asschickens not get it?

read what I said, there are plenty of quality bands in the Indie scene, but mainstream music is lifeless.

There's only one Hip-Hop artist I truly like and it's fusion band by the name of Linkin Park. I bought Hybrid Theory EP Limited Edition and found that there's still gold out there. Thanks to Ebay.

This was in April. And the EP Limited Edition was created in '99

you know, I may be somewhat of an extremist. but i just happened to read this while I was do some schoolwork.

anyway, you've opened my eyes. I just realized that the worst thing possible to happen to the riaa is for them to win over the p2p networks...

WHAT are they going to do when music sales continue to plummet because of poor quality and horrible advertisement tactics? asks Alex Trebek

What is "GRAB THEIR ANKLES", Alex.

(weird synthesizer music indicating correct answer)

rabidzealot wins the daily double!

"Oh god, me??? Wow I'm so surprised. I'd especially like to thank the RIAA for being such a bunch of dumb ****ing pieces of ****. ****."

Alex replies, "You're our winner today rabidzealot, but this type of language isn't meant for broadcasting. Even if you are talking about some really dumb ****ing bastards."

(by the way, no I don't know how to spell synthesizer or whatever. I've never seen it written....)

anyway, all you riaa bastards. I hope you die a horrible and agonizing death. i hope you wish for death but due to paralysis, they keep you alive in pain and suffering for years and years

oh yeah, seikatsu, i agree. linkin park are the ONLY band other than eminem I'd ever buy tickets to a concert. the rest can go to hell with their riaa!

eminem's just too much fun to miss in my opinion. linkin park are the epitome of talent, in my opinion. such good music....

We all knew mainstream music was headed for the dumpster the instant the lawyers started calling the shots at the RIAA. A bunch of tone deaf, wouldn't know a good business model if it bit them in the ass types who have wrecked their sponsered labels. I still am waiting to seem the organization disbanded....I don't know why the labels would want it around in its current form anymore anyway.

I'm just hoping the new independent music system can form a loose affiliation with each other over the internet to spread their music all over and get it played easily on the radio, this would be the best indication of the changing of the tide and a rebirth of getting "real" music play to the people.

I think we're headed there, just not as quickly as we would like....and I think it has the RIAA scared shitless!

oh and no "he's pro riaa" rubbish.

if i were ever diagnosed with an incurable disease like cancer or aids, I think I'd go to RIAA headquarters and reinact one of the scenes in the matrix.

but i'm not an extremist

Well said Otaku!

Music used to be so much a part of me I could taste it and wrap it around me like skin. There is no comparison to what is being passed off as music today, not meaning Indies. Mainstream MTV crap. Gone are the days when you listened to an lp and the entire album was a work of art. One song introduced the next song and if you don't know what I mean, then go listen to Abbey Road or Bringing It All Back Home or Led Zeppelin or Aftermath, just to name a few. Something is gone from what used to be our heart and soul...and something is happening here but you don't know what it is, do you, Mr. Jones.

I can't stand today's music. I NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER listen to anything top 40, RIAA, or anything on the radio or the radio for that matter. Underground internet radio is the wave of the future. House music all night long! Retro House Music by DJs like Julian Perez, Frankie Knuckles...etc. I go underground...way underground. Not a lot of people understand the music I love. Radio is dead. Music is dead. It sucks. The RIAA will never revive it or itself. Anyway... Check out www.ciut.fm which is based in Toronto and started by the University of Toronto. Now that's radio.

So that's why I'm still stuck in the 70's
Wonderfully put Otaku-Of-Tom

I dunno maybe I'm off in my observation here and have missed several articles and many replies to articles (or even discussions in the forums), but I think it's important to note that not all RIAA recording companies release boy band and Britney Spears (and wannabes) only. The late Johnny Cash was with Universal I believe. There are also artists like Enigma, Enya, Jesse Cook (for those of you who like Spanish guitar), Loreena McKennitt, most all Christian music artists, George Strait, Alan Jackson, among many many others. Just thought I'd point it out.... Ignore me if you like, it was a nice little diversion from studying.

Cold, Staind, Saliva, Disturbed, Project 86, The Offspring, Papa Roach, Blindside
all are Riaa label artists. That I bought used.

I agree music is "dead", but has not disappeared from the planet. It is the "top 40", so to speak, that somehow, and God knows I will NEVER understand how, has run over GOOD music all together. I absolutely HATE HATE HATE HATE rap and hip-hop GARBAGE! I miss the 70's music, when rock and roll was REALLY just GREAT to listen to! I STILL listen EVERYDAY to GREAT bands like BTO, The Doobie Brothers, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Boston, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Van Halen, Foghat, Fleetwood Mac, The Cars, Ted Nugent, Steve Miller, Queen, REO, Nazareth, and many more! What happened to REAL QUALITY music like that making it to number one like it used to?

I am a 40 year old mom of 4 grown kids, and I out rock them like I never thought I would. I thought they would out rock me (like I did my parents), but my kids have had all of todays shit shoveled in their faces and heads, and I lost them somewhere in time. It really makes me sad knowing they fell into the record company's web of shit they call music.

I miss the days when an act or artist REALLY had to be GOOD to make it to the top!

Hmm...well written but way overdramatic.

Its true that the RIAA and their cronies have this arrogance to believe that they owe nothing to the consumers but vigilance and deceit but I dont believe theyre forcing people to buy their shoddy products either.

Music is NOT dead. Its true that the RIAA is really sapping the integrity of mainstream music like it used to at some point but people will always be addicted to music. Its a form of expression that allows anyone to convey without the specific articulation.

CD sales were down even BEFORE napster...before p2p....before the popularity of ripping CDs b/c like the author said...its CRAP.

You have a choice. DONT buy it. Music can be found in sites like cdbaby.com..or your local venues..coffeeshops. Support REAL musicians who have chosen to endure toiling in obscurity to be heard. Make a change starting with yourself...by turning your head away from the majors! Turn off your radio! You dont have to be a revolultionist...just use common sense and start with yourself.

Speaking of music, listen to the song titled D.M.C.A. on this link, Checkmate Riaa is good to, but D.M.C.A. is hiliarious!
http://boycott.dmusic.com/

boycotter - I agree. I'm stuck in the 70's as well. I remember my dad saying the same thing about my music. LOL.

If I keep hearing songs like right thurr by chingy I think I might just barf... Talk about crapola.

I will say one thing about this, that the greedy are finally getting thier just desserts. This is only a taste of things to come for big corporations and the greedy boneheads like Clive Davis and Antonio Ried. Technology will not stop but RECORD COMPANIES will be a THING OF THE PAST.

Ah....Emeraude has excellent taste in music. I've seen Ted, Foghat, REO Speedwagon, Blue Oyster Cult, ZZ Top, Cheap Trick, the Eagles, Foreigner, Heart, ELO, Kansas, Styx, April Wine, etc. etc. back in the "good ol' days" of the Texas World Jam and Houston Blues Festival. I've turned my ex's kids onto stuff like Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan, in the hopes of somehow keeping it alive. My own son, now 26, was raised on Chuck Berry and Scotty Moore, and has become quite the talented musician (who hates the majors and what they stand for).

Music dead? Naw, I don't think so. It's just in suspended animation until the time comes for its rebirth. The Second Coming is coming, and it'll be soon. Long live rock!

Thank you scayf!

Every group you named that I didn't, I too love!

You know, aside from my kids, the main reason I never want to die is because then I will not be able to hear all that GREAT music ever again!

Let There Be Rock! (AC/DC) Oh Yeah!!!!

While I agree that mainstream nowadays sucks, there are still good bands on major labels, ie radiohead, flaming lips, modest mouse, and others. And since when was Ted Nugent, fleetwood mac, and van halen considered "good." Just cause its old doesn't make it good. And all those older bands you named were on major labels, and stood for the same things they stand for now, so dont discount any new music that comes out as bad or dishonest money hungry crap.

dignin, remember the reason for this site. Its not to talk about who you like/dislike, its to destroy the RIAA.

Something I haven't heard anyone mention on this site as a contributing factor to the delcine in music sales but the government is really worried about. Declining population base. There are not as many kids as there are older folks. That is why they are worried about keeping the taxes paid for social security. Just not as many to support those of us "baby boomers" that are retiring.

Where do the majors think the money is going? We know that it isn't going in their pockets like it used to. It is going to support the infrastructure of the nation. It was never p2p that was causing a drop in sales. It was a combo of factors including disillusionment of the nation with the current music, increasing demands for your money to support everything from roads to gas to drive your car. The cost of living has risen dramatically since the 60's and that has driven all prices for everything through the roof. When it comes to choosing bread or song, must folks have become attached to eating on a regular basis. The same for electricity, heat, vehicle, ect.

Wish I could come up with a way to sue the pants off my customers because they weren't paying enough and get the politicans to buy it.

You could buy a new car for 2000 dollars in 1970. You can't buy a junker for that now. Gas was 20 cents a gallon and cigarettes could be had for a quater a pack.

Now the paycheck has risen too but not as dramatically as the costs. People are now looking for ways to skimp and get by, choosing to have this over that due to the amount of money they have.

Your choices in what to do with that money has rise also. There are so many things in competion for your dollar. Why would one spend the first dollar on anything you don't believe in?

Let me make this clear, I do not believe in mp3's for a dollar, I do not believe in having that music controlled after I have paid my hard earned cash and purchased that product through dmca, and I do not believe what the majors are doing is in anyway right. They will never legislate the publics spending must be spent on music and after seeing what the RIAA does, it only leaves a bad oder in the room when you have finished the current screw up in action.

Good luck to the terrorist organizations, there is a beaten path in the direction of the dinosaurs...

dignin,

They were good then, and they are still good now. That is what quality music is, it is always good, no matter how "old" it is. Those groups had what it took, and they made it to the top WITHOUT all the hype and advertising that gets crap today to the top!

Think about it. They made it to the top "back then" for what THEY created, and the label(s) recorded and distributed the product for them. Nowdays, an "act" makes it to the top through advertising. The recording industry creates an "image" and "music" for the "artist", and kids fall for it! You don't HEAR what they created before you see who and what they are! Because the "artist" did not creat it, it was created for them! Kids think "they" are "great" and "cool", just because of how the industry advertises them to be, and they are an instant hit. But 99.99% of them SUCK ASS!

So, Ted Nugent, Fleetwood Mac, and Van Halen (and others) still kick ass! They MADE IT because of what THEY had the TRUE talent to create, and WITHOUT MTV! Most of today's top 40 (puke), make it because of what the record companies make them out to be, and kids are STUPID enough to fall for it. It is all IMAGE and NO TALENT these days!

dignin,

They were good then, and they are still good now. That is what quality music is, it is always good, no matter how "old" it is. Those groups had what it took, and they made it to the top WITHOUT all the hype and advertising that gets crap today to the top!

Think about it. They made it to the top "back then" for what THEY created, and the label(s) recorded and distributed the product for them. Nowdays, an "act" makes it to the top through advertising. The recording industry creates an "image" and "music" for the "artist", and kids fall for it! You don't HEAR what they created before you see who and what they are! Because the "artist" did not creat it, it was created for them! Kids think "they" are "great" and "cool", just because of how the industry advertises them to be, and they are an instant hit. But 99.99% of them SUCK ASS!

So, Ted Nugent, Fleetwood Mac, and Van Halen (and others) still kick ass! They MADE IT because of what THEY had the TRUE talent to create, and WITHOUT MTV! Most of today's top 40 (puke), make it because of what the record companies make them out to be, and kids are STUPID enough to fall for it. It is all IMAGE and NO TALENT these days!

The RIAA is not about ENTERTAINING any longer. They only want money! They aint gonna get anymore of mine, EVER!!!!

Sorry to post twice!

Seikatsu, Bill Evans wrote the lyrics for DMCA, and mixed it. Tom Barger did the vocals...

Excellent article. It perfectly sums up the way I feel. In the late 80s, early 90s there was a local "alternative" rock station that was just that. Alternative. You could hear music here that you could never hear anywhere else. It was a mixture of alt rock, new wave, blues, reggae. You name it. They even played James Brown on occasion! This station opened my eyes to a whole world of music. Sadly, it was taken over by a national "radio" corp in the mid 90s. It became an advertisement for overhyped alt rock, that is no longer "alternative". Every radio station on the dial plays the same songs! Thank god I now have the internet to provide me with the divirsity radio as long lacked. The internet is my "radio" now. If I think a band/artist is worth a damn, I'll shell out the $40+ bucks to see them. But I'll continue to share/dl music until someone pries my computer from cold, dead fingers!

If you want quality music go check out furthurnet. They have really good bands, a lot of indie, and a lot of talent.

I agree one of the reasons I havnt been buying new music is because it sucks. During the 90's I was into mainly rock now I think the rock totally sucks. I was into groups like Tool, Rage, Alice in Chains, Faith No More, Big Wreck, Second Coming and many others, This stuff never made top 40. They where played on top 40 stations. Like these groups are not. They produced there own music wrote most of their own lyrics and wasnt worried about selling to the mass top 40 audience to be the top selling bands in the buisness. Now The problem with this new crap is it not rock its top 40, Good Charlotte, the Ataris, these bands suck and get played 50 times a day on top 40. I was never really into rap but because of P2P and the fact I didnt like the new rock had most of the older stuff and needed some different music I started listening to some Rap, Most of the new rap I think sucks but I've started listening to more older rap and really got into it. I Love Outkast they are a very musical Rap group if you listen to some of their older CD's you'll know what I mean, Theres something unique about their music another group I really got into was A Tribe Called quest becuase of P2P, and I tell you what if the RIAA wasnt being suchs AHOLES I might have bought those older CD's, but since there suing everybody. F*** um. If they want to sell more music they need to stop suing people and start selling music that isnt just aimed for top 40, becuase the non top 40 audeince will not not buy it you can call it rock and you can call it rap all you want that wont make someone run out and buy the CD, it dont work that way I 'd hate to break it to you guys

IndieWarrior.... If you look at CD sales, when Napster was FIRST in its heyday, BEFORE Metallica started crybabying about how Napster was STEALING from them, Music and CD sales was on the RISE!

I loved this article, and some of the points about it. I believe music is DEAD, in the sense metioned, that music has lost its spirit. To me, one of the killing factors IS the realization that artists are only in it to make a buck. We learned that as a result of the closure of Napster. Had Napster never been closed, I think we'd find that the music would be alive and well.

This has left such a sour taste in my mouth, I'm finding it easy NOT to buy music. And, quite frankly, I'm a fanatic. I have collected tunes for 25 years. Now I feel my collection is complete. Thinking of buying anything from Metallica makes me want to HYPER vomit.

Only after the RIAA is gone or leveled somewhat will we see the Music come alive. And the independent muscian will be the one to resurrect it.

i havent purchased music in awhile( not because of peer to peer either RIAA jackasses) and its because it generally sucks. the music i listen to mainly is 60s
70s 80s and some 90s(early at that). maybe its from playing in the band in highschool but im used to music that has progressions and changes somewhat but the music that is played now is as monotonous as watching paint dry

sorry i would rather watch paint dry

I like a lot of 70's classic rock and some 80's. The early 90's was good, later in the 90s the music was there it was just a little harder to find, now its just plain impossible to find any new music that is good. theres like 7 rock radio stations where I live and later in the 90's most of them were playing crap while 1 or 2 was playing stuff that wasnt as poplular. today one is still good but a lot of the stuff they play is from the 90's. I think I was just lucky to live in a place where I can hear decent stuff on the radio

Ghosthouse- I am totally with you.

The spirit of music is not dead. It's just underground.

House music forever!

I still dont think van halen and fleetwood mac are good, and its not cause their old, I like most the bands on your list and velvet underground.

"I am a 40 year old mom of 4 grown kids, and I out rock them like I never thought I would. I thought they would out rock me (like I did my parents), but my kids have had all of todays shit shoveled in their faces and heads, and I lost them somewhere in time. It really makes me sad knowing they fell into the record company's web of shit they call music. "

I like Emeraude... lol

Firstly, I was a clean slate when Napster came around. I didn't like a lot of rap, rock, or anything else. I was a gamer. So I d'led game music. Napster opened my eyes to a world outside of games. The things I knew of in terms of artists were rappers, who I felt didn't represent an entire race when all they talked about were babes, boobs, and bitches. Tupac was huge but I wasn't "feeling" him when all he wanted to talk about was bangin' someone else's wife.

I learned that I liked Nirvana quite some time ago from Napster with a friend. I learned that techno could be good in small doses with Captain Jack.

When Napster went down, I stopped listening for quite some time.

How long has it been... 4-5 years, right? I just recently bought music. The music that I've bought was Eminem, Evanescence, Rammstein, Andrew WK, and Outkast. A healthy mix for the past 5 years. Out of those I listen to Evanescence and Rammstein the most. WK is just mind numbiing...
Eminem doesn't support P2P so I won't be supporting him for his next album. Nor his "proteges" 50 Cent, Obie Trice, or D12. And Outkast fell into the same group as other rappers with their "Stankonia" CD. Nothing there to really like except BOB in my opinion...

So is the spirit of music dead? With groups like Linkin Park and Evanescence diversifying it I would say no. But I haven't watched TV in a long time. Particularly MTV when all they show are shows like Real World instead of music. Ironic, they call themselves a music show but nothing is played on their tubes but garbage now...

I'm glad for the diversifying of radio. i'm glad a lot of managers in the music industry are playing music based on the downloading habits of Kazaa (they won't say it in interviews though...) so new bands in an area are getting a better shot. But what I'm not glad about is when people want to force my money to go somewhere by making their product the only one on the market.

Where's the jazz on the major networks? The modest women that hate to strip for the big budget camera? Who says that damn near having sex on camera is what all of us that "watch" TV is what we want? What I'd like is to see more music hybrids come up. The sax with a guitar and bass drum. More artists from different areas of the world (not just this country) coming to America and not having to worry about ticker tape. Seeing Jigoku Kuruma (Hell's Car in JPN) next to Linkin Park in the ATL would really make my day.

but alas...

That day hasn't come yet.

Okay... I'm done ranting...

Texas World Jam, 1979, Cotton Bowl, and the Eagles did "Hotel California". You had to have been there to really appreciate "old". If not, you have no concept.

Remember "the day the music died"? Listen to some of the stuff from the 50's (I still do...it rocks). When rock was born...a passing fad, they said. Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, early Elvis (not the Hollywood pretty boy; I mean "Big Hunk o' Love" Elvis). Then came the Beatles, the Animals, Hendrix, the Doors, and of course, the Stones. Passing fad, my @ss. Foghat, Ted Nugent (not good? You never saw him live then.) ZZ Top. Aerosmith (in San Antone last weekend...still rockin'.) Stevie Ray (RIP, brother) and Jimmie Vaughan (Fablulous Thunderbirds, anyone?). And if you really wanna get old...BB King, Muddy Waters, Albert Collins, and a hundred other old dead bluesmen who made a helluva lotta rock tunes possible (ever heard Led Zeppelin's "You Shook Me"?).

Each of us has our own taste in music. It'll never get back the power and feeling it had back then, I think, but don't "discount" the old stuff until something better comes along. Just because it's "new" doesn't make it any better.

"The RIAA have become pushers of sex, depravity "

Stay focused! Whether sex and depravity is right or wrong is a subject wholly irrelevant to copyright reform.

Push your puritanical agenda elsewhere.

Ahem....I remember hearing of tales of what used to be called the 'Artist's struggle'.......

If you 're a true artist, you do it because that's what you feel your purpose..justify your self-worth. Howard Roark anyone?

**Push your puritanical agenda elsewhere.**

In the early 80’s the Christian and parents groups were on a crusade to ban Rock & Roll on the basis that it was all sex, depravity and Satanism. They made ridiculous claims like if you played “Stairway To Heaven” backwards you’d hear the words “My sweet Satin,” and Ozzy Osborne was taken to trail for assisted suicide because of an anti-drug song.

Along side the RIAA music fans fought tooth and nail to fight that kind of stupidly and keep it from destroying the art form. The result of that controversy was the Parental Advisory sticker, and we thought this a victory. At the time how could we have imagined that the RIAA labels would use the Parental Advisory sticker as a license to create the most profane and offensive music ever written and market it directly to children?

I am anything but a “Puritan.” The people accusing the music industry of being unwarrantedly focused on sex and depravity now are the very same people who defended it from those charges before. Our feeling is that a few four letter words in a Pink Floyd album for the purpose of artistically expressing an idea is a right to be protected. But a song that is nothing but a continual succession of bleeps when censored is not art, it is profanity for its own sake and should be sold behind the counter with the same restrictions as the porn magazines.

When I turn on VH1 and see homosexuals French kissing to a song by a children’s pop idol, I know this is not happening for artistic reasons. It’s there purely for shock value and to cause a sexual reaction in young viewers that will give them a positive reaction to the song and encourage them to buy the CD.

There is no way these complaints can be compared to the puritanical BS of decades past. These are the music fans themselves who are saying it’s gone too far for no good reason.

This is one of the reasons why music is dead in America. We do not have real musicians and artists in our childrens’ lives. We have sellers of sex and profanity. That is not what music was. Music was a positive force that flowed freely through the air 24 hours a day filling our lives with joy and marking each special day of our lives with sounds that made those memories permanent. Music inspired us to be better human beings. When the world went wrong music inspired us to believe we had the power to make it right again. Today, what passes for music inundates our lives with ugliness. It depresses us and leaves our children devoid of hope. It corrupts instead of offering a cultural enhancement. It is not art, it’s prefabricated corporate propaganda.

This is all that now emanates from the great tree that once was American Popular Music. A tree that lived for over 100 years, and in that time stretched its branched across the world and dropped its seeds in every free country on the planet where those seeds now flourish and continue to brighten life around them, while America huddles under a cloud of poison darkness emanating from the rotted remains of its own poisoned tree.

Meanwhile, in the shadow of the dying tree there stands a small sapling called Indie. It is a frail child bearing all the promise of the parent tree, but at present it has not the skill or power to restore what has been lost. It has much to learn and a great struggle for life and self-identity ahead of it. The powers that be who poisoned the original tree already have their eye on that sapling and will destroy it if they can, or attempt to infect it if they can not.

There is only one way to save the hope for music to live again. We must hack down what remains of the great tree, with the worn that is the RIAA still trapped with it. We must hack it to pieces and burn it to dust.

I always thought I was the only one who thought music today was total crap. I even had a discussion with my friend who denied that music today was sh*ttier than the music of yesteryear. Now, from reading this article, I truly believe my original theory. It makes me almost want to cry because there's not much if anything out there to listen to. A few years ago I could go to the MTV UK website and find really cool bands off their charts. When I look at those charts now, they're the same as stupid a$$ MTV here in the states. MTV UK is now moving at the same speed as MTV here. It used to be so that MTV UK knew everything that was coming out before we did. Now there's nothing new, nothing good and it leaves me so depressed.

Even listening to indie music, I honestly don't even think it's that good. The only indie band I've heard that was pretty good was the Shins.

Otaku-of-Tom...my friend, you continue to say it so well.

I am a mature woman with two daughters in college. They listen to some of today's music, but they also are very familiar with the best of the best. They know who Jimmie Page is. They can identify most Hendrix tunes. They are proud that their mother saw the Beatles in concert. But I think they would not agree that music is dead. I have to laugh when I hear...hey mom...could ya turn that down a bit?

I see alot of you people basically putting today's music down like it is all a load of garbage. Mostly the older people. I'd like to point out that you people did that to your parent's music as well. There are some good artists that you can connect with out there today. I, for one, was a huge fan of Smashing Pumpkins until they disbanded. Moby is an amazing artist that creates music from his soul. KoRn is, whether you'd like to beleive it or not, quite awesome. And i was blown away when i downloaded System of a Down MP3s (and subsequently bought two of their CDs). Just remember, just because you don't like it, doesn't make it bad. Good music comes from inside, not from a commity. I agree there is alot of horrible wrestched music out there today. I'd just appreciate if all you old people could stop acting like your parents did 20-30 years ago. It gets grating.

As far as the article as is, it is a very good analogy. However, music tends to go through a death phase every 10 to 12 years. It generally recovers after a few years (2-5). Just remember that between the period of 1959 and 1961, people said rock was dead. Then again they said it between 1970 and 1972. Then again between 1978 and 1981. It died for a bit between 1990 and 1993. Consider this death phase to have started about 2000, and who knows when it will end, especially with the RIAAs stupid tactics. They've certainly lost me as a buying customer.

Over a quarter of a century ago, my father was dead set against rock music. Then one day he heard "Karn Evil 9" coming through the wall and rushed in saying, "What is that? It's fantastic."

Today he is the 80 year old man cheering the loudest at ELP and Pink Floyd concerts. And he was the one who looked the most depressed when Freddie Mercury's death was announced.

I'm as open minded as any. There is virtually no kind of music from any age that I don't like something from.

Sure there are good artists surviving today. Smashing Pumpkins and Moby are not new artists. But if you were not there in the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's you probably have no way of understanding how the atmosphere has changed. And sadly, there really is no way to demonstrate this. Just playing old records won't do it. "That 70's Show" sure as heck won't do it. I guess you have to have been there to understand there was a time when music was as essential a part of life as breathing, and when there was still some sense of innocence and optimism to it all.

I am still surprised every time I see Bootsy Collins on the E Entertainment commercial and I think, “My God, he’s still smiling” How long has it been since you saw a new black artist whose trademark was a big smile?

Gee...I never put down my dad's music. In fact, I still listen to Jim Reeves, Hank Thompson, Eddie Arnold, et al (most I bet you "young people" never heard of). I appreciate GOOD music. I listen to a lot of alternative (101.5 in Austin, ya'll) and like it. But you hafta admit...there's a lot of cr@p being put out today...just like it was yesterday. Starland Vocal Band, for one. eeeeewwwwwwwww.......

oldfart, thanks for telling me. I had no idea who wrote that.
Ozzy Osbourne now here is an artist. And he' said he's going indie for his next album.

Marylyn Manson, weird, but I like weird. And I wouldn't have noticed him w/o p2p.

Otaku-Of-Tom


Mostly OT :
Yep, you had to be there. But...
Maybe what you're feeling is the general overall feeling of a loss of optimism in the world in general, and in this country in particular. It’s a long way from the days of Perry Como, The Beach Boys, etc., etc., to today’s headlines. I think some current music reflects this outlook. It has always been so, and always will be.

Music, like love, must be free and totally uncontrolled to survive and grow.
Trying to analyze either one, rather than just enjoying the experience, kills it deader than a slow armadillo in the middle of a dark country road.
My humble opinion, after 50 years of listening to, enjoying, and sometimes playing all kinds of music, is that if it is good for you, then listen. If it doesn't reach down into your gut and grab you, then just change the dial. Life is too short to do otherwise.

More OT :
I have been a watcher of the female form since I first realized there was a difference. I like bare skin as much as, or maybe even more than, the next guy. Having said that; sleazy-ness, which for me is tattoos on a woman, multiple piercings in places that were never meant to be punctured with non-living things, smoking, rude behavior (I know that is in the eye of the beholder, so sue me. No, wait...), etc. is just a turn-off.
I stopped watching mtv when a lot of the female artists starting looking and acting worse than over-the-hill prostitutes (I believe prostitution should be legalized, I just don't want to patronize it, myself).
A good looking woman, not a trashy looking one, turns me on. But, as I have said before, the music is the important thing. It is just hard to listen to any of Madonna's songs any more, just wondering where that tongue has been lately... p

Back On Topic :
Let’s continue to boycott the obsolete riaa, until they are history. Only then can all of the music live and be free again, for everybody.

Just some more unfocused, time and bandwith-wasting ramblings from a just slightly puritanical old hippy.

The Kid

there's a lot of cr@p being put out today...just like it was yesterday. Starland Vocal Band, for one. eeeeewwwwwwwww.......


awww....i liked afternoon delight

I have to agree with you Otaku. It's been a while, but I've said the same thing in a few other forums.
Music is dead. Not MUSIC, just the modern bubble gum pablum that the RIAA is trying to force down the throats of an ever shrinking consumer base. I'd LOVE to have an lp that did, as someone earlier suggested, leads me from one song to the next.
I think a few people took you too literally. Annihilated: Read the subtext. Music isn't dead. The way it's distributed is. I'm sure that if Hendirx, or even *gasp* joplin were still around, they'd be putting out some pretty heavy shit.
However.. we've been feeding this cash cow for a few decades, and now that it's about to be slaughtered, it's decided to put up a fight.
I say: Down with the RIAA. Let's put music back in the control of the ARTISTS. What's happened is someone who wants to succeed very often can't because the RIaMaffiA has all the avenues of distribution and production tied up. If we can get rid of the current regime (despot that it is) and bring about a change to reflect CURRENT styles/offerings/desires.. we could actually say Music didn't die, it was just on life support. Until that day, I'll have to agree and say...
Corporate Music is dead. Long live Indie Rock!
ttmmm