With an exhaustive list of genres of music, ranging from emo to disco, country and western, blues, rock and roll, heavy and ambient to name but a few one wonders how music can begin to sound the same. The obvious answer to this is that most music lovers only regularly listen to two or perhaps three genres of music.
Prior to the advent of the phonograph and radio people would listen exclusively to live music. This could be a neighbour playing an acoustic guitar or banjo, the local choir or a few friends having a singalong. Maybe even parts of all of the above. Irrespective, they were listening to live music without all of todays' glitz such as massive P.A. systems, screaming crowds, dazzling light shows and outrageous ticket sales. These small gatherings many years ago were simply part of life and no thought was given to the intimacy and 'realness' of hearing music performed live. There was also the option of not attending such gatherings.
As time and thus technology progressed people were able to listen to music on their phonograph or radio. A phonomenal advent at the time to think that one could listen to music that was not only from a different country but was also of a genre' that they had never heard before.
It was at this point, the point where people could choose which genre' of music that they could listen to, that musical commercialism in its' earliest form arose. Radio stations, record labels and record stores popped up left, right and centre as people sought out their favourite artist. This led to great anticipation of the next song to be made available by their artist of choice.
The next thing to occur was a flood of different artists and different genres of music from all over the world. Music has always been a global affair but it took technology to unite it. Again, this was an extremely exciting, creative and productive time for world music. In the grand scheme of things, however, it wasn't too long before music became a competition with every participant racing for the golden egg; namely money.
As music became more readily accessible this competition became rather vicious with lawyers and large corporations becoming involved. Large corporations and lawyers don't belong anywhere near music but the sad fact is that they have made themselves so.
When the internet began, the floodgates were open to all and sundry as people have access to so much music and are willing to pay through the teeth for it in droves. I view this 'syndrome' as the dumb leading the dumber. I am yet to fathom the necessity of a tiny device that can store more songs than can be listened to in a lifetime.
Music marketing became so 'in your face' and one-sided that it made me feel ill. It still does. Seeing the same names, images and song titles at every turn have numbed me to it all. Although my personal preference is rock and roll, I am in no way prejudicial to these ever present 'big names.' I have gone out of my way to listen to their material objectively and to be perfectly honest I think consumers are being roped in and robbed blind.
I have noticed, however, in very recent times music sites such as Nimbit which allow the artist to set their own price for downloads are increasing in 'searchability.' Despite Googles' latest venture in making artists searchable directly from their toolbar in conjunction with iLike I doubt very much that this will benefit independent musicians. I am uncertain as to how this will affect music sales and have discussed this topic in detail elsewhere.
Only this morning I received an email from ReverbNation saying that they had finally launched their much awaited webstore. On further investigation I noted that the software they are using is identical to that of Audiolife.
With the likes of Nimbit, Reverbnation and Audiolife making it possible for independent artists to make their material available for purchase with no up-front costs things are definitely looking more promising for grass roots independent musicians. Promotion and growing a loyal fanbase, leading to music sales can now be placed firmly in the hand of the artist as opposed to the invisible people who have had too much control for too long.
