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I was reading the Onion's A/V Club website this morning about the state of the music business today and MTV's role in the promotion and current downslide and came across this quote."Back in the mid-'80s, MTV made every kid beg their parents to drive them to the mall and buy Purple Rain. Today, that same kid can go online and, within about 15 minutes, download a .zip file of every Prince song ever made. It takes no effort, and what's really gained? A bunch of songs that kid will probably never listen to? Who said this music stuff was cool, anyway?"
Here's the whole article
It's an interesting point of view, and one I tend to agree with. It's almost as if there is too much music instantly available (specifically via the internet). When you had to beg your parents to drive you to the mall, (or in my case catch a ride with your friends and hide whatever purchase you made from your parents) it heightened the value of the music. You devoured the tape from top to bottom, read the lyrics, all the liner notes, the pictures, then flipped back to side A and listened again. That process was repeated until the next album came along.
I'm not saying its a delivery/distribution issue, mp3's are fantastic, and I have embraced them fully. What I think is missing is the giant filter that MTV provided.
They had a finite number of hours to program with new, relevant music, and an even smaller amount of hours to actually connect with the right audience. Clearly, there needs to be some new institution that steps in to replace what MTV once provided, and even more clear is that it will be a website.
I think we need a website that is severely frugal in its' offerings. One that doesn't celebrate the debauchery of a ridiculous amount of choice. Sounds a little ridiculous I realize, but think about it...here's the band of the week, their new CD and a link to their online home. See you next week when we'll have something new for you.
If American pop culture purveyors appreciate and respond to one thing it's simplicity.
 | Currently listening:
Either/Or
By Elliott Smith
Release date: 25 February, 1997 |
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1:22 PM
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