I'm young. I noticed that the music back then is way better than how it sounds now. Certain artist that are being put on a pedistal, actually suck. The real good artist aren't being paid the respect they deserve, and I hate that with a passion. The songs played on the radio, are songs that aren't going to be remember in the next two years. I'll never understand the music industry, I guess. I don't get it!

[Edited 7/2/10 14:48pm]

[Edited 7/2/10 14:55pm]

Welcome Giselle. We generally have these type of discussions

here all the time. All of the new artists don't suck but the majority

does. We had proof of that sunday night at the B.E.T awards when

Trey Songz was on stage. It's rare to see people in your age group

that feels the way you do about the current state of music.

Just curious. How did you feel about Trey Songz performance or lack

thereof Sunday night?

phunkdaddy said:

Welcome Giselle. We generally have these type of discussions

here all the time. All of the new artists don't suck but the majority

does. We had proof of that sunday night at the B.E.T awards when

Trey Songz was on stage. It's rare to see people in your age group

that feels the way you do about the current state of music.

Just curious. How did you feel about Trey Songz performance or lack

thereof Sunday night?

To me Trey Songz sings like a goat, but I like the way he carries himself.

Giselle said:

I'm young. I noticed that the music back then is way better than how it sounds now. Certain artist that are being put on a pedistal, actually suck. The real good artist aren't being paid the respect they deserve, and I hate that with a passion. The songs played on the radio, are songs that aren't going to be remember in the next two years. I'll never understand the music industry, I guess. I don't get it!

[Edited 7/2/10 14:48pm]

[Edited 7/2/10 14:55pm]

I think this is really a matter of opinion.

There are good and bad artists out there as there always has been.

One persons trash, is another persons treasure.

I am not sure about the respect aspect of your comment, Prince just received a lifetime acievement award, and no matter what we may think of the artists chosen to pay tribute to him, it shows that he, at least is being respected and appreciated.

I do agree however, that more artists deserve more respect and recognition.

As far as radio is concerned, i also think that there are many songs out there that will be remembered in the next two (and more) years.

Good or bad, i am just happy to be fortunate enough to live in an age where there is such a huge choice of music to listen to.

You might be young, but you've come to the right party.

I don't believe music holds nearly as significant and special a place in our culture as it did in decades gone by. While at the same time the culture as a whole was going through a tremendous upheaval.

That's a pretty unbeatable combination. A culture that values music more combined with a period of far greater enlightenment about ourselves and each other.

Since this is no longer the case on the same epic level, I think the music industry for 15-20 years has been desperately -- sometimes laughably -- trying to find ways to make money in this ever-shrinking market. That mostly means exploiting the worst of humanity even more than before for the purpose of short-term gain.

But it's obviously a very complex subject.

Even if, for example, radio and records were in better shape than at any point in human history, there'd still be a large contingent of folks who had simply lost the passion for something other than what they had already fallen for in their formative years when more time and openness might have afforded better appreciation.

MikeyB71 said:

Giselle said:

I'm young. I noticed that the music back then is way better than how it sounds now. Certain artist that are being put on a pedistal, actually suck. The real good artist aren't being paid the respect they deserve, and I hate that with a passion. The songs played on the radio, are songs that aren't going to be remember in the next two years. I'll never understand the music industry, I guess. I don't get it!

[Edited 7/2/10 14:48pm]

[Edited 7/2/10 14:55pm]

I think this is really a matter of opinion.

There are good and bad artists out there as there always has been.

One persons trash, is another persons treasure.

I am not sure about the respect aspect of your comment, Prince just received a lifetime acievement award, and no matter what we may think of the artists chosen to pay tribute to him, it shows that he, at least is being respected and appreciated.

I do agree however, that more artists deserve more respect and recognition.

As far as radio is concerned, i also think that there are many songs out there that will be remembered in the next two (and more) years.

Good or bad, i am just happy to be fortunate enough to live in an age where there is such a huge choice of music to listen to.

Sorry for not being specific, but I did say "certain", and I'm just going to leave it at that. I understand what you are saying and respect it

Brendan said:

You might be young, but you've come to the right party.

I don't believe music holds nearly as significant and special a place in our culture as it did in decades gone by. While at the same time the culture as a whole was going through a tremendous upheaval.

That's a pretty unbeatable combination. A culture that values music more combined with a period of far greater enlightenment about ourselves and each other.

Since this is no longer the case on the same epic level, I think the music industry for 15-20 years has been desperately -- sometimes laughably -- trying to find ways to make money in this ever-shrinking market. That mostly means exploiting the worst of humanity even more than before for the purpose of short-term gain.

But it's obviously a very complex subject.

Even if, for example, radio and records were in better shape than at any point in human history, there'd still be a large contingent of folks who had simply lost the passion for something other than what they had already fallen for in their formative years when more time and openness might have afforded better appreciation.

You said everything I couldn't put in words, thank you.

Giselle, I used to feel the same way as you do, not only in music but in films too.

I noticed that the indie scene for both worlds hold alot of promise though, mainly because they're in less pressure from some record label CEO to generate sales as the main objective and therefore they feel more free to tackle different artistic grounds.

But its a shame that some of us miss out on it just because we feel jaded by what the mainstream media spoon feed to us.

[Edited 7/2/10 15:57pm]

Harlepolis said:

Giselle, I used to feel the same way as you do, not only in music but in films too.

I noticed that the indie scene for both worlds hold alot of promise though, mainly because they're in less pressure from some record label CEO to generate sales as the main objective and therefore they feel more free to tackle different artistic grounds.

But its a shame that some of us miss out on it just because we feel jaded by what the mainstream media spoon feed to us.

[Edited 7/2/10 15:57pm]

Yes indeed. I also feel that it has to do with image as well, more than it is about creating meaningful music that actually reaches out to people.

Giselle, the nightmare started right after 1993.

Think about it. Before 1994, there were so many different types of hip-hop/rap to choose from. Club Dance was still popular (especially latin freestyle, chicago house, hip-house, & detriot techno). MTV & BET were still showing videos, as well as The Box (Jukebox Network) when that company was around.

The moment that all major record label executives started to focus more on the genre that were generating the most money (gangsta rap, grunge rock) and just down right abandon the needs of the other genres that were popular on FM radio, THAT was the beginning of the end.

And to make matters worse in hip-hop/rap, too many hio-hop producers/beatmakers were copying Dr. Dre's idea of making music at a downtempo of 95 BPM. It was one thing to do it for rappers. But then producer Sean Combs started to take the downtempo idea to singers (READ: Mary J. Blige) as well, hence the tragic death of r&b/soul and the uprise of hip-hop/r&b.

not sure how I feel about this issue. 99% of the music I love comes from the 80s. But I'm sure folks in the 80s were saying the same thing, that the music in previous generations was better etc.