I don't know how many of you have been listening to the radio lately (I haven't), but it seems as though if the Billboard Hot 100 isn't being dominated by some second rate rapper, then it's being dominated by some EDM DJ featuring some current chart-topping or Europop singer.











And the songs themselves are formulaic too. Pen some bubblegum lyrics with soft music, build to a rising tempo and beat, and then blast the listener with weird electronic sounds and repeat. The DJ's behind these are rarely if ever seen in the videos, and the singers are featured in accordance with their popularity with the more popular singers being prominently featured in the video while the lesser known singers may make a brief appearance if featured at all; otherwise, just show a bunch of sexy supermodels or feature a lot of dancers.

What do you think is the big deal with this? And why are these so popular?

Its a cop out of an easy fix and its a shame because some of the electronic music out there is really neat and innovative, this shit overshadows it and often the talent loses out to the imitation. Or the talent caves and works with the imitation, losing some of their edge or underground cred. Producer BT is a prime example of the long-form as he came up relatively under the radar in the early/mid 90s working with folks like Sasha or Uberzone, hit big and produced Britney and Nsync at the turn of the century, then went back into relative obscurity staying away from pop but the much like the North in Game of Thrones, the underground remembers. Calvin Harris entire discography is almost satire/parody as his intention was clearly stardom from the silly yet clever "I Created Disco" to that horrible self indulgent shit he makes now that gets played on the radio nowadays.

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As Madhatter implied bands have been made "obsolete" as computers can replicate and expand on that sound into something more chaotic sounding, louder (ex pervasive bass), and generally distracting in its self-imposed "complexity" (example the new, popular sound of hi-hat that sounds like a helicopter - it sounds complex but when you focus on it there is nothing to it. just a repetitive spinning sound, cheap fake Timbaland-esque sound) Now everyone who hits a button or goes "uh" or pings a triangle can get a writers credit and/or a "featuring". Some songs are literally showcases for "the drop" and meant to be mixed/utilized for about 30 seconds to a minute within an often computer based "DJ set", which is why they are made to sound so interchangeable.

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Of course labels and capitalistic production teams will emphasize in secret that its so much cheaper to make music using computers and following established dance music formulas that have "worked" for decades now. 1 dude on a keyboard for the whole sound is cheaper than training and assembling an ensemble of talented human beings to generate a tune together. And provides more of a cut for that 1 dude and his team of assistant computer whizzes. Its the chicken mcnuggets of today's McDonalds music scene, it tastes good then it hits your stomach and you realize its mainly processed corn and the more unsavory, leftover meat that is expected. Then it takes a day or so to recover.

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One thing it does do, at least for me, is provide a cheap thrill that makes me long for improvisation, rhythm, harmony, and creativity which makes the good ish into a refuge from the nonsense.

I haven't listened to pop radio for at least 20 years, but the snippets of pop songs I've heard are derivative of the techno-pop sounds I heard at nightclubs in the 90's, and mainstream R&B hasn't moved past the "hit-pop" sounds of the 00's that much.

MotownSubdivision said:

It's been this way since 2009-2010. Lady Gaga is partially to blame for it.

Since 2008 with BEP and their hit "I Got the Feelin".

StrangeButTrue said:

Its a cop out of an easy fix and its a shame because some of the electronic music out there is really neat and innovative, this shit overshadows it and often the talent loses out to the imitation. Or the talent caves and works with the imitation, losing some of their edge or underground cred. Producer BT is a prime example of the long-form as he came up relatively under the radar in the early/mid 90s working with folks like Sasha or Uberzone, hit big and produced Britney and Nsync at the turn of the century, then went back into relative obscurity staying away from pop but the much like the North in Game of Thrones, the underground remembers. Calvin Harris entire discography is almost satire/parody as his intention was clearly stardom from the silly yet clever "I Created Disco" to that horrible self indulgent shit he makes now that gets played on the radio nowadays.

.

As Madhatter implied bands have been made "obsolete" as computers can replicate and expand on that sound into something more chaotic sounding, louder (ex pervasive bass), and generally distracting in its self-imposed "complexity" (example the new, popular sound of hi-hat that sounds like a helicopter - it sounds complex but when you focus on it there is nothing to it. just a repetitive spinning sound, cheap fake Timbaland-esque sound) Now everyone who hits a button or goes "uh" or pings a triangle can get a writers credit and/or a "featuring". Some songs are literally showcases for "the drop" and meant to be mixed/utilized for about 30 seconds to a minute within an often computer based "DJ set", which is why they are made to sound so interchangeable.

.

Of course labels and capitalistic production teams will emphasize in secret that its so much cheaper to make music using computers and following established dance music formulas that have "worked" for decades now. 1 dude on a keyboard for the whole sound is cheaper than training and assembling an ensemble of talented human beings to generate a tune together. And provides more of a cut for that 1 dude and his team of assistant computer whizzes. Its the chicken mcnuggets of today's McDonalds music scene, it tastes good then it hits your stomach and you realize its mainly processed corn and the more unsavory, leftover meat that is expected. Then it takes a day or so to recover.

.

One thing it does do, at least for me, is provide a cheap thrill that makes me long for improvisation, rhythm, harmony, and creativity which makes the good ish into a refuge from the nonsense.

I tend to agree with everything you've said. I'm a multikeyboardist and when my band plays some of this music, i'm usually providing most of the sounds. I DON'T sequence and I revel in being able to play it live , however, the guitarist usually has nothing to contribute. I love it but as the saying goes what comes around goes around. I like Chainsmokers, Calvin Harris, Skrilix, etc. because i can showcase my skills!