I think it’s moreso the effect of big music labels figuring out how to make music with the broadest possible appeal. Clearly it worked, because these songs do really well statistically, but the result is songs with the blandest possible personality
Man, I can’t remember the title, but whatever that Ed Sheeran song that exploded in like, 2018 or something? That was so bland and boring. I was baffled at how popular it was.
Also, how the hell did the Chainsmokers hit it big? Every single song is the same, monotonous “melody”. I don’t get how anyone listens to them without going mad.
It isn’t radio though because hardly anyone listens to the radio anymore. It’s probably because there is a practically small amount of radio listening that people have started grabbing onto anything that sounds basic and easily digestible. The less they’re challenged, the better they feel about it.
I feel like someone (radio, record labels, etc) is dictating what is easily available to the public and it usually isn’t good, it’s formula stupidity or old music. Old music is usually better music, but I personally can’t listen to most of it anymore.
“Old music is usually better music” is survivorship bias. I’m not saying you’re wrong but this is something we should have in mind when debating music in general.
I’m going to somewhat disagree, at least in principle. In the past three years I have heard so much good new music, music made in the last five to ten years, or even music made the year I heard it, that I think it’s out there. It’s just much more difficult to latch onto. There’s so much new stuff that’s just palatable, there’s a lot more access to music making gear and equipment that just about anyone can release an album now.
Popular music is mostly dictated by the law of supply and demand, if an artist is easily marketable then a record label is going to invest. Most streaming platforms are designed to spotlight up and coming artists (most marketable artists), or those artists who already have massive fanbases (market stalwarts). This wasn’t any different 50 years ago, but 50 years ago there was a higher standard for what music got to be released. There was also a much higher bar to entry for recording studio-quality music.
There is so much music being created right now, that there is simultaneously more good music and bad music than in the older days.
Radio hasn’t been a metric since like 2010. The indie scene is where it is at and it has never been bigger. Plenty of bands making classic rock music if you are into that.
Yeah, it’s not that music has gotten worse, it’s that radio has gone squarely down the shitter since basically every station is owned by like 2 companies now.
I blame radio. They only shovel garbage into your ears and shit you’ve heard a thousand times.
I think it’s moreso the effect of big music labels figuring out how to make music with the broadest possible appeal. Clearly it worked, because these songs do really well statistically, but the result is songs with the blandest possible personality
Man, I can’t remember the title, but whatever that Ed Sheeran song that exploded in like, 2018 or something? That was so bland and boring. I was baffled at how popular it was.
Also, how the hell did the Chainsmokers hit it big? Every single song is the same, monotonous “melody”. I don’t get how anyone listens to them without going mad.
Hard agree lol
People fall in love in mysteEeEeEeeErious waaays
It isn’t radio though because hardly anyone listens to the radio anymore. It’s probably because there is a practically small amount of radio listening that people have started grabbing onto anything that sounds basic and easily digestible. The less they’re challenged, the better they feel about it.
I feel like someone (radio, record labels, etc) is dictating what is easily available to the public and it usually isn’t good, it’s formula stupidity or old music. Old music is usually better music, but I personally can’t listen to most of it anymore.
“Old music is usually better music” is survivorship bias. I’m not saying you’re wrong but this is something we should have in mind when debating music in general.
I’m going to somewhat disagree, at least in principle. In the past three years I have heard so much good new music, music made in the last five to ten years, or even music made the year I heard it, that I think it’s out there. It’s just much more difficult to latch onto. There’s so much new stuff that’s just palatable, there’s a lot more access to music making gear and equipment that just about anyone can release an album now.
Popular music is mostly dictated by the law of supply and demand, if an artist is easily marketable then a record label is going to invest. Most streaming platforms are designed to spotlight up and coming artists (most marketable artists), or those artists who already have massive fanbases (market stalwarts). This wasn’t any different 50 years ago, but 50 years ago there was a higher standard for what music got to be released. There was also a much higher bar to entry for recording studio-quality music.
There is so much music being created right now, that there is simultaneously more good music and bad music than in the older days.
Radio hasn’t been a metric since like 2010. The indie scene is where it is at and it has never been bigger. Plenty of bands making classic rock music if you are into that.
Yeah, it’s not that music has gotten worse, it’s that radio has gone squarely down the shitter since basically every station is owned by like 2 companies now.
Not radio in general, but Clearchannel.