I need some responses and feedback to this one! I’m doing this for discussion, not just to get my thoughts out!

I was thinking back to what Bob Lefsetz said to me as a response to an email I sent him…you can see what I’m talking about in my first entry below. But just as a bit of review I was asking him why he thinks music isn’t leaving the same “mark” today as compared to yesterday. He didn’t respond with much but one thing that stuck out was this:

“Music doesn’t drive the culture!”

I took some time to think about this and I think I have formed somewhat of a response to it. First off, I agree with it. I think the culture is driving the music these days. I think with all the new developments in making music available to people, music has been riding the coattails of modern day technology. And this dates back to the invention of the music video and more importantly MTV.

Before you jump down my throat, let me explain something. When the music video was invented, put onto MTV, put into the houses of most of America, it became a new way for bands to do things, but it was still the music that was in control. Sure a lot of artists began making videos to jump on the bandwagon but it was in its beginning stages. It was a really hip way of getting your music out there, and it wasn’t easy. Bands couldn’t make their own videos so they had to hire professionals, they had to put time and money into these things (although a lot of them were pretty cheap looking). So because it wasn’t an easy thing to do, it was still just a “plus” for a signed band. A “perk” if you will. You weren’t seeing videos of unsigned bands because MTV probably wouldn’t play them. And then the music video outlet grew rapidly.

It’s sad, but for me and pretty much all of my friends, we never got to be a part of music without videos. Bands were more of a mystery back then. Records were cool to own. Think about how significant Album art was then too. Sometimes it was your only way of seeing what a band looked like without going to a show. A lot of times you wouldn’t even get to see the band on the cover or inside the Jacket. Because of this, you were dying to go see a live show. These records sounded amazing and you needed to see who was behind them, you needed to be a part of this “scene,” this “culture.” I think I saw an interview with Jack Black once where he said something to the effect of “nobody knew what Pink Floyd looked like!”

Here comes the “don’t get me wrong” part.

I don’t hate videos. Believe me, I love seeing who is writing the music I listen to. Although I’m more of a “live” video kind of guy, I’m also not saying I’m against official videos. And I’m not placing all of the blame for this “culture” discussion on videos.

So now we are in the “present tense.” And music is available whereever you want it. It’s in video games, it’s in TV shows, commercials, everything. You couldn’t not know what a musician looks like if you tried. With Myspace and youTube, you have video and photos available and the sky is the limit!

Put aside the “video” thing for a little bit.

Now-a-days you can hear of an artist and have all of their albums in 3 hours time. No artwork, no CD label, just the songs. It’s way too easy! It’s funny when my friend Eric and I were in college and had just gotten Itunes and discovered “getTunes,” we were filling up our hard drives with songs. Then we’d be checking out each others playlists and a song would come on he and would say “what is this?” “It’s on your playlist dude…” It happened to me too. I’m sure it’s happened to you. It’s because music is so “accessible” that we have way too much of it then we can possibly fully appreciate.

So because of this, the “culture” is now digital. Any band can record any song and put it on any website for digital download. Any band can get a digital camera, or a digital video camera and have promos and movies up on 10 different, easily accessible websites. So because of this ease, music seems like its hitching a ride. The digital world driving the music.

So where is the excitement of going to the record store on Tuesday and picking up the latest Album of your favorite band? Where is the excitement of going to see your favorite band play because it’s the only other way you’ll hear from them other than their record? Sure going to shows is still exciting, but you don’t necessarily have to go to a live show. You can go on youTube and see how the band is live before spending the bucks, or making the trip.

This is why being a Pearl Jam fan was such a rush. Because they were barely on MTV, their website was a piece of shit for many years, and youTube wasn’t around. I saw Pearl Jam 12 times on one tour (and thats probably less than half of the amount my cousin saw that same tour). It was one of the coolest times in my life. Rolling up to Jones Beach or Penn State College, walking passed all the tailgaters in the parking lot (blasting PJ), waiting online to get in and see how close your seat is. Talking to people on line, discussing what other shows you saw them on this tour. Pick up a Tour Poster on the way out because they make a new poster for every show on tour. Talk about being a part of something. Of course things are a bit different now, they are trying to adapt to the changes just like everyone else.

I’m gonna try and wrap this up now. I know I may seem a little redundant with certain things I say but I like to think of it more as “re-hashing.”

So, as to not try and live in the past, because that never works, we need to adapt. But how do we get the music back to that driving that “culture?” Remember, we like what the internet and digital world is doing for the indie musician, and taking that away would only be trying to live in the past.

Any ideas?

Currently Listening to:

Making the Band 4 on TV