In my books, music is a recipe that involves three essential ingredients, in no specific order: talent, hard work and creativity. What makes every artist different is the variation in amounts. Some are more talented, some are more hardworking and some are more creative.
Most people are aware that this generation’s music sales are declining, but not many know the actual cause. It is safe to assume that the public is buying less because of the recession, or maybe that so many people continue to download music illegally through LimeWire and other music sharing methods. How about this: today’s music sucks.
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) encompasses a booming 72 countries and represents the worldwide range of recording industries. The 2008 statistics show an impressive increase in online, mobile and live concert music sales. However, the overall sales percentage is still negative as a result of the dramatic decrease in physical sales. (1)
Artists must balance their love for playing music with their capability to continue playing it, which sometimes involves attracting the public to become more and more successful. The music industry has slowly been transforming artists, pushing them over the fence to try new things and create trendy music rather than encouraging them to do what they do best. Teenagers are a big part of music sales and to attract them it is necessary to create something out of the ordinary, go out of line. As years have gone by, the music industry has sunk so low, commercializing music about sex, violence, death, drugs, etc. In my opinion, these topics are conditionally acceptable, but they have spread to many genres and are definitely present more often than ever before.
According to Stats Canada, the global number of music releases has drastically decreased within the past decade, especially with Canadian artists. One genre—the most commercialized by far—has kept stable production rates: popular music, or 'pop'. (2)
Local and lower-budget artists seem to be a great source for pure music, still having a unique style. These growing groups must prepare to neglect the up-and-coming pressure to accommodate to the teen public’s desires. Unfortunately, not many are able to do this. Everyone thinks about the money.
There is no obvious solution to end this vicious cycle. All one can do is hope the generations to come are influenced differently.
SOURCES:
(1) http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/Recorded-Music-Sales-2008.pdf
(2) http://www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/arts29-eng.htm
