Bad Times - Good Music

[The Gardener]

I was thinking.... do bad economic times bring out the best works of artists? I was reminiscing about oldies music, and it seems to me that some of the most prolific periods of GREAT music occurred during economically challenging times. The 60s, then the 80s... great music. Then after that it just seems to stink. Well, that is NOT to say that there hasn't been great music out since the 80s, but it just seems like there aren't as many great bands, they are more few and far between, wheras back in the 60s and 80s there was an avalanche of great bands all creating great music at the same time.

I mean, even the radio today, it seems like there isn't enough quality music for a commercial station to ONLY play new and contemporary music. They, seemingly, are forced to mix in LOTS of 70s and 80s stuff with the current stuff in order to prevent repetition and fill the airtime... and even while they do this, radio STILL seems repetitive. That was NOT the case in the 80s, the radio waves carried fresh contemporary content, and it was usually really good quality stuff.

 

[Smoky Vertigo]

That is a good question. I don't know if there is a correlation between economic downturns and the quality of music however it would be an interesting study. However, it is a known fact that a plethora of new innovation/new technologies arise during recessions and wars so maybe that applies to music as well. I just read an article stating that during recessions many laid off workers become entrepreneurs and break out and form their own companies. Once you have lost everything you are free to do anything!

Regarding the music on the radio, Clear Channel Broadcasting has ruined a lot of music in America. It has become generic and corporate. If you want to listen to innovative music I suggest satellite radio. My favorite new webfind is www.pandora.com. internet radio. You can create your own radio station based upon a specific band, song or genera all for free. There is also an I-Phone app. I highly recommend it.

A little know fact about the mainstream recording industry is that there are a handful of producers and songwriters that create/mix most new music. Basically, there are only a few top notch Rock Producers, Alternative Producers, Hip Hop Producers, R&B Producers, Pop Producers etc... This is one reason most music sounds the same. The Rock Producer creates new rock music for each "new band" that comes to him/her.

 

[luke 21:18]

Damn good point Vertigo, can't stand the MTV popular radio junk, just sucks that my wife loves it, but i'm with you on that pandora site its a good one. There's so much good music out there and the mainstream just keeps putting out the same damn thing year after year uke: