Where is our industry headed?

[Philter]

Oh forward thinking minds, do you have any ideas/theories/predictions/drug-induced-visions of where we are headed in the music industry? I'm personally interested in topics about any part of the industry, including studio business, radio, internet, formats, musical styles... whatever affects you the most or is closest to your heart. Reasons I'm thinking about this lately- [list] [*]I'm just starting out as a small business owner in this here 2002- I've got a ProTools rig, some big studio experience, a decent ear, and a strong musical background. I'm doing OK so far finding artists to record and produce, but I'm worried about how long this will last- am I the wave of the future, or yesterday's news? [*]Can anyone truly be excited by the "new rock" "movement?" I saw [b]The White Stripes[/b] on SNL and I thought it was atrocious shit. Is that where pop music is headed? I don't understand or believe in that aesthetic so I can't imagine working towards it. Am I already old? [*] WTF is the deal with digital distribution? Where is the solution? How are artists going to earn a paycheck to pay for my services? How will it affect independent artists? Are the majors doomed? Or will we see even larger media conglomerates? [/list] I'm sure some of you have concerns and predictions along the same general topics. What do you think is going to happen? :confused:

[Anderton]

I think you're going to see more CD shelf space go over to DVDs, as well as more disposable income that used to go to CDs. Independent labels will do better than ever. Someone will actually come up with an internet music distribution model that's fresh and intelligent...and works. Arts programs will continue to get cut in schools, and fewer and fewer people will learn how to play musical instruments. Those who do will be very dedicated to their art.

[Philter]

Thanks Craig, that's actually a mostly positive outlook and I'm glad to hear it. It's a shame about music and arts in schools- these kids need more outlets to be creative.

[Wow]

Philter, We could go on for a long time with this one, good topic! I have been thinking about this and I see a future in the commercial business when the HDTV finally kicks in. The date has been moved here recently but I am sure someone will fill us in on it. If you are set-up to make these commercials from the get-go you could have a chance to take some marketshare. [quote] Can anyone truly be excited by the "new rock" "movement?" I saw The White Stripes on SNL and I thought it was atrocious shit. Is that where pop music is headed? I don't understand or believe in that aesthetic so I can't imagine working towards it. Am I already old? [/quote]I fell asleep the other night waiting for this to come on, describe what the music sounded like if you can. I think I am so old that I dont even know what "new rock" is. I figured it is about time,in the next 5-7 years, that rock is going to be overtaken by something new. I think you are old when you hit your mid to late 20's and you are in the next decade and liked all of the music from the decade before. (Example). I had my big teen years in the 80's. When the grunge hit in 91-92, I was an old Van Halen man, Now I had to get used to something else? Its just like when the people of the 80's hated the 70's stuff. Damn, we hated the 70's stuff. I am refering to Disco. I always dug Frampton and so-on.

[Kris]

[quote]Originally posted by Philter: [b] It's a shame about music and arts in schools- these kids need more outlets to be creative.[/b][/quote]Well then you should check out or be a part of http://www.fatcompilation.com We just donated approx $300 to VH1s 'Save the Music' charity.

[Jedi]

I'm hoping independent artists, labels, distributors, and radio stations find a way to become organized, and little music scenes start popping up in every little town in the U.S. I think the Majors will continue on their downward slope. Things are moving so fast, and it seems the Majors are not willing to change. I think the "new" Rock will be dismissed as the fabricated uninteresting shit that it is. I think something new and exciting will come out pretty soon. It's always darkest before dawn. Jedi

[Hippie]

<<...drug-induced-visions of where we are headed in the music industry?>> -People tell me they 'have not purchased a CD in ages' and 'why buy CD's when music is free on the internet?' -Lost of people say they 'hate the current state of radio, pop, MTV...' and 'rock is dead'. :( -The DJ equipment section at the music stores gets larger as the years go by. Isn't 'Asian Prince' a DJ? :) :freak: -My friends tell me they can't afford to go to concerts anymore. ie: $250.00 for CSN&Y. I'm trying to keep a positive outlook. Matt

[Bunny Knutson]

"atrocious shit" - harsh words. I just consider White Stripes to be a mediocre [and incomplete] garage band who got a lucky big break.

[Jotown]

[quote]Originally posted by Count dracuBunny: [b]"atrocious shit" - harsh words. I just consider White Stripes to be a mediocre [and incomplete] garage band who got a lucky big break.[/b][/quote]I also saw the SNL broadcast. I would say the White Stripes were somewhere between mediocre and "atrocious shit". IMHO.

[Wow]

Sounds like I should have stayed up for it. Who is the musical guest next week on SNL.

[AudioMaverick]

I keep wondering if the way Eastman changed the way photograhy is relative... I can invision people who can make decent-enough multitrack efforts in the comfort of their own home. But, then there are those times when you need to go into the studio for that special one.

[Bunny Knutson]

[quote]Originally posted by Jotown: [b] [quote]Originally posted by Count dracuBunny: [b]"atrocious shit" - harsh words. I just consider White Stripes to be a mediocre [and incomplete] garage band who got a lucky big break.[/b][/quote]I also saw the SNL broadcast. I would say the White Stripes were somewhere between mediocre and "atrocious shit". IMHO.[/b][/quote]My "atrocious shit to masterpiece" rating scale: 1 - atrocious shit 2 - mediocre 3 - good 4 - great 5 - masterpiece So, you see, according to [i]my[/i] rating scale, there [i]is[/i] nothing between "atrocious shit" and "mediocre." Though, I suppose you could call it "mediocre shit!" :D

[gtrmac]

I think that the creative impulse cannot be destroyed by a bunch of yuppies no matter how hard they try. Young creators of the future though will be less confined to music alone as a form of expression. Although the availability of computer software for music creation has made it much easier for people to produce music on computers the multimedia aspect of modern entertainment will attract many young people to other forms of art including visual arts. When I was a teenager all the action was in music and an electric guitar was the coolest thing in the world. Now it seems that film and video is where the action is and many young people are wisely focusing their attention there. I agree with Craig that there will still be a number of individuals who devote themselves to music passionately. The power of music is universal and it will always attract a certain type of person. The decline of the old style record industry seems inevitable and it is a good thing. The field needs to be cleared for a new generation of creative people. The internet still holds promise as a distribution channel for creative people.

[Philter]

How about the studio business? What's going to happen to the studios? What kind of studio business model will survive?

[Bunny Knutson]

I predict that, although Pro Tools will continue to be the industry standard for major labels, more independent musicians and bands will place their faith in studios that use alternative programs, such as Nuendo, SONAR, and Digital Performer. Independent studios will be able to make a living using whichever DAW software they prefer. Wishful thinking, I know, especially coming from a dedicated Cakewalk user. ;)

[Rog]

[quote]Originally posted by Jotown: [b] [quote]Originally posted by Count dracuBunny: [b]"atrocious shit" - harsh words. I just consider White Stripes to be a mediocre [and incomplete] garage band who got a lucky big break.[/b][/quote]I also saw the SNL broadcast. I would say the White Stripes were somewhere between mediocre and "atrocious shit". IMHO.[/b][/quote]I think they're pretty good ... or excellent when compared to the quality of music I hear on radio and music TV.

[Gulliver]

[quote]Originally posted by Count dracuBunny: [b]I predict that, although Pro Tools will continue to be the industry standard for major labels, more independent musicians and bands will place their faith in studios that use alternative programs, such as Nuendo, SONAR, and Digital Performer. Independent studios will be able to make a living using whichever DAW software they prefer. Wishful thinking, I know, especially coming from a dedicated Cakewalk user. ;) [/b][/quote]... Or CoolEditPro. (I am a dedicated CEP user. Though, soon may try Sonar too ;) ).

[Rog]

If you successfully use CEP 1.x for recording music then you're a better man than I am ;)

[Wow]

[quote] . Wishful thinking, I know, especially coming from a dedicated Cakewalk user. [/quote]EEEEEWWWWWWWWW !!!!!!! :D

[realtrance]

I know it's an old saw by now, and not even a supersaw, but the beginning of the end was MTV music videos. A generation has been taught to assume you can't just sit, with your eyes closed, and listen to music -- particularly instrumental music -- without something else to distract you -- story, visuals, _something_ else to give you a reason to pay attention other than the music. The basic message there, as with all movie soundtrack music, is that music is secondary to the primary experience of something visual happening. It may influence that primary experience, but it is its servant. The audience willing to listen to music purely for itself has always been small; it shrank dramatically, I'm sure, from the '80s onward. The advent of DVD as the primary delivery medium will just help it shrink further. Music in the future will be even more the handmaiden to visual media, whether it be movies, games or videos, at least in the commercial market. It will thus be less necessary for commercial music to be particularly innovative, high-quality, or original and it will probably be mostly automated in construction and performance. The parameters of commercial music-making will be defined by machines, and produced by machines, with little more than systems administration necessary to support the process. Commercial music as a separate industry will thus die, and actual music-making will go back to small, local live performance, with neither opportunity nor need for large-audience commercial attention. How musicians willing to focus on this kind of world will support themselves and still be able to be full-time musicians will be another question entirely, though. The amateur musician, home-studio type thing is good in terms of providing more people an opportunity to be actively involved with music, but that's quite different from a culture which will support full-time, dedicated musicians whose main occupation is furthering their art. Giving everyone a word processor doesn't make them novelists, and giving everyone the opportunity to, very broadly speaking, make music doesn't make them musicians. rt

[Wow]

[quote] but that's quite different from a culture which will support full-time, dedicated musicians whose main occupation is furthering their art [/quote]I have a home studio that I use all of the time. Are you saying that people that dont tour full time are not trying to further their art? I do agree on that a person does not have to have ANY ability to make music these days.

[Franknputer]

[quote]Originally posted by The Troll with Soul: [b]I do agree on that a person does not have to have ANY ability to make music these days.[/b][/quote]I think that it's possible for people with no ability to make something RESEMBLING music, but it still takes real ability to make good music. Being able to assemble Loge blocks does not make you an able construction person.

[Wow]

and pissing on the camp fire does not make one a fireman. :D

[Gulliver]

[quote]Originally posted by Rog The Impaler: [b]If you successfully use CEP 1.x for recording music then you're a better man than I am ;) [/b][/quote]Hey, what was your problem with CEP? ;) Just curious... And by the way, I use CEP 2.0 ( :thu: ) for more than half a year already.

[flyscots]

[quote]Originally posted by realtrance: [b]A generation has been taught to assume you can't just sit, with your eyes closed, and listen to music -- particularly instrumental music -- without something else to distract you -- story, visuals, _something_ else to give you a reason to pay attention other than the music. Giving everyone a word processor doesn't make them novelists, and giving everyone the opportunity to, very broadly speaking, make music doesn't make them musicians.[/b][/quote]Yep RT, Music is more and more becoming just a spoke in the whole multimedia experience - which can be a good thing, but less and less commercially succesful songs are just songs. Then again, who says you need to be commercially succesful? Depends what you're selling. Although it may not be the primary aim of many people in music, money is of vital importance - how do you live without making money? As for the word processor comment - also very true. However, the huge advantage of the home studio generation is that amatuer musicians now have the chance to make semi-decent copies of their work. Even if they are not really that good (matter of opinion) they may be of great sentimental value so its great that they can be recorded with very little expense (relatively speaking) If these amatuer musicians spend a lot of time in their home studio, they are likely to improve - the more you practice the better you get. The work they produce may not be up there with what you are used to hearing coming out of the top pro studios but it could be good enough to distribute. Every musician wants his/her music to be heard - this gives them a chance. There is a lot more we could go into on both these topics, but lets save them for other threads, I'm sure they've been HEAVILY discussed before now anyway. Lets follow Craig Anderton's example - stay positive! John Scotsman

[Sylver]

I think even though there has been a drought in meaningful, creative and cutting edge music in the mainstream view, that there is lot's of good music just below the surface. It's bound to break sooner or later, and then, it there will be new movements that will make exploring new artists fun again. It could be a very exciting time.

[flyscots]

[quote]Originally posted by Spoooooky Sylver: [b]It's bound to break sooner or later, and then, it there will be new movements that will make exploring new artists fun again.[/b][/quote]Exploring new artists [b]IS[/b] a lot of fun today, it just takes a lot more work than it should do. You are not gonna hear exciting, new, immaginative, innovative acts on your local radio station or on MTV. You have to dig deep through the racks in the independant record stores and hunt down the clubs who are hosting such musicians. Unfortunately, its not as easy to find as it should be, but keep the faith - there [b]IS[/b] good music out there. John Scotsman

[Rog]

[quote]Originally posted by Gulliver: [b] [quote]Originally posted by Rog The Impaler: [b]If you successfully use CEP 1.x for recording music then you're a better man than I am ;) [/b][/quote]Hey, what was your problem with CEP? ;) Just curious... And by the way, I use CEP 2.0 ( :thu: ) for more than half a year already.[/b][/quote]My own personal pet hate is Cool Edit, I've ranted on the subject before ... I find it unintuitive, ugly, clunky and just generally shite and a pain to use :D There are so many DAWs out there that leave CEP for dead IMO and yet CEP users seem so loyal ... very strange ;)

[Sylver]

[quote]Originally posted by flyscots: [b] [quote]Originally posted by Spoooooky Sylver: [b]It's bound to break sooner or later, and then, it there will be new movements that will make exploring new artists fun again.[/b][/quote]Exploring new artists [b]IS[/b] a lot of fun today, it just takes a lot more work than it should do. You are not gonna hear exciting, new, immaginative, innovative acts on your local radio station or on MTV. You have do dig deep through the racks in the independant record stores and hunt down the clubs who are hosting such musicians. Unfortunately, its not as easy to find as it should be, but keep the faith - there [b]IS[/b] good music out there. John Scotsman[/b][/quote]Yes, of course you're right John. That "30 Seconds to Mars" cd is just one great example.

[Anderton]

<> I reviewed CEP 1.0 for EQ and kinda ragged on it. The Syntrillium folks were kind enough not to cancel their ads or say anything nasty, but I know they were pretty upset. A few months ago I reviewed CEP 2.0 for EQ and it is a whole new deal. Much more reliable, much slicker. I still look at it as a stereo editor with multitrack capabilities, but it represents tremendous value for money...nothing else, for example, gives you the same kind of audio restoration tools without charging extra. For multitrack work I'll take Sonar, but I use CEP 2.0 a lot for editing. The ability to preserve Acidization markers when editing or even changing bit resolution has saved my butt more than once -- Wavelab won't do that. IT's also easy to make sample accurate loop lengths. CEP used to be sort of a "yeah, it's not that great, but it's cheap." V2.0 is vastly more grown-up and I certainly understand why some people are so loyal to it. None of the other multitrack programs have the same depth of file editing as CEP, although CEP doesn't do the multitrack thing as well as the more expensive programs. That suits some people's needs to a T.