TockTockTock

Of course, there are musicians like Khonnor who are gaining popularity solely through the use of the internet. Not to mention many young people of this generation are able to expose themselves a bit easier to music of other eras and genres (like myself). I remember watching a music documentary talking about how music in the 50s and 60s were just like plastic dolls - mass produced, uniform, and lacking. Then, tons of bands exploded out of nowhere and started an era of experimentation and musical progression. Perhaps history WILL repeat itself, and we'll see this happen in and outside the internet? Eh, but then again mainstream has always existed... there was the Little River Band and Peter Frampton in the 70s. But what do I know?

Dr_Rez

I agree. The fact that I can record a full length album for a few hundred dollars in my bedroom if I have the instruments already means that music you and I love will always be around. That didnt use to be the case.

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clutnuckle

Sadly, this is what I see.

Especially with the way the world powers are going to shape up in 30-40 years. Freedom of expression is going to decrease, if anything. Music will likely, over time, become a form of sedation rather than expression, like it was a thousand years ago. Especially once it begins to become invasive. You'll be able to make your tunes that respond emotionally with you for sure, but will you be able to show them to anybody? Will you ever make people feel the way you felt? Fat chance.

s_k

I get the idea that 'underground' music is easier to find now. You don't have to be part of a scene. Just a couple of good music stores and the internet will do the trick.
Forums help, too.
I don't know if that's a good thing by the way. Some bands tend to lose their originaltiy once they get some sort of fame.

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Dr_Rez

What exactly do you mean?

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clutnuckle

It will become kitschy and expressionless again. Think 'mainstream music', but it's shoved down your throats even moreso than now. Music really isn't half the 'market' it will soon be. Musical inventiveness that occurred around the Renaissance, or any of the other major artistic leaps, was a breaking-free of the oppression that occurred during the dark ages. It's a reaffirming of the same suppression that the dark ages brought.

s_k

I think there's always been a non-mainstream scene as long as music existed.
I don't think we should be worried.

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clutnuckle

Well how far ahead is anybody thinking? I'm thinking anywhere from 50-100 years. The world is going to COMPLETELY change by then, based off of the kind of power China will become, and its ties to other powers; their influence IS going to come to matter in Western Civilization like it never has, as well as parts of Europe. A lot more suppression will exist in everyday life. Yes, there is ALWAYS mainstream, but the mainstream will not be easy to avoid. Or in the other sense, it will be easy to avoid, but there will be nothing else to catch up with.

For instance, China has already banned several music websites ( see http://www.scaruffi.com/boycott.html for an example [and no, I don't read Scaruffi, but a friend link it to me.] ). It will not be as 'easy' to find the 'underground' scene as many people seem to think. It will result in impersonal, calculated suffocation.

Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra

I don't know, I think this is a bit extreme. It's an interesting Red Dawn like theory but seems to be thinking a little too outside the realistic scope. Albeit there have been attempts in America to Censor the Internet(Hillary Clinton was huge on it) we're too self indulgent of a commercialism society to let anybody take our porn away from us. I doubt we'll let them take away the music. China may be a growing military super-power, but if they take over the first world, it's not likely they'll keep a hold of it for very long. People in their country can get around their censors.

As for the unbearable-ness of mainstream music. I think that comes from human laziness. Just cause people don't sift through free music it doesn't mean it's not there(take a visit to archive.org if you believe otherwise. Albeit... too many people doing avant-garde ambient noise... dammit, a little is ok but learn to play instruments. Anybody can put effects on the sounds of planes flying by, and birds, and slap in static).

Thing I wish though is that people would go out, and mingle more with the regional audience. Find artists/musicians to connect with directly, and support. Connect with other people directly like I'm hoping to try to do more, and more, over the next few months,

Urban Hat€monger ?

Who says it's just going to be governments that do it?

At the moment there are only 4 record companies that control about 99% of what you hear on radio & tv.

What happens when they become 3, or 2. Or even 1 owned by a Rupert Murdoch type figure?

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