The State of the Music Industry
Michael Giltz of Popsurfing has a great post about what’s happening in the music industry with regards to CD sales, the comeback of singles, and other thoughts. All I can say about it is that change is inevitable.
Right now it’s all about the digital downloads which gives power back to the music artists. They can simply sell their music without the need of a major record label - although record labels are great marketing venues. However, there’s potential to make more money if you manage to stay independent and create a name for yourself through the underground market.
Regardless of what’s happening in the world, we will always have our music. That’s all that matters. Whether we listen to it on a CD, album, eight track, or mp3 file - it’s all the same to me. It’s all about adapting to the technology. Those who resist it will not succeed. It’s sad that music stores have to go out of business, but what they should have done was found a way to integrate what they had with what was happening. And what was happening was that people were starting to download music off the internet. Perhaps these music stores should have then started focusing on selling products such as mp3 players and falling back on other music accessories to sell. However, I guess that’s easier said than done.
And that’s my 2 cents for the day….
Melinda Doolittle: My Pick For American Idol
It’s been awhile since I’ve watched American Idol, but I took some time out from my hectic schedule to catch up and see what this season’s American Idol has to offer…
I was quite impressed with many of the performances last night - especially Melinda Doolittle. I decided to check out who else had good things to say about this phenomenal performance:
Valerie of Gen X Misanthrope: “Her performance was perfect. It was so beautiful it made little 11 year old Ashley cry yet again in the audience. Melinda Doolittle will win American Idol - no doubt.”
Kaonashi of Blogcritics Magazine: “Only one person possessed the vocal maturity, stage presence, right song choice, and professionalism - and that person was Melinda Doolittle.”
Watch this video from last night’s performance of Melinda Doolittle at YouTube…
I used to wonder why everyone was so into American Idol and now I realize that we all love music. It’s just part of our nature and we’re very much drawn to it.
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Be in Peace, Notorious B.I.G
Today marks the 10th anniversary of the passing of Notorious B.I.G., a rap/hip-hop legend. It was after listening to “Big Poppa” that I became hooked on his music. He still lives with all of us! Just listen to one of his songs….alive and well!
Odeo has a great interview with Biggie that aired 4 days before he was killed. Davey D. has some profound questions which are pretty thought provoking:
What sort of example have we left for his kids over the past 10 years? They are now old enough to look around and ask questions and soak up game. Can they look to our collective behavior within Hip Hop and emulate it and wind up in a good and safe place? Or do they need to turn away and look elsewhere? Have we made this Hip Hop World a better place for them? If so how? Was Biggie’s death in vain? Can his kids really look up to us? Have we really listened to the pleas his grieving mother made when she asked us to do better?
I feel that hip-hop music is beginning to evolve and I do see and hear some changes, albeit slow changes. But changes, nonetheless. There’s still alot that needs to be done because you still have artists talking about violence, sex, and all that negative stuff. The only way it’s going to change is if artists started spittin’ positive vibes. The more positive vibes there are, the easier it will be to wipe out all the negative energy.
To us it’s still a “mystery” as to who killed Biggie and Tupac. All I know is that nobody’s death is ever in vain. If anything their “deaths” were a sign that the hip-hop community needed to change. (I really don’t believe that people “die”, they just go to a different spiritual plane).
So, what do you think? Is the hip hop community changing for the better?
Don’t Take Away the Music From the Children!
It saddens me to know that many of the schools in the United States today have taken out their music programs. The lack of funding by the state is to blame and I wonder why… Music is what drives us, it’s what motivates us and keeps our kids happy.
Have you ever watched a child sing a song? Their eyes twinkle and they are just so into the song. When you take away music and the arts from schools, you take away that twinkle…that spark.
My parents made me take piano when I was young and although I really didn’t enjoy it at the time, I understand now why they pushed me to get involved with music. Later I ended up playing the flute, saxophone, and clarinet in my junior high and high school band. It was one of the best experiences of my life!
Anyhow, I came across this list of The Best 100 American Communities for Music Education via The West Hartford Blog. I don’t know about you, but I want my kids to have music in their soul!!
Photo Credit: Morguefile
