Music is a great love in my life. I was raised on it; I developed my own identity from it and have been disappointed by it for some time now. Although I pride myself on the diversity and eclectic nature of the music I own and listen to, the majority of the music that’s been created since the millennium started has been somewhat less than good and seldom great. It is heartbreaking to know that the music industry, as tough as it has been, is totally upside down and about as banal and unremarkable as it has ever been. Despite what Rolling Stone and SPIN magazines say, today’s music has never been more innocuous and irrelevant as it has ever been. With the exception of a few artists, nerd rock, hipster rock, neo-folk/Americana and what has been embarrassingly identified as R & B and Soul has all been watered down versions of their first go rounds in the ‘60’s, ‘70’s and ‘80’s. And it can all be blamed on technology.

The evolution of music is mythological. It has been around as long as the human voice could sing and sticks clicking together gave rhythm. It’s been handed down through generations, each newer generation taking the mantle of carrying the music forward. The music of the last century has been based on European folk music and African rhythms and melodies. Unfortunately, there are few “myths” about music today that contribute to the poor quality of what we are giving to our children as their birthright:

Myth #1 – Technology makes the music better. Today’s technology gives the marginally talented musician and vocalist the opportunity good to great musicians and singers never had or had to worry about, perfect pitch. Note correction found in such software as ProTools allows for digital correction of bad notes, notes not quite played or sung in the middle of the note. This technological breakthrough allows bad vocalists like Taylor Swift and Hunter Hayes the opportunity to sing spot-on. This ensures the their marketing team can move forward with their blitzkrieg and not have to worry about cleaning up messes left behind by bad recordings. However, one song sung live at an awards show will let you know how bad these singers are. They may be talented musicians, but listening to them sing is painful. The perfect pitch software also takes the heart out of the music. It has been sterilized, pasteurized and homogenized and comes out flaccid and unremarkable.

Myth #2 – Today’s music scene is better because of technology. The music being created today can be made with recording studio quality with a very small investment of software and a computer. Anyone and everyone can make recordings that can play on any radio station today. This does not mean the quality of the music being recorded is radio airplay quality, just the quality of the recording. This means that anyone can record poorly written lyrics, melody, harmony and musical score and submit it to the industry without the backing of a large record company. Yes, this is every musicians dream but it is being realized by many that have no business doing so. Yes, the music moguls who ruled this industry for so long are getting their “come-uppance” as their record sales plummet. Unfortunately, now, the music “scene” is so oversaturated with singers and bands that we cannot keep up.  All it takes is a friend of the band to play a recording of his buddy’s band at a party and the talent pool is once again watered down. The copycat singers run rampant as little girls all strive to sing like Demi Lovato or Carly Rae Jepson instead of developing their own voice.

Myth #3 – Talent rises to the top. Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Taylor Swift…and the list goes on. These kids are found attractive to their fan base and without have much more than glee club talent, have been marketed into a skyrocketing fame. They are coached, polished and dropped to the front of the house by stage parents, overambitious managers and record execs looking for the next big thing to over-market. Mylie Cyrus was even marketed as two separate people, herself and Hanna Montana. We’ve all seen the train wreck that started piling up there, and it began with her mullet wearing, over-exposed father. Of course there has to be something to market, so these kids have to have some sort of ability to sing or play and instrument or dance, but that’s about where it ends. There really are no prodigies here, just results of record company political pull and the looks to market. Fortunately, we do have Carrie Underwood, Joe Bonamassa and Adele. True talent without the artificial heart of tone correction and the deep love and abiding soul of those they represent who came before them.

So what’s wrong with the music industry and why is it dying? It’s style over substance. It’s about making money without have the luxury of marketing the talent. The voices of Freddie Mercury and Steve Perry topped off gifted and talented musicians to send groups like Queen and Journey to the forefront. They didn’t need ProTools and a marketing team to convince the public they were worth listening to. Their marketing came by record promotion, radio airplay and the people speaking up about how good the music was and still is. Anymore, it seems the children are running the household and so parents don’t have to listen to them scream and behave like barbarians, they soothe the savage breast with PS4, Grand Theft Auto 10 and the sounds of One Direction…uuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhh…who? How bad is it when you find comfort in Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson?