I’m not convinced that we’ve reached the zenith of our creative musical exploration. Although, music is in a odd flux right now. The market’s been over-saturated with sanitized music.
It will be interesting to see where artists take us musically.
The creative funk we are in is also clearly visible in movies, television, art, writing.... everything really.
“..over-saturated with sanitized music.”
I was reading an article where the guy was lamenting that the kids of today aren’t rebelling against anything. They all have their noses in their i-pods, and protected by mommy and daddy.
I didn’t agree completly - but the outward expression of teenage angst was really captured in the sixties and seventies I think more than anytime else. And a lot of those epic artists tapped into that.
But - I think the big thing is that an artist can’t make money with an “album” anymore. Heck - a lot of those long lasting hits were just a “one-hit-wonder” on a 45. To make money you have to tour - which is really tough for a new band.
I bet someone, when they first started thinking of i-tunes and cheap song sharing, figured it would be an explosion of musical talent. In some ways I suppose it is - but I’m guessing it is pretty hard to sort through all the crap to find the gems. Back in the day, the radio listeners, DJ’s and record companys did that for us. “Dude - I played that new song on my show last night and my phones lit up!”