Guilt Free FRONTLINE: "The Way The Music Died"

PBS/FRONTLINE ^ | 05/26/04 | PBS/FRONTLINE

[FilmCutter]

Not your average downer from FRONTLINE, so don't expect a critique of the business or of music. Think of it as a romp through the maze of the industry.

"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench,a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free,and good men die like dogs.

There's also a negative side."

Attributed to Hunter S. Thompson

I hope you all watch and enjoy, FilmCutter

[theDentist]

convergence of industry-wide consolidation, Internet theft, and artistic drought.

I'd say "Artistic Drought" is the leading cause. Fewer and fewer "artists" out there worth listening to, 'specially when they go hip-hop.

[BipolarBob]

Not one word of the RIAA lawsuit debacle.

[Dane]

But surprisingly, there are those who now argue MTV was a negative force. “What it did really is make the business a one trick pony—and everything became about the three minutes, the single, the hit single,”

From my limited knowledge of late 20th century American market pop music.

"Hey Jude" broke the 3 minute rule for hit singles and after that concept albums ascended with the zenith being "Dark Side of the Moon" in 73.

Then MTV appears and brings back the 3 minute rule.

MTV has now degenerated into mindless programming dreck, everything form "Jackass" to the "Real World", IMO.

[Clock King]

Exactly. There is NO original music anymore (at least it tends to be fairly rare). All the Britney clones, and hip-hop clones... And it's all bubble-gum pop, created by a bunch of paid "songwriters" in the big studios to write for the "idols". Are we ever gonna see stars that write their own music anymore? Music that has meaning and just isn't about angst and sex and Me-Me-Me?

[dead]

There's always good, new music available for purchase, you just don't hear it much on the radio.

[God luvs America]

I don't agree with your hip-hop comment as many black hip-hop artists are the last bastions where the music is written from the heart (or streets as it may) rather than some preconceived, chart-topping, mechanical garbage. I agree with the rest of you post.

As a life long Led Zeppelin fan I see what's happening in the world of music today, sit back and laugh. Zep was constantly panned by the "critics" as garbage yet some 25-years after their last true studio album was released their music is just as vital today as it was in the 70's.

[KarlInOhio]

When I look at my CD purchases in the past year there are very few big name act. I've bought some old releases from bands I like and lots of stuff from less well known bands.

Also, I've bought more used CDs. The web is amazing for that. Something which I want which used to be collecting dust in a used record store in Texas can now be put on the web for anyone to buy anywhere. Unless I am desparate to get a new album, I'll check the prices on used ones first. I haven't gotten a bad one yet.

[inkling]

Artistic drought, my @ss. There are thousands of incredible bands out there that the major labels refuse to sign. The RIAA is an impediment to good music and have only themselves to blame. Whiners!

[Alberta's Child]

With some exceptions, the quality of popular music has been in a steady free-fall since the 1970s ended. I am amazed at how much crap I hear on the radio these days; I am even more amazed at how many different radio stations in the same market all seem to be playing the same crap.

[KarlInOhio]

Let's pause a moment and mourn the passing of WOXY 97.7.

The only decent rock station in southwest Ohio.

[beelzepug]

"Hey Jude" broke the 3 minute rule..."

I think I'd credit Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" (1965) with breaking this rule. It ran out to around 6 1/2 minutes, as I recall.

[sphinx]

I'd say "Artistic Drought" is the leading cause.

Amen. It's been downhill since the Kingston Trio.

Sooner or later a new generation will arise and discover that there is a whole musical world beyond the electric guitar.

[Dane]

Also, I've bought more used CDs

I'm dating my age but I remember when you could buy used LP's at any street near a college.

This is just my opinion, but a band that would put out a CD in a LP sized cardboard cover(wrap the CD in plastic and a paper sleeve) with some good artwork and liner notes, could get themselves noticed.

Oh yeah the music has to be good also.

[bc2]

please let me know if you want to be added to or removed from the ping list

[inkling]

Off the top of my head, here are a small number of incredible current artists you cannot find on the radio or a major label…
British Sea Power
Broadcast
The Decemberists
Ester Drang
Fine China
Four Tet
Grandaddy
Lali Puna
M83
Mum
Pedro the Lion
Pinback
The Polyphonic Spree
Sigur Ros
Starflyer 59
Sun Kil Moon
The Wrens

The RIAA is attempting to destroy music, but they will end up only destroying themselves.

[Dane]

I think I'd credit Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" (1965) with breaking this rule. It ran out to around 6 1/2 minutes, as I recall

Did that go to #1 as a single?

IIRC, "Hey Jude" was the first song more than 3 or 4 minutes to go #1.

Not to quibble, I beleive that "Hey Jude" was the first song exclusively released as a single that was more than 4 minutes long to go to #1.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

On the old show "Politically Incorrect" that one of the major rappers ( I think it was Ice Cube ) said about today's music, "In ten years I don't think my wife and I will hear these tunes and turn to each other and say, hey. They're playing our song." This is from a man whose career is making money from modern rap.

[in2itagin]

Bob is right, RIAA lawsuit is one of the leading causes of music industries death. The fight for intellectual properties and the eventual sharing of music files should have been at least acknowledged in the article.