5 Reasons the Music Business Is in the Toilet

This is a subject that greatly concerns me. The article mentioned was very brief, but hit many of the high points. The overall greed of the recording industry is what has castrated their album sales, not electronic media, or many of the other excuses. Those who care about music are willing to spend the price for quality recordings, but the problem is that most "Pop", music is so lame that it's followers could care less about sound quality, as long as the bass is artificially boomy. I see on YouTube all manner of young talent that staggers the imagination! Why are they not being pushed by the powers that be? Instead, they create a persona around a talentless hack, and pump it on the radio until the kids buy into it. And once they reach the age of 21, they are thrown to the side, and they realize they never had any talent to begin with. And resort to the shenanigans like Ms Cyrus has to remain in the spotlight. It seems that recording companies don't want to deal with those who have real talent, that gives them a bargaining chip! But if they make stars out of the talentless, then they do as told because they have nothing to deal with. The great bands of the late 70's started writing their own contracts! Demanding larger cuts of the profit! And artistic control! And they got it, because they held the cards. And used their profits to start their own recording companies and cut the greedy recording companies slam out of the picture! (Swan Song and the like) so even though the recording companies made record profits in those times, they didn't like not having total control, and have created this talentless wave of Pop music and wonder why their profits are down. So which iis more important? Mega profits or total control? Apparently they are making money, or they would change their ways.

I think they underestimate the public's ability to appreciate good music, when Rush was asked to dumb it down a bit, they did the opposite and released 2112, one of the best selling albums of all time, proving that the public does like good talented musicians. Just one example. So many young people these days, including my 28 year old daughter, who are discovering the music of my youth, and forsaking the music of their own time. And paying top price for vinyl records! Not stealing downloads from YouTube, which sounds like crap if you've noticed. I don't know if things could ever be like they once were, if we will have another great music revolution? But I think it could happen, if only one large company would embrace real talent and start the ball rolling, the rest would follow the money.
I'm sure there are many viewpoints on this subject, and it is more complicated than I make it sound I guess, but I do feel that I'm not far from the mark on this.

I don't think our opinions are at odds, Austin bob, in fact your post and mine have a lot in common. I'm not saying there isn't any good music these days, I'm just saying that the powers that be are not pushing the good stuff. All that new good stuff you mentioned, I've never heard their names before. Why? If they are so great why are the Jonus Bro's getting shoved down our collective throats if all those other artists you mention are relatively unknown? (I realize the reference is dated) Sure there is still tons of great music, and great musicians! But they are not the ones who are appreciating the mega advertising budgets from the major players in the industry. I have pondered the thought that if I had one hour of prime time TV to fill, I would take these unknown artists and have a new Ed Sulivan show, and it would be the biggest show on TV in two weeks! But, I fear that those powers that be would not allow it to happen, they've got too much invested in controlling all the media to promote their agenda. If all things were equal then these better artists with better music would be on top! But they aren't. And it's easy for a man who lives in Austin TX to say, "go out and see some great local artists!", but what if you live near Petersburg VA? No need to wonder, your selection of local talent is there! But no need to send a talent scout. Anyone that good is trying to get away from here. But I still enjoy live music, and quite often.

I may be stuck in the 70's, but there is still tons of new music that was recorded back then that I have not discovered yet! And do quite often. But I can still enjoy an old classic that I've heard a few thousand times, good music, regardless of when it was made, is timeless.

There is an Offical Dynamic Range Database? Wonders never cease!

Thanks Bdp24, very interesting stuff! And that answers the question of "who cares?", artists care! Sure there is still plenty of talent out there if you want to hunt it up. But the real problem is the cash flow, and the direction It's flowing. Who knows how many great works have never been published and lost to the world? Thanks Bdp24, for the enlightening read.