Music Downloading Creates Listener Apathy

[BGarrett7]

Re: Music Downloading Creates Listener Apathy

The premise is horsesh*t. Dieselboy nailed it. I appreciate music even more because I can listen to the songs I want to hear when I want to hear them, so every day is a good music day.

Plus downloading has exposed me to genres and artists I never would have considered under the retail model of music acquisition.

Take care,
PK

Bingo.

[ehh]

Re: Music Downloading Creates Listener Apathy

Yeah, I disagree with basically everything the article says.

If it wasn't for DL'ing music I wouldn't know 80% of the artists I listen to today. How the hell else are you suppose to get into underground hip-hop? I'm not driving an hour and a half to The City every weekend to buy bootlegs and mixtapes.

Also, I have 7,000 songs on my MP3 player. Whether at the gym, in my car, or around my house I can listen to ANY song I want to in my collection with the push of a few buttons. No changing discs, no fumbling threw CD cases while driving, etc.

I couldn't imagine how awful my musical taste would be without these two elements.

[Graphik]

Re: Music Downloading Creates Listener Apathy

I couldn't imagine how awful my musical taste would be without these two elements.

We'd still be bumping

[jmood88]

Re: Music Downloading Creates Listener Apathy

Yeah, I disagree with basically everything the article says.

If it wasn't for DL'ing music I wouldn't know 80% of the artists I listen to today. How the hell else are you suppose to get into underground hip-hop? I'm not driving an hour and a half to The City every weekend to buy bootlegs and mixtapes.

Also, I have 7,000 songs on my MP3 player. Whether at the gym, in my car, or around my house I can listen to ANY song I want to in my collection with the push of a few buttons. No changing discs, no fumbling threw CD cases while driving, etc.

I couldn't imagine how awful my musical taste would be without these two elements.

Exactly. If I never downloaded anything I would be listening to whatever was on the radio and not knowing about any of the great underground groups.

[Jistic]

Re: Music Downloading Creates Listener Apathy

I actually partially agree. When I didn't have access to a zillion songs I would listen to entire albums many times and get into the deeper cuts.

Now it's like you're always downloading what's new. Oh great 12 new albums this week, gotta hear them all once or twice then it's on to the next batch.

I don't know it that is appreication, but along with the rest of overload technology has given us like video games even, music falls into that category. There's only so much time in the day to listen to all these songs, watch all of these movies, play all of these games....and maybe even sleep sometimes.

[DGetz]

Re: Music Downloading Creates Listener Apathy

I think it probobly depends on the person. What downloading does which would negtivley affect loyalty to music is make it more likely people will only have one or two songs by a certain group, since they can get those easily. Also I think illegal downloading has made people less likely to feel loyalty to music because I think it cheapens the product when anyone can just go get it for free. Then again, maybe that's just wishful thinking in a sense on my part because I really hate illegal downloading in place of purchasing an album.

On the plus side, as others have mentioned, it exposes people to more artists. I dont know about anyone else but I've never dropped 13-20 bucks on a CD because of one of those those "Like [band A]? Then check out [band B]" displays, but I have checked out music online from similar setups and ended up really liking the stuff.

[jmood88]

Re: Music Downloading Creates Listener Apathy

I think it probobly depends on the person. What downloading does which would negtivley affect loyalty to music is make it more likely people will only have one or two songs by a certain group, since they can get those easily. Also I think illegal downloading has made people less likely to feel loyalty to music because I think it cheapens the product when anyone can just go get it for free. Then again, maybe that's just wishful thinking in a sense on my part because I really hate illegal downloading in place of purchasing an album.

On the plus side, as others have mentioned, it exposes people to more artists. I dont know about anyone else but I've never dropped 13-20 bucks on a CD because of one of those those "Like [band A]? Then check out [band B]" displays, but I have checked out music online from similar setups and ended up really liking the stuff.

How did you find this thread?

[DGetz]

Re: Music Downloading Creates Listener Apathy

How did you find this thread?

Via a search, i dont remember for what though. I think it was just 'music'

[Herbsinator]

Re: Music Downloading Creates Listener Apathy

I think you guys are missing the point the scientist dude was trying to make. I think people don't care as much if they buy something crappy. Now that we have access to so many more songs at 99 cents a piece (or free). We can afford to take a risk and if you don't like it....oh well you are only out 99 cents. But back in the day...your sitting in Best Buy and you have a choice to make....you got 15 bucks so you can only buy 1 CD...so it better be good.

[Misfit]

Re: Music Downloading Creates Listener Apathy

The music industry is just oversaturated right now. There is a lot of crap out there with the gems burried beneath it. Anybody can assemble a band, record an mp3, and then stick it on the web. And the recording industry is more interested in pushing a pretty face and something people can dance senselessly to than something with artistic merit.

I do feel less of an attachment to some music now. I'm a metal fan and before I would buy the underground metal mags to see who was getting rave reviews or get into a band by word of mouth. Since taking a position at a radio station, I just go through the library and if I like something enough I'll just throw it on my iPod for later use. Today I added the new album by Motorjesus!

[pk500]

Re: Music Downloading Creates Listener Apathy

I'm sure the "jukebox" nature of MP3 players creates short attention spans and apathy, but doesn't the lack of great, complete albums also play just as much or more of an effect?

So many bands today have one or two catchy tunes on an album and the rest is filler. There are very few bands today, new or old, who can put out an album with 10 to 12 strong songs and no filler.

That's a bigger problem than MP3 players to me. As dieselboy said, downloading and an MP3 player have exposed me to wonderful genres of music that I didn't even know about five years ago, let alone listen to.

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Re: Music Downloading Creates Listener Apathy

I think what they should of mentioned was the move from real intruments to all this electrical BS. Nobody appreciates music because its been so tarnished from what it used to be. Everything nowadays is ethier a guitar and drumset or a electronic beat machine and a record sample. Thats my reasoning.

What about the early to mid-80s, when the charts were FLOODED with synth bands such as Human League, Flock of Seagulls, Gary Numan, Thompson Twins, Howard Jones, etc. There were barely even guitars in those bands.

There were a lot more electronics in pop music then than now.

Take care,
PK

[Jistic]

Re: Music Downloading Creates Listener Apathy

What about the early to mid-80s, when the charts were FLOODED with synth bands such as Human League, Flock of Seagulls, Gary Numan, Thompson Twins, Howard Jones, etc. There were barely even guitars in those bands.

There were a lot more electronics in pop music then than now.

Take care,
PK

On the surface yes, but in the studio not even close.

Now even bands that record with instruments can have anything and everything digitally altered to make it sound how they want. It's very easy to edit any instrument, any voice, any way you want.

Just head down to your music store, you can get a 16 track digital mini studio for cheap and make some scarey good stuff w/o much talent at all.

On top of that today Hip Hop is so big, but those guys don't even sniff an actual instrument. It's all digital.

[pk500]

Re: Music Downloading Creates Listener Apathy

On the surface yes, but in the studio not even close.

Now even bands that record with instruments can have anything and everything digitally altered to make it sound how they want. It's very easy to edit any instrument, any voice, any way you want.

Just head down to your music store, you can get a 16 track digital mini studio for cheap and make some scarey good stuff w/o much talent at all.

On top of that today Hip Hop is so big, but those guys don't even sniff an actual instrument. It's all digital.

I appreciate your point, but the "no talent" thing is where I disagree. Sure, someone who takes Fruity Loops and does some fun stuff at home is farting around. But it does take true talent to mix and produce really good electronic stuff. A DJ or producer like Nick Warren, Paul Oakenfold or James Holden has a LOT of talent, just as much as someone who actually plays the instrument, in my opinion.

Yes, there is some popular stuff done on machines by people without talent. But the same can be said for those who play conventional instruments, too!

For example, I can play three or four chords on a guitar in succession, and that's all that some popular bands have needed for success. But I have farted around with Fruity Loops and some other loops programs, and I was absolutely lost. I made some stuff that sounded OK but had nowhere near the intricacy, depth and beauty of professional stuff.

It does take talent to make REALLY GOOD electronic music, just as it does with REALLY GOOD conventional music.

Take care,
PK

[Jistic]

Re: Music Downloading Creates Listener Apathy

I appreciate your point, but the "no talent" thing is where I disagree. Sure, someone who takes Fruit Loops and does some fun stuff at home is farting around. But it does take true talent to mix and produce really good electronic stuff. A DJ or producer like Nick Warren, Paul Oakenfold or James Holden has a LOT of talent, just as much as someone who actually plays the instrument, in my opinion.

Yes, there is some popular stuff done on machines by people without talent. But the same can be said for those who play conventional instruments, too!

Take care,
PK

Oh I agree. My point is that it's so much easier to record a 'conventional' band today. Bass, Drums, Guitar, Vocals let's say. Your classic 4 piece rock band can be made to sound like world beaters when they are nothing more than an average garage band.

That was tougher in the analog recording age.

I was listening to an old CD in the car the other day that was recorded in analog in 1981 on a shoe string budget and it was awesome, mistakes and all. No matter what technology spits out, I'll take a Les Paul through an Marshall Tube amp any day.