What would you change about music today?

[mayaclars]

What would you change about music today? Is there perhaps something that appears in many songs, something that, in your view, could be removed to make the music sound better? I know this is a very, very broad topic, but it’s so interesting to think about... For instance, I often, very often, hear similar patterns in drum beats, more specifically when a kick drum gradually increasing its frequency of hits, almost like a rhythmic build-up for dynamics (when a beat falls on a quarter note, then on eighth notes, then on sixteenth notes). It's used so often that it has become predictable.
 So, is there anything in modern music that keeps recurring from song to song, something you think it would be better off without?

[Dan Q]

You know what I miss? The concept album.

The idea of a music "album" of up to about 50 minutes came out of a side-effect of the publication of music: the cost-of-production of a "single" (on, for example, vinyl) - along with its B-side! - was a sizeable fraction of the cost-of-production of a larger long-play album, and so it became economically sensible for musicians to collect and publish a collection of songs together, publishing as singles only songs they expect to be popular enough to justify their relative cost-inefficiency.

A second characteristic of music of yesteryear is that it was most-often listened to sequentially. "Shuffle" wasn't invented until compact discs. Tapes were a challenge to listen to in any way other than in strict sequence. With a keen eye and steady hand you can "jump" to a particular track on vinyl, but more-often you'd listen to an album straight through.

This presented an artistic opportunity: the concept album. A collection of tracks can be tied together in order to form a narrative. A band could make a thematic link between an album of songs, confident that they'd almost-always be listened to in order, and they could control whether or not there'd be a gap between them.

The age of digital media and streaming has... sort-of killed the concept album. Bands still produce albums (although less-frequently than they used to), but I don't think I've bought anything I'd describe as a concept album since... 2012. And I miss them!

[CrispySeaBreeze]

I think popular radio stations should change what they play. There's infinite songs out there and they just play the same boring pop songs they've played for over a decade, by the same unimpressive overrated artists. Everyone who listens to the radio at home or work would benefit from hearing something new; a song in another language, what's popular in another country, a song from a less-known genre, or a song that just came out that day that the radio hosts wanted to share. More variety! 

[lakes]

I think popular radio stations should change what they play. There's infinite songs out there and they just play the same boring pop songs they've played for over a decade, by the same unimpressive overrated artists. Everyone who listens to the radio at home or work would benefit from hearing something new; a song in another language, what's popular in another country, a song from a less-known genre, or a song that just came out that day that the radio hosts wanted to share. More variety! 

This is why I prefer internet radio over the actual radio. It's easier to find unique stations online than offline. They even have regular AM/FM stations from other locations and countries hosted online.

[fablefound]

i think that a lot of my issues with the songs coming out these days can be traced to how the industry works and what the expectations are for artists. i blame two particular things on social media and the attention economy:

* so many songs released today are under 3 minutes! that's not nearly enough time to spend in someone's world and story! i hate it!

* a lot of songs are going for a "viral moment" rather than trying to make a whole cohesive track. i'll hear a snippet of a song, think it's cool, and then learn the rest of the song is very boring because all the time and effort went into, like, a hook or something.

also it feels like every day i wake up and there's some new genre word salad being chucked around and then everyone tries to hop onto it--like sonic microtrends, almost. i've scored a couple of student films in my day, and i remember losing my mind one time when i got asked to make a track that was "hyperpop and indie sleaze" as if those aren't two totally different things. 

[MrsMoe]

We need more songs that are longer and slower!!!! I am NOT asking!!!!

Perhaps it's unreasonable to ask of this from mainstream music artists, but I can't think of any current artists that are really heavy into atmosphere and slow-paced experimentation. Perhaps they're all on Bandcamp, I suppose.

[Indigo]

I would want music today to have less priorities on wanting engagement from streaming and social media sharing via TikTok.

I think since various songs and artists became overnight sensations from those platforms some time ago, it has changed the music industry's attitude towards chasing the next new trend. This has affected how lyrics are structured now and how music is composed. Short snappy, aesthetic, and catchy quick sayings are favored over unique song story structures and figurative meanings.

It feels like we are lacking authenticity and artistry because of social engagements and their algorithms becoming the new priorities.

Also of course, no to AI artists.

[mayaclars]

You know what I miss? The concept album.

The idea of a music "album" of up to about 50 minutes came out of a side-effect of the publication of music: the cost-of-production of a "single" (on, for example, vinyl) - along with its B-side! - was a sizeable fraction of the cost-of-production of a larger long-play album, and so it became economically sensible for musicians to collect and publish a collection of songs together, publishing as singles only songs they expect to be popular enough to justify their relative cost-inefficiency.

A second characteristic of music of yesteryear is that it was most-often listened to sequentially. "Shuffle" wasn't invented until compact discs. Tapes were a challenge to listen to in any way other than in strict sequence. With a keen eye and steady hand you can "jump" to a particular track on vinyl, but more-often you'd listen to an album straight through.

This presented an artistic opportunity: the concept album. A collection of tracks can be tied together in order to form a narrative. A band could make a thematic link between an album of songs, confident that they'd almost-always be listened to in order, and they could control whether or not there'd be a gap between them.

The age of digital media and streaming has... sort-of killed the concept album. Bands still produce albums (although less-frequently than they used to), but I don't think I've bought anything I'd describe as a concept album since... 2012. And I miss them!

Omg! I looove concept albums, I even made one in June, before I'd release only singles. You're so right! Ah, when I started using player, I started enjoying music more and more, I don't use streaming music apps.

Wonderful thoughts!
What are your favorite concept albums? :)

my personal site in 2000s style :)

[mayaclars]

I think popular radio stations should change what they play. There's infinite songs out there and they just play the same boring pop songs they've played for over a decade, by the same unimpressive overrated artists. Everyone who listens to the radio at home or work would benefit from hearing something new; a song in another language, what's popular in another country, a song from a less-known genre, or a song that just came out that day that the radio hosts wanted to share. More variety! 

That's true!! There are so many great songs that people don't know ah,

my personal site in 2000s style

[mayaclars]

This is why I prefer internet radio over the actual radio. It's easier to find unique stations online than offline. They even have regular AM/FM stations from other locations and countries hosted online.

That's true, omg, can't believe you also use internet radio!! I've created one actually, my internet radio

Do you have you favorite internet radio so I could also check it out? Really curious.

my personal site in 2000s style

[mayaclars]

i think that a lot of my issues with the songs coming out these days can be traced to how the industry works and what the expectations are for artists. i blame two particular things on social media and the attention economy:

* so many songs released today are under 3 minutes! that's not nearly enough time to spend in someone's world and story! i hate it!

* a lot of songs are going for a "viral moment" rather than trying to make a whole cohesive track. i'll hear a snippet of a song, think it's cool, and then learn the rest of the song is very boring because all the time and effort went into, like, a hook or something.

also it feels like every day i wake up and there's some new genre word salad being chucked around and then everyone tries to hop onto it--like sonic microtrends, almost. i've scored a couple of student films in my day, and i remember losing my mind one time when i got asked to make a track that was "hyperpop and indie sleaze" as if those aren't two totally different things. 

Wow, well said. Great points. Yeah, many songs are under 3 minutes... Social media changed the music, but I'm glad there are still musicians who are willing to create art and concept albums haha!!!

my personal site in 2000s style

[mayaclars]

We need more songs that are longer and slower!!!! I am NOT asking!!!!

Perhaps it's unreasonable to ask of this from mainstream music artists, but I can't think of any current artists that are really heavy into atmosphere and slow-paced experimentation. Perhaps they're all on Bandcamp, I suppose.

A lot of great stuff is on BandCamp, that's true. I love to browse using tags, I always find something.

my personal site in 2000s style :)

[mayaclars]

I would want music today to have less priorities on wanting engagement from streaming and social media sharing via TikTok.

I think since various songs and artists became overnight sensations from those platforms some time ago, it has changed the music industry's attitude towards chasing the next new trend. This has affected how lyrics are structured now and how music is composed. Short snappy, aesthetic, and catchy quick sayings are favored over unique song story structures and figurative meanings.

It feels like we are lacking authenticity and artistry because of social engagements and their algorithms becoming the new priorities.

Also of course, no to AI artists.

True true true! Perhaps there will be changes in music, and social media will stop dictating what kind of music should be written...

personal site in 2000s style :)

[Mayonaka]

More long, 4-10+ minute songs. I'm not saying you should pad out the runtime of your song, but if you have some fun idea you should throw it in. Storage limitations aren't a problem anymore. Do it for shits and giggles, as people say.
A lot of the songs I listen to outside of album listens are glorified jam sessions (absolutely a good thing), maybe like 7 minutes on average. I think the longest of these as of late ended up being Jamiroquai's Revolution 1993. I love that song, it kicks ass, I wouldn't trim it at all.
As much as I occasionally love a short song, the longer a song is, the more I get to loop it on repeat until I get bored, too.

[Dan Q]

What are your favorite concept albums? :)

Ooh. Top three might include The Division Bell by Pink Floyd (not their best album, but their best-realised concept-album IMHO!), American Idiot by by Green Day, and The Signal & The Noise by Andrew Paul Regan.