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How Important Is Music /Live Music Today

B

bluewine

Inactive
Sep 4, 2008
10,296
27
WI
#1
In the early 60s the world was changing on all levels , the civil rights movement we had a draft. These things were so important we had a lot of social unrest.

The change was reflected in the music of that time. Music was really important to people, it hit many of us right in the face. It definitely had an impact on live bands and the music business.

Is music as important to people today as much as it was in the past?

What do you think?

Remember this is a music business discussion not politics.

Blue
 
#3
DWBass said:
I think it is! Musicians still have a lot to say about everyday life. You just don't hear much of it on the radio as we did back in the 60's and 70's! The availability to access live music, however, has gotten much more expensive. Back in the day, a $5 or $10 ticket was the norm!
Click to expand...

Back in the early 70s, when I went to a Stones concert it was about the music but it was also about them and what they were saying in their music, right or wrong I bought into it.

Even at the local level bands could cause scenes and if you wanted to be a part of that scene you went to see that band.

Blue
 
#4
DWBass said:
The availability to access live music, however, has gotten much more expensive. Back in the day, a $5 or $10 ticket was the norm!
Click to expand...


Live shows yes, big name acts at Madison Square Garden, I remember 10 bucks being the norm and trying to figure out how I could get 10 dollars.

However, you couldn't go on Itunes and buy what ever you wanted for a buck. And you couldn't watch a live concert on YouTube for free.

Blue
 
#5
That is true. But I think it's the experience of a live show that makes memories! You went to venues, heard great music, made friends. Nowadays, I go to a concert and I have to deal with the folks sitting near me talking over the music, not even paying attention! And on another note....these new school sound techs have no clue how to mix a live show. But that's a whole 'nutha thread! The live experience, for me, is a thing of the past! I rarely go to a live show these days.
 
#6
Most of the music of the 60's and 70's was NOT about the current events of the day. Most of the music of the 60's and 70's was about the same topics as the 40's, 50's, 80's, 90's, etc.: the ups of love, the downs of love, non-love aspects of everyday life, and party music urging one to shake, rattle, roll, rock, shimmy, boogaloo, etc.

The fact that there was a constant musical background to life - as there is now - caused the listeners to associate certain songs with certain current events.

IMHO (note, I said "IMHO"), that is no more or less prevalent now than it was "in the day". If anything, some of the more intelligent rap & hiphop speaks more directly to social issues today than did the songs of the 60's. (Reminder: that's IMHO.)
 
#7
I don't think live music means squat anymore. With youtube and all the hi tech stuff we have you can see it all and spend hardly a cent. Want to see --- artists on this years tour? Youtube. Want to learn a bassline...youtube or tab sites.

I am still finding videos from bands I never knew made/had them on youtube for we never had a way to see them years ago.
When I was growing up 60's and 70's music was more than just about music it was part of the problems in our country and part of a movement. Live music was huge as was allot of other things like theatre and broadway.

With tickets the price they are who has the time and money. I saw big bands back in the day for $5 today its almost impossible not to have to get a loan to see a show.

I used to go to the city and others close in the late 70's to early 80's to see bands local bands and they were packed houses 4-5 night a week. I have never seen this again.

We didn't have PC's,DJ's or karaoke..we had bands no techno, raves, we had real musicians.

Today I feel sorry for some youth that all they know is some guy spittin lyrics into a mic with a backing beat. That's not music to me ..they will never know what they missed.
 
#8
In the 60's ideas were communicated through music, more than they are now. With the advent of the internet and social media, music has been relegated to entertainment, not social change. Also society is more fragmented, and there is not the same us/them- old\young thing....
 
#9
scottbass said:
If anything, some of the more intelligent rap & hiphop speaks more directly to social issues today than did the songs of the 60's. (Reminder: that's IMHO.)
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more.

bassbully said:
Today i feel sorry for the youth that all they know is some guy spittin lyrics into a mic with a backing beat. That's not music to me ..they will never know what they missed.
Click to expand...


Don't feel sorry for us....we still have Phish, Furthur, Umphrey's McGee, etc. Heck, I just saw Page McConnell with the Meters recently for $25 and that blew my socks off!

Good music is not dead.

:bassist:
 
#10
For known/established acts....

Today, may as well hire a cardboard cutout of yourself shakily holding up your smartphone taking a video of a band that charges more than most people can afford and save the $10-$20 for parking, $10-$20 for beer.....no one buys T-shirts anymore.....I remember in high school in the 80's it was a big deal to show up to school the day after a concert with your ___________ Live Tour 198_ shirt and it being a big deal

live music today is just a way for bands who can't sell records (downloads) to make some money

For local acts....

Something nostalgic to compete with DJ's and piped-in house music

or festivals
 
#11
scottbass said:
Most of the music of the 60's and 70's was NOT about the current events of the day. Most of the music of the 60's and 70's was about the same topics as the 40's, 50's, 80's, 90's, etc.: the ups of love, the downs of love, non-love aspects of everyday life, and party music urging one to shake, rattle, roll, rock, shimmy, boogaloo, etc.

The fact that there was a constant musical background to life - as there is now - caused the listeners to associate certain songs with certain current events.

IMHO (note, I said "IMHO"), that is no more or less prevalent now than it was "in the day". If anything, some of the more intelligent rap & hiphop speaks more directly to social issues today than did the songs of the 60's. (Reminder: that's IMHO.)
Click to expand...

Agreed and +1. In particular the civil rights thing was portrayed through exploitation movies like "Superfly" and "Shaft" "Macon County", "One Flew Over the Cookoos Nest", etc.
Music about drugs was the background to civil unrest during those times. IMHO
 
#12
Music/ live music is bigger than ever in my opinion; the business template has changed.

Ticket prices and door covers are exponentially higher than 20 years ago. Its 'marketing' ....charge as much..more and more..higher and higher.. until they.. concert / club attendees ... won't pay that much, then 'correct' your marketing and adjust downward. IT'S ALL JUST BUSINESS.

Local/ live-cover bands now don't stand a chance against even a low quality DJ with hundreds of CD's or internet downloads at their fingertips who will work for a fraction of what a band has to charge. This was not possible 20 years ago. A local -covers band is lucky, now to even get gigs and probably gets paid same as we did in 1980's.

Conversely in 1980's all-originals bands had trouble getting gigs..and now, a DJ cannot fairly compete against them..because an original band in an 'unknown' factor.

Radio..more popular now than ever...even against 'internet radio'. Radio is even bigger business than before..far more corporate with little or no regard for listener tastes at basic local levels; all a numbers game. ' Talk radio' is more popular now I believe.

Personally, I still prefer to do covers. I like the songs and enjoy playing them.

I have been in originals bands where I did not write any of the lyrics or music...becomes just a job where you and your instrument make their songs sound better, meanwhile the writers ego becomes inflated as you become more alienated from friends and family..only to find you may never get out of their basement because they really don't have any intentions of performing for more than their banner-waving friends and families.

Want me to play your originals?? I GET PAID BY THE HOUR TO WORK; to learn your songs and rehearse as well as when/if we play out.

Yeah.. music is still important.
 
#15
grinx said:
For known/established acts....

Today, may as well hire a cardboard cutout of yourself shakily holding up your smartphone taking a video of a band that charges more than most people can afford and save the $10-$20 for parking, $10-$20 for beer.....no one buys T-shirts anymore.....I remember in high school in the 80's it was a big deal to show up to school the day after a concert with your ___________ Live Tour 198_ shirt and it being a big deal

live music today is just a way for bands who can't sell records (downloads) to make some money

For local acts....

Something nostalgic to compete with DJ's and piped-in house music

or festivals
Click to expand...

I have 15 row seats for McCartney on 7/16, Miller Park. I paid $150.00. My Dad paid $5.65 per ticket when we saw The Beatles in 1965 at Shea, considering that was 48 years ago, maybe not so bad.

Blue
 
#18
I don't think it's nearly as important today, as far as social reflection and action, as it was back then. I think there are artists with that expression, but the majority of the population would rather listen to Kesha and Justin Timberlake, and that kind of crap... Music made to sell records. Taking a social stance one way or another alienates you from the other half of those record sales.

There are generational differences too. Current generation of young folks doesn't seem to care about what our government is doing or the problems in society. As far as older folks go, it would seem we're more into blaming the "other half" than figuring out actual solutions to problems. It's sad to me.
 
#19
As with any discussion of the 'good old days'... only the good stuff is able to stand the test of time. People forget about bubblegum pop and throwaway Beatles clones. The music that is still listenable today was the best music, not the only music.

Live music even more important now--bands can't simply rely on record deals/sales. Live venues here are always packed, bands make their livings touring.
 

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