When you take a look back in time, music used to be so simple and straightforward, you just grab a guitar and strum away the melodies of the tune, and that’s music done, right there and then. But as time went on, technology is more advanced now than ever, and music has changed for the better or worse? You decide. We might as well take a look at DJ booths, digital recorder software, synthesizers, and so forth., those pieces of technology have shaped music in the 21st Century to be something modern and efficient, but less personal.
With all of this equipment and software, the music feels produced rather than played, and fans are questioning even the likes of rock stars and heavy metal bands such as wayne metal church or Metallica because of their production choice. Nonetheless, technology’s part in shaping the music industry should be explained to help fans understand and accept the innovation.
How Did it Begin?
With the rise of the internet that marks the beginning of the digital age, we know that the music industry is going to be one of the most impacted industries there is besides entertainment. Musicians can make online concerts and live streams from YouTube and Instagram or any other video-sharing platforms that have helped quell the urge to go outside during the pandemic. Digital technology has made online music-sharing websites like Napster and 4share popular back in the early 2000s, and the internet allows people to pirate music for free without needing to burn CDs, which is when it all started.
What is Bad About it?
It is unquestionably bad for many music studios and performing artists that the digital technology advancement has made online pirating spiral out of control, and they’re losing money every day from albums and singles that they made. Industry giants like Abbey Road and Motown are hurt the most since the sales are stagnant because people are getting music for free through the internet, and that brings a lot of concern to the table such as musicians are not getting paid enough, they stopped making music, and studios went bankrupt.
Music producing technologies like the autotune and synthesizer also made fans question their loyalty to the artists since they are less personal and lack connection with the community. This is why legendary bands and performers such as Michael Jackson, Queen, Whitney Houston, The Beatles, Nirvana, et al., were so revered both online and offline, and it’s because of fans feeling a connection towards them, and it’s more about the music and delivering a message rather than doing business and sales.
The Bottom Line
While it is undeniably true that music has advanced so far in the future because of music producing and recording technologies, musicians and artists are being questioned by fans because of the lack of connection and personal touch in their works. The internet has also made online piracy unstoppable to the point that the industry is bleeding, and it is a sad thing to see as a music artist living in today’s world.