Pineapple Express: Someone Is Wrong on the Internet?

[Thomas Shey]

There's plenty of diversity of music. It just isn't broadly popular. But there's probably more that more have more access to than it was throughout the 20th Century.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Aaaand I see that thread became an excuse to bash various player types rather than an at least-theoretically interesting answer to the opening question--not that I'm sure that was what the OP wanted anyway.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

What was the last major musical trend, and when did it start/end.

If its after 2015, I would be shocked.

Well one current major musical trend is mainly an artifact of the post-2019 world…micro genres.

There’s a lot of new AND established musicians who are combining different genres of music or ethnic styles to create new genres, some of which are definitely distinct from the better known genres. Many of those are gaining strong followings, but the entire genre might be a a few handfulls of bands.

Some might be virtually unknown outside of videos on platforms like YouTube, like bardcore, Trve Kvlt surf, and so forth, with even the actual musicians behind the music being obscured from easy discernment in some cases.

In many ways, it’s reminiscent of the mixtape culture of early 80s metal fandom, but spread across the entire spectrum of popular music.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Well one current major musical trend is mainly an artifact of the post-2019 world…micro genres.

That was more or less what I was referring to above. You run into a lot of interesting music on YT. Its just that its fandom tends to be encapsulated, and it doesn't get to radio or the like; a lot of it lives and dies by Patreon.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

That was more or less what I was referring to above. You run into a lot of interesting music on YT. Its just that its fandom tends to be encapsulated, and it doesn't get to radio or the like; a lot of it lives and dies by Patreon.

But it’s still a major trend.

The democratization/balkanization of the music industry is creating all kinds of issues for major labels’ business models, artist compensation and merchandising. The seeds were planted decades ago, and now the harvest is beginning.

Back then, there were a few artists whose popularity was grounded in YouTube, mall concerts and the like, such as Tiffany and Justin Bieber. Now, I can think of a few “Internet famous” musicians who- despite not having a major label behind them- have been on-screen with their music and dialog in commercials for major companies.

It’s because the companies are trying to reach out to a target audience that has grown up without albums dominating their musical consumption. They’re not listening to as much radio. They’re riding in vehicles with Internet access, so they can simply play their Spotify playlists or suggested tracks from YouTube instead of carefully selected singles a record label sent to a single DJ on a station that has a presence in 20% of major markets.*







* some of which have their own Internet stations or groups, like “I heart radio”.

 

[trappedslider]

@Snarf Zagyg I find it odd that some numbers aren't divisible by two.

 

[Ryujin]

@Snarf Zagyg I find it odd that some numbers aren't divisible by two.

Everything is divisible by 2. Sometimes it's just less than ideal. Ask Solomon.

 

[payn]

Well one current major musical trend is mainly an artifact of the post-2019 world…micro genres.

There’s a lot of new AND established musicians who are combining different genres of music or ethnic styles to create new genres, some of which are definitely distinct from the better known genres. Many of those are gaining strong followings, but the entire genre might be a a few handfulls of bands.

Some might be virtually unknown outside of videos on platforms like YouTube, like bardcore, Trve Kvlt surf, and so forth, with even the actual musicians behind the music being obscured from easy discernment in some cases.

In many ways, it’s reminiscent of the mixtape culture of early 80s metal fandom, but spread across the entire spectrum of popular music.

Yes, if you honestly think there is no good music anymore, you either got imprinted on an era, or are just simply painfully unaware of what is being made.

 

[Bedrockgames]

Well one current major musical trend is mainly an artifact of the post-2019 world…micro genres.

There’s a lot of new AND established musicians who are combining different genres of music or ethnic styles to create new genres, some of which are definitely distinct from the better known genres. Many of those are gaining strong followings, but the entire genre might be a a few handfulls of bands.

Some might be virtually unknown outside of videos on platforms like YouTube, like bardcore, Trve Kvlt surf, and so forth, with even the actual musicians behind the music being obscured from easy discernment in some cases.

In many ways, it’s reminiscent of the mixtape culture of early 80s metal fandom, but spread across the entire spectrum of popular music.

I have to admit, I find the whole creating musical styles simply by combing into further and further sub genres a bit tiresome these days (one of my big turn offs to a lot of newer metal is this subdivision into more and more specific styles. Also some folk metal gets uncomfortably nationalistic for my tastes

 

[Bedrockgames]

Yes, if you honestly think there is no good music anymore, you either got imprinted on an era, or are just simply painfully unaware of what is being made.

I kind of agree with a lot of Beatos points. I think good music is still being made. Some of critiques about how music gets made these days, I do think reduces my enjoyment of newer music enough that I think it’s worth people considering what he is saying.

I am pretty open minded about music and will listen to and enjoy new music that comes out. However I can see the appeal of older production methods and I understand when people complain about some of the simplicity of pop music in general. In general is key though because while a lot of pop I hear lately sounds a bit simple, even for pop, some is extremely rich and complex. I think Rick’s biggest issue with a lot of his videos is he generalizes too broadly (I think he knows he is doing it but just trying to cut through the YouTube algorithm). He makes a lot of good points though.