The manner people enjoy music has changed a lot throughout the years, therefore resulting in changes of power within the music industry. Nowadays, growth in music lies within consumers and independent artists instead of only a few big record companies. If you’re interested in reading more about current trends and potential future movements of music’s growth, read on.
Music has Become more Accessible
Music was far less available in the past. If you wanted to hear a specific song, buying the album it was on or hearing it once on the radio was your only hope.
With platforms such as Spotify, Soundcloud, and Bandcamp, users can listen to millions of songs for free. If you produce music yourself, you may have released tunes on these websites before. Overall, it has become much easier to get music. In the next few years, we can expect new ways for artists to more efficiently connect with their target audiences of dedicated fans and first-time listeners—which makes sense, seeing as Spotify alone had 365 million users in 2021.
Anyone can be a Rockstar
If you want to take up a musical instrument or make your own tunes, there are loads of online marketplaces that will sell you the gear. You can find anything online, whether you need a guitar, an amp, a guitar pedal board, or specialist software. What’s more, social media makes it much easier for brands to get their messages in front of users who are interested in what they do.
Apart from these, tutorials and guides are everywhere on the Internet. Many YouTube channels offer free guides and tutorials on playing music, adjusting pedal effects, using music production software, and much more. You can also pay for lessons on apps, on which you can learn at your own pace or get tutors. However, with the increase in accessibility, the skill level required to create quality music has also increased.
Technology not only helps creates better-sounding music, but it is also more accessible to the average person. In fact, electronic drum sets have become increasingly popular in recent years among all levels of drummers. They are popular for a reason — they do not make as much noise as a traditional drum set. Even with a smaller-sized kit, you can change the sounds to that of a whole percussion section in an orchestra. The sound quality doesn’t matter as much because it can be enhanced using software.
With all these improvements, anyone can be a rockstar — and this is fantastic news for music lovers everywhere. As a music producer or a person interested in technology, take notes; the relationship between music and technology will only continue to grow stronger in the future.
Music and Social Networking
The growth of social media has had a deep impact on the music industry as it becomes one of the main ways people discover new music. This change has led to many different consequences, some of which are listed below.
Mixing Genres
As music becomes more entertainment-based, it is starting to take after the trends of other forms of entertainment. People enjoy various types of media, and music is now following that model. There are fewer barriers between genres, which better reflects people’s taste — most folks don’t just stick to one category.
If you go back in time to the early days of NU metal, rap rock, and alternative bands like Linkin Park, Korn, and Limp Bizkit- genre blending was less popular than it is today. In recent years however, hip-hop elements are found in almost every pop song; some might even say that hip-hop has become pop. Freeing themselves from the boundaries of one genre allows artists to grow. As proof, songs that fuse various genres often do best on the charts — such as those by Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, and even K-Pop bands.
Blurring the Lines Between Media
Social media networks such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok promote the sharing of music. In fact, almost one-third of respondents to one survey said they discovered music through social media channels.
As background music has become increasingly prevalent on social media networks, more and more musicians are using these platforms to release songs and connect with fans. Comedy and meme-based social media networks have given way to a new trend in music: the combination of comedy and music. Some artists, such as Lubalin, have gained large followings from their work in this genre. With Spotify and Soundcloud, it’s easy for users to find and share new tracks with others.
In conclusion, we are starting to see the lines between music and other forms of entertainment become less distinct. In the past, people would consume music and other forms of entertainment separately. However, social media has given people the ability to find new songs while they scroll through their feeds. This growing combination of entertainment is having a major effect on the musical industry, and it’s probable that we will witness even more changes in future years.
Conclusion
As we have seen, the relationship between music and technology is constantly evolving. With social media networks, it has become easier for people to discover new music. In addition, musicians are using these platforms to release songs and connect with fans. The combination of comedy and music is also becoming more popular. All of these changes are having a major effect on the musical industry, and we can expect even more changes in the future.
