FEATURE: The Value Of Music Today

 Is it all just a hobby? The definition of a hobby is actually quite simple. You take an activity that is made up of time spent and money invested. If the financial profit is higher than the investment, one speaks of a professional or commercial orientation, at least in the tax sense. If the personal investment is higher than the profit achieved, one has a hobby or one is pursuing a hobby. Is this broken down definition really that simple and, above all, what value does music have today?

The magic of the past or the transfigured look back

The constant “there used to be more tinsel” sayings, although they now seem very tiring, unfortunately sometimes have something very true about them. A colleague of mine was recently asked by his son why music from the sixties is still present today and is often played in advertising, at events or even on the radio. His answer was "In the sixties, music was created to generate emotions, today's music is created to generate clicks." In return, one might ask, if music creators 6 decades ago had had the same technical possibilities as they do today, they wouldn't have produced the same irrelevant crap that largely floods streaming platforms today? They certainly would have! Or to put it another way, has the limitation of artists by technology meant that they were forced to engage with their creative craft in order to reach the fan?

In addition to its mostly technically predetermined sound, each musical era has its own unique style of musical performance, both in terms of orchestration, arrangement and musical implementation. At the very beginning of recording technology, there was a band playing live in which one or perhaps two microphones tried to capture the live sound to some extent and record it directly onto the record. Gambled it up, forgot the text, grabbed the potatoes? New recording or leave the mistake on it. The musicians had to be correspondingly fit on their instrument. Different volumes? Move the respective instrument forward or backward in the room, done! The aim was to build a mood using the simplest means, because “we had nothing”.

With multi-track technology, you could not only record the instruments individually, but also create more through overdubs than what the band would have been able to achieve in its natural structure. They finally arrived in the “artificial” area using the drop in/out method, which was celebrated as the holy grail by singers and soloists in particular, as they managed to combine individual passages for the first time in order to get the most out of the artist's technical skills to bring out the artist in the studio, even if some of it can no longer be implemented live. The beginning of the end. Why? A few weeks ago I happened to see a live concert by Supertramp from the seventies on TV. Except for the fact that there was a little more room reverberation on the microphones and the saxophonist's intonation was off a few times, the concert was a 1:1 representation of the respective recordings. Not only did the instrumental passages sound identical, but the vocals were also indistinguishable. It's hard to believe these days when, at least in the rock sector, people are more than grateful if the singer even partially manages to reproduce the studio recordings.

Yes, and then HD Recording came along and with it, every producer's wettest dreams became reality. Everything, absolutely everything, that had been dreamed of for decades suddenly became a reality, which led to gigantic productions, especially in the eighties, that no longer had anything to do with a “classic” band constellation. If anything, you were slowed down by the computing power of the Macs / Ataris and the storage capacity of the respective peripherals, I only say AKAI Sampler 16 MB (MB, not GB!). This limit has finally been torn down in recent years, as current DAWs no longer have any limits when it comes to tracks, plugins and automation, and all for a price for which four decades ago you could only get two official preamps in 19 inch format has.

Anyone who has read this far is probably wondering why the entire list, everything is known, everything has already been heard. Well, it's supposed to show you why the situation is the way it is.

The value itself...

In order to determine the value of any action or item, we briefly go into “the world of evil”, i.e. we take a quick look at the financial industry with all of its stocks, bonds, derivatives, P2P loans and cryptocurrencies. Determining a value is very easy, anything that requires great effort to produce or is only available in small quantities is valuable, regardless of whether it is vintage cars, whiskey, art objects or Bitcoins. Anything that can be produced quickly, without great effort and in any quantity is comparatively worthless. Or to put it another way, Bitcoin, at 21 million. limited, cannot be multiplied any further and is produced with a lot of energy to ensure absolute protection against counterfeiting, and in the long term increases in value. FIAT money such as B. the US dollar is increased almost indefinitely, especially in times of crisis (every third dollar currently in circulation was printed in the last three years), fuels inflation and constantly loses value.

Applied to the music industry, this means that anything that can be easily produced in the home studio no longer has any value. The best example is orchestral recordings. Just a few years ago, recording a large symphony orchestra required huge logistical, technical, spatial and financial effort. Today you can throw in a high-quality library and, assuming you have the technical arranging skills, you can produce Hans Zimmer compositions on an assembly line in your bedroom. Result: no one listens anymore to an orchestral part in a film, a video game or a composition, while you bought the CD for the Star Wars soundtrack so you can listen to John Williams' excellent work at home.


The monetary aspect...

What is sometimes a great enrichment for the hobby musician turns out to be a death knell for the professional musician in many cases. Since almost every hobby musician wants to publish their creativity and in times of Spotify and colleagues this is also possible for everyone at a very reasonable price, the music world is flooded with thousands of publications every hour, some of which are never noticed outside of one's personal circle of friends.

Nowadays, for example, even with GarageBand, it is easily possible to stick together pre-made loops with appropriate instrumentation without even having any idea what you are doing, let alone mastering an instrument. Today, when I ask guitarists on Facebook what they do musically, in 90% of all cases I get the answer “I'm currently learning to set up my home studio and working on my first CD”. Mastering an instrument has quietly moved away from being the top priority in personal, musical life planning and is now just a means to an end for “recording music”. To found a band? It's too tiring for what! Keep the band alive? It's not worth it!

In plain English, newcomers no longer have a chance to assert themselves in the flood of publications and professionals are no longer needed because technology has almost completely replaced them. I don't even want to start with the Corona catastrophe. Where there are losers, there are always winners, so who benefits from the current development? You might hardly think it's possible, but it's the established manufacturers and the big music department stores.

Since Corona at the latest, sales of instruments in the lower and lowest price categories have multiplied. The hype already ends in the middle price range, as many musicians do not understand the meaning behind a higher quality, but also better sounding instrument, especially since the sound of the recording sounds identical to a guitar that costs €300 or €3,000, so why more spend as necessary?


A look into the crystal ball...

How is the future going to look like. I won't be so presumptuous, here's a final statement on this matter. to meet, but with just over 40 years of experience as a prof. As a musician, I can at least take development as a given. Music is being “consumed” more than ever before, without the “consumer” having even the slightest interest in the artist, the song title or a story behind the song. In principle, every song has already been written and will ultimately only be reproduced in a slightly modified form as a new title.

This development will continue, and in my opinion AI (Artificial Intelligence) will increasingly find its way into the “pro” business and then also into the consumer sector. As a producer, you will enter your desired style, choose an artist as a model and the AI will then compose the track for you, mix it and possibly also have an API for your digital distributor, which will immediately post the track on Spotify etc., i.e. H. even more titles at even shorter intervals without any artists. If you ever need them for the cover or playback shows etc., you choose the appropriate models from the catalog and book them by the hour. By the way, this is not cynicism, I'm sure it will go in that direction. You can get the first results e.g. E.g. listen here:


There will still be bands who have a good time with a beer in the hobby cellar after work and maybe also play one or two shows a year in the local pub (as long as this Corona has survived...), but there will be a lively scene of musicians who Meeting people with their instruments to play in front of people without backing tracks and make money in the process will no longer exist.

————————-

Additional Informations:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a revolutionary force in various industries, and the realm of music is no exception. The integration of AI technologies in the music industry has not only transformed the way music is created, produced, and consumed but has also opened up new avenues for creativity and innovation. This article explores the multifaceted impact of AI in the music sector, covering areas such as composition, production, recommendation systems, and the evolving landscape of music distribution.

1. AI in Music Composition

One of the most significant contributions of AI to the music industry lies in its ability to compose original pieces. AI algorithms, particularly generative models, have gained prominence in creating compositions that range from classical to contemporary genres. Projects like Google's Magenta and OpenAI's MuseNet showcase the capability of AI to analyze patterns in existing musical compositions and generate new, unique pieces.

AI systems can analyze vast datasets of musical scores, styles, and genres to understand the nuances of various musical elements. These systems then employ machine learning techniques, including deep neural networks, to compose music that aligns with specific parameters or artistic preferences. The result is a fusion of human creativity and machine precision, providing musicians with new sources of inspiration and collaboration.

2. AI in Music Production

In addition to composition, AI has significantly impacted the production process of music. Automation tools, powered by AI, assist in tasks such as mixing, mastering, and sound engineering. For instance, AI algorithms can analyze audio tracks and automatically adjust levels, equalization, and other parameters to achieve a polished and professional sound.

AI-driven plugins and software also enable musicians and producers to experiment with new sounds and effects, pushing the boundaries of traditional music production. By automating repetitive tasks, AI allows artists to focus more on the creative aspects of their work, potentially leading to the development of novel and groundbreaking musical styles.

3. Personalized Music Recommendations

Music recommendation systems have become integral to the way people discover and consume music. AI plays a crucial role in these systems by analyzing user behavior, preferences, and historical data to generate personalized recommendations. Platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Pandora utilize advanced machine learning algorithms to curate playlists and suggest songs tailored to individual tastes.

These recommendation systems not only enhance user experience but also contribute to the exposure of lesser-known artists. By leveraging AI, music streaming services can identify niche genres or emerging trends, ensuring a diverse and dynamic musical landscape.

4. AI and Creativity

The intersection of AI and creativity in music has sparked debates about the nature of artistic expression. Critics argue that relying on algorithms may dilute the authenticity of human creativity, while proponents believe that AI can act as a collaborator, offering fresh perspectives and expanding the creative palette.

AI's ability to analyze vast datasets and identify patterns allows musicians to experiment with unconventional combinations of sounds, genres, and styles. The collaborative potential of AI encourages artists to explore uncharted territories, fostering a symbiotic relationship between human intuition and machine-generated insights.

5. Challenges and Ethical Considerations

While AI presents immense opportunities for the music industry, it also brings forth challenges and ethical considerations. Issues related to copyright, intellectual property, and the potential displacement of human artists raise concerns about the long-term implications of AI in music.

The question of attribution becomes particularly pertinent when AI systems generate music autonomously. Determining the ownership of AI-generated compositions raises legal and ethical dilemmas, as current copyright laws are often ill-equipped to address such scenarios. Striking a balance between promoting innovation and protecting artists' rights remains a complex challenge.

Moreover, the use of AI in music creation also raises questions about job displacement within the industry. As AI tools become more sophisticated, there is the possibility that certain roles traditionally performed by humans, such as session musicians or arrangers, could be automated, impacting employment opportunities in the sector.

Conclusion

Artificial Intelligence has ushered in a new era for the music industry, reshaping the creative process, production techniques, and the way audiences discover and consume music. As AI continues to evolve, it is essential for stakeholders in the music industry, including artists, producers, and policymakers, to navigate the challenges and ethical considerations associated with this transformative technology.

Ultimately, the integration of AI in music represents an opportunity for synergistic collaboration, where human ingenuity and machine intelligence coalesce to push the boundaries of musical expression. The ongoing dialogue between technology and creativity will undoubtedly shape the future of the music industry, offering a dynamic landscape that embraces innovation while preserving the essence of artistic authenticity.