The following article is part of an eight part series exploring my thoughts on the state of electronic music in the current decade compared to the 1990's and 1980's.
--------------------------------------------------------------Since the beginning of the twenty first century electronic music has not seen the emergence of any new genres, ground breaking artists, or lasting albums that will continue to live on. Sure there are the Jamie Lidells, and LCD Soundsystems who are doing some interesting things, but are they doing anything new? Are they really anything more then the assumed linear evolution of Aphex Twins, Depeche Modes, and Prodigys of yesteryear? On the radio these days the prevalence of electronic acts showcasing their music on traditional radio stations seems to be fading. I personally live in Chicago and we have a fantastic alternative rock radio station called Q101. Throughout the 1990's Q101 (and other stations) often played tracks by Underworld, Prodigy, Moby and others simply because the tracks were good tracks. They had the rough for the indie crowd, but also mass appeal to garner a larger audience. Currently however, there seems to be little if any display of modern electronic music on any radio station in Chicago.The internet, online radio and digital distribution have in some regards become the new medium of conversion; however the online world does not have the marketing appeal or the audience base to the level of conventional radio. Artists today may find that outlets of distribution have restricted avenues and conceptions of sound and style then once past and may lock themselves into the notion of defined music. I have several different reasons for why I think the music has degraded to the point it has, but for the purposes of this exercise I ultimately think it comes down to three general ideas: the sound of the music, the artists, and the internet. Other Chapters in this writing:
.:Part I:The Decade That Should Have Been:.
.:Part II:Where Electronic Music Was:.
.:Part III:Who is to Blame?:.
.:Part IV: The Sound:.
.:Part V: The Tools:.
.:Part VI: Internet:.
.:Part VII: The Artists:.
.:Part VIII: The Birth of the Renaissance:.Stay Tuned for Part IV: The Sound.
Tags: The Electronic Renaissance Part III: Who is to blame? Article
--------------------------------------------------------------Since the beginning of the twenty first century electronic music has not seen the emergence of any new genres, ground breaking artists, or lasting albums that will continue to live on. Sure there are the Jamie Lidells, and LCD Soundsystems who are doing some interesting things, but are they doing anything new? Are they really anything more then the assumed linear evolution of Aphex Twins, Depeche Modes, and Prodigys of yesteryear? On the radio these days the prevalence of electronic acts showcasing their music on traditional radio stations seems to be fading. I personally live in Chicago and we have a fantastic alternative rock radio station called Q101. Throughout the 1990's Q101 (and other stations) often played tracks by Underworld, Prodigy, Moby and others simply because the tracks were good tracks. They had the rough for the indie crowd, but also mass appeal to garner a larger audience. Currently however, there seems to be little if any display of modern electronic music on any radio station in Chicago.The internet, online radio and digital distribution have in some regards become the new medium of conversion; however the online world does not have the marketing appeal or the audience base to the level of conventional radio. Artists today may find that outlets of distribution have restricted avenues and conceptions of sound and style then once past and may lock themselves into the notion of defined music. I have several different reasons for why I think the music has degraded to the point it has, but for the purposes of this exercise I ultimately think it comes down to three general ideas: the sound of the music, the artists, and the internet. Other Chapters in this writing:
.:Part I:The Decade That Should Have Been:.
.:Part II:Where Electronic Music Was:.
.:Part III:Who is to Blame?:.
.:Part IV: The Sound:.
.:Part V: The Tools:.
.:Part VI: Internet:.
.:Part VII: The Artists:.
.:Part VIII: The Birth of the Renaissance:.Stay Tuned for Part IV: The Sound.
Tags: The Electronic Renaissance Part III: Who is to blame? Article