What's Wrong with Today's Music?

Today's music is simple. Most top 40 hits start out with a simple four count, four beat bass, a snare drum and a "thump thump thump" as the main beat. Don't forget the digital fixing of voices and classic synthesizers can get thrown in the mix, too.

Recently, I took a road trip across the state to Ann Arbor, to see the Michigan Wolverines play, of course. After losing radio station after radio station along the way I kept trying to find the local top 40 stations. I ended up hearing the same 40 songs played multiple times within the course of just a few hours. I found this theme throughout my years growing up with music.

The classic artists have been around for decades. Their legacy lives on in names like The Beatles, Elvis, and other existing bands from previous music eras. Too many to name have left their marks on history. Today is a different story. We have too many "One-Hit Wonders." How many people remember songs like "Handlebars" by Flobots? I'm not picking on Flobots in any way, because there are plenty of other "one-hit wonders" out there. Today, it seems like the music being made is temporary, and hangs around only as long as it's played on the radio. It seems like some people are only in it for the money.

Today's music industry is so congested that it makes it hard for true talent to be recognized. Instruments and recording hardware and software are more easily accessible, making it possible for home recording. From my own experience, I have found that people enter the music business because of their love for music. I often find that these same individuals do not realize how much work is put into making true music. Countless hours are spent writing, rewriting, editing, recording, re-recording, etc. This list goes on and on. My own attempts at multiple bands have fallen short because of other commitments. My friends and I could not put in the time that it takes to make a truly great band. Life happened and life was the priority. I find that others run into the same problems.

My thoughts are as follows. What will happen when our children are sitting in the backseat of the newest style of minivan listening to the music we listen to now? Will they be able to recognize the multiple "one-hit wonders" as true legends of this music era? It might even be possible that our era of music is known as the music of all "one-hit wonders." Personally, I want our music era to be known for much more than that. Why can there not be more artists who leave their mark on history? Where is the music that inspires and breaks down walls?

Of course, there are artists in the industry who have done just that. They are making their marks on history. Hopefully, there can be more like them.