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Is Old Music Killing New Music?
The Atlantic ^ | January 23, 2022 | Ted Gioia

Posted on 01/23/2022 3:42:55 PM PST by Yardstick

Old songs now represent 70 percent of the U.S. music market, according to the latest numbers from MRC Data, a music-analytics firm. Those who make a living from new music—especially that endangered species known as the working musician—should look at these figures with fear and trembling. But the news gets worse: The new-music market is actually shrinking. All the growth in the market is coming from old songs.

The 200 most popular new tracks now regularly account for less than 5 percent of total streams. That rate was twice as high just three years ago. The mix of songs actually purchased by consumers is even more tilted toward older music. The current list of most-downloaded tracks on iTunes is filled with the names of bands from the previous century, such as Creedence Clearwater Revival and The Police.

(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment; Society
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Rick Beato, a popular YouTuber with a channel about music and music theory, talked about this piece in his live stream today. The stats showing how old music is dominating new music in the marketplace are striking.

I'll toss out three basic perspectives:

1) New music is great and those who disagree either don't know where to find it or have a generational bias

2) New music sucks but there's reason to believe it will recover and be great again

3) New music sucks and it's all downhill from here

I probably agree most with 2 but am nagged by the possibility of 3.

1 posted on 01/23/2022 3:42:55 PM PST by Yardstick
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To: Yardstick

New music is great. If you don’t know that, you don’t know how to find it. Here’s a clue: you will not find great new music on commercial radio stations. You probably won’t even find it on satellite stations either.


2 posted on 01/23/2022 3:45:14 PM PST by Responsibility2nd (I love my country. It's my government that I hate.)
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To: Yardstick

Yeah, I have a lot of respect for Beato. I’ll have to check this out.


3 posted on 01/23/2022 3:46:05 PM PST by sauropod (Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad. Life is risk, your highness.)
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To: Yardstick

It’s like everything else in all of Western Civilization (as it collapses) - everything, everywhere sucks. And it is all downhill from here.


4 posted on 01/23/2022 3:47:04 PM PST by Scott from the Left Coast (Make Orwell Fiction Again)
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To: Responsibility2nd

You are 100% correct. There are some amazing artists out there, but they are not on the radio, and the music industry is as out of ideas as the movie industry.


5 posted on 01/23/2022 3:47:11 PM PST by cdcdawg (Everyone who disagrees with me is a Qtard blogger!!!!)
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To: Responsibility2nd

Who only listens to radio nowadays?


6 posted on 01/23/2022 3:47:12 PM PST by Yardstick
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To: Responsibility2nd

“New music is great. If you don’t know that, you don’t know how to find it”

Please list some. I want to check them out.


7 posted on 01/23/2022 3:48:12 PM PST by setter
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To: Responsibility2nd

Malarkey


8 posted on 01/23/2022 3:48:23 PM PST by JonPreston (Q: Never have so many, been so wrong, so often)
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To: Yardstick

—> Who only listens to radio nowadays?

Pick me!!!

People who only have radios.


9 posted on 01/23/2022 3:48:46 PM PST by aMorePerfectUnion (Fraud vitiates everything ᡕᠵ᠊ᡃ࡚ࠢ࠘ ⸝່ࠡࠣ᠊߯᠆ࠣ࠘ᡁࠣ࠘᠊᠊ࠢ࠘𐡏⁻ )
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To: JonPreston

Malarkey? Joe Biden, is that you?


10 posted on 01/23/2022 3:49:39 PM PST by Responsibility2nd (I love my country. It's my government that I hate.)
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There are some exceptional groups today. They are simply not what your tech overlords want on the radio.


11 posted on 01/23/2022 3:51:27 PM PST by dsrtsage ( Complexity is just simple lacking imagination)
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To: setter

I have well over 10,000 individual songs saved on my Amazon music. Here’s how I did it. I found an artist that I liked listening to. Then Amazon music has the option to find other artists and songs that are similar. You keep saving music that you like and pretty soon you’ll have a vast collection like mine. With all genres.


12 posted on 01/23/2022 3:51:50 PM PST by Responsibility2nd (I love my country. It's my government that I hate.)
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To: aMorePerfectUnion

You obviously have more than a radio. I know you’re posting on a computer right now so you obviously have access to tens of thousands of new songs that would appeal to you.

I prefer Amazon music. But there are plenty of other options out there in which you can save your favorite songs and artists.


13 posted on 01/23/2022 3:53:20 PM PST by Responsibility2nd (I love my country. It's my government that I hate.)
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To: Responsibility2nd

Yes!!!


14 posted on 01/23/2022 3:54:41 PM PST by JonPreston (Q: Never have so many, been so wrong, so often)
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To: Yardstick

I have tried to listen to music from today, and there ste very, very few songs that I actually liked.
Most of the time, anything that’s made after about 1989 just pretty much sucks. But, then again, it’s just my opinion.


15 posted on 01/23/2022 3:57:19 PM PST by hoagy62 (DTCM&OTTH)
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Comment #16 Removed by Moderator

To: Yardstick
Good Post. I also follow Rick Beato.
I also agree with post below yours, that good New music is out there. Just ain't gonna find it on the Radio. However I get a kick out of playing Judas Priests first album when folks come over. There like is that new Man. LOL. Tons of old music that never got played are diamonds in the ruff.
17 posted on 01/23/2022 3:58:49 PM PST by MotorCityBuck ( Keep the change, you filthy animal! ,)
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To: Yardstick

There’s probably good new music, but it’s not getting promoted by record labels because it’s not woke enough.

The record labels promote crap.

The Beatles wouldn’t make it today because they were 4 white guys.


18 posted on 01/23/2022 4:00:11 PM PST by luckystarmom
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To: All

Well there are a lot more “old” music compared to “new” music and it’s easier than ever to get it.


19 posted on 01/23/2022 4:00:19 PM PST by escapefromboston (Free Chauvin)
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To: Yardstick

IMHO, New music, commercially produced, overwhelmingly, is not inspiring, is woke and does not stand the test of time.


20 posted on 01/23/2022 4:00:33 PM PST by frogjerk (I will not do business with fascists)
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