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Many of us are old enough to remember the time we would eagerly pick up a CD from our local record shop and let it play from front to back without skipping a track. We know now though, those days are pretty much over, with your typical major label album consisting of as many singles as you can squeeze in, leaving the rest as fillers. Those Indie artists lucky enough to support themselves, have full control over their own music, but the work it takes to push their art of storytelling can often be a double-edged sword with physical sales set to continually decline.. (Forrest 12/09)
In an era where songs and albums are as available as water and often leaked, sometimes months before the release, it’s no surprise those big labels pressure artists to make as many catchy, radio/video/club friendly tracks as they can. The result is albums coming off as a collection of greatest hits, instead of a complete, cohesive, themed album. That is it seems, is as rare as a pop singer who doesn’t use auto-tune.
While it’s nice to be able to pick up your favorite songs individually and leave behind the fillers, the way it’s being done certainly affects the quality of releases. When was the last time you listened to any major artist album front to back? On the flip-side from an artist taking the indie route, it can make having your passion be your career a more viable way of sustaining yourself, but then again there’s much more competition than there used to be. Indie artists do have real potential to be as successful as any artist backed by a major label but many never seem to figure out the the proper formula, considering the amount of self-promotion it takes.
The music industry is constantly changing and those stuck in the past will get left behind. In this new digital age labels and artists alike must learn to adapt as well as accept that to flourish you must either conform to label rules, or bust your ass independently to hone what it is you bring to the table. What we must learn now is if the table is bigger, is there still room for everybody to eat?
As for the fans such as myself that miss the old days, nothing will bring those back, but you will find satisfaction and a world of talent, art, creativity, and passion little represented in the mainstream all across the web and in your local communities. So remember to open your minds and your ears and support passionate artists in your local scene, it only takes the small things to encourage them to continue with their real art forms.
The solution?
Keep supporting local music
~ http://mplsmusic.com/bands/new/