Music Apathy

Music downloading creates listener apathy. Ok, seriously, you know what really causes music apathy and lack of appreciation? Music that sucks. I mean, really, let's take an honest look at what this article says.

"The accessibility of music has meant that it is taken for granted and does
not require a deep emotional commitment once associated with music
appreciation,"

Isn't it more likely that the music that is being pumped out recently is complete and utter crap? It's pretty hard to make a deep emotional commitment to someone like Kanye West or P. Diddy. Call me crazy.

"In the 19th century, music was seen as a highly valued treasure with
fundamental and near-mystical powers of human communication," said North.

Personally, I think there is a pretty monumental difference between someone like Beethoven, and someone like, say, Green Day, who know all of about 5 chords and two tempos. Is there a lack of appreciation for music today? Absolutely. But is that because it is so accessible, or because 99% of what we hear today is a rehash of what has already been done years ago? Think about it, who are the big artists today? Whether you like them or not is irrelevant. The point is, they aren't original. There are a number of albums that I listen to, and thoroughly enjoy, yet I have very little appreciation for. I know that it's just not that hard to learn a bunch of old songs and redo them with a slight twist. Sampling an old R&B tune, throwing a heavy computer generated bass beat to it, and going on a rant about "the man" does not warrant appreciation. You may be entertained by it, but that is entirely different. I am entertained by seeing one of my friends fall down the stairs, but that doesn't require talent. It's just plain funny.

I truly believe that if someone of the caliber of Miles Davis or Duke Ellington were to come out today, they would be appreciated just as those guys were and still are. Unfortunately for us, however, we are stuck with shows like American Idol throwing random acts of talentless hacks into the public eye and calling it music. And Celine "I'm living proof that we are not evolving" Dion. Yikes.