SDMF_Philly asked about this. Here you go brother! I feel that the mix of social media and the music world is a double edged sword. On one hand a band is able to get their music out to the world a lot faster. The use of social networks allows for bands to keep their fan base in the loop. Bands can give an up to the minute report of the events of touring, studio, video time. Social networks can also bands to use their fan base to advertise for them. What better than free advertising from willing participants? On the other side with EVERYONE using social media how does one keep from being lost in the flood? I am of the opinion that getting new fans is extremely difficult due to the sheer number of bands on the web. I also feel that some of the excitement and anticipation of waiting for a new release from a band is gone. I can remember having discussions with friends and wondering what our favorite bands new albums were going to be called, or what it would sound like. Now we know months a head of time all of the details. Social media? Like it or not it’s here to stay. I’m just gonna put the MP3 player on shuffle, get my headphones, and ROCK OUT!! Here’s a killer new track from Testament:
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the Hellion Rocks 
This is SUCH an interesting topic. And the answer literally changes every day. Before Social media, Record companies decided what we heard, were exposed to and ultimately shaped the world. (What if Ahmet Ertegün from Atlantic records were hit by a bus the day before he signed Led Zeppelin and some shmucky exec screwed up their deal and they got fed up and went country?) I know, stupid scenario, but it very well could have happened because the focus and control of popular music that was promoted and exposed to the public was THAT NARROW! Now it’s wide open!
What if Led Zeppelin were just coming around now (again, a contrived and stupid scenario) They would very likely be lost in the mix. the record company would likely have little interest in them because now THIER purpose is to groom and create polar music, not discover it. Poor old Jimmy and the boys are on Myspace and Facebook and Reverb Nation having to put their own stuff up on download sites like iTunes along with millions of others doing the same thing! (I believe personally that they would do quite well and rise above the masses) but the point is, because of Social Media and Digital downloadable music, The masses are infinitely more massive than ever before.
There is so much good stuff out there that we may never get the chance to hear. On the flip side, There are groups who for what ever reason (geographics, economics) wouldn’t normally ever have a chance of being heard by any one out side earshot of their garage who now can put it out there (with the massive masses) and work their tails off for a shot. Every one has a somewhat even shot now! (for the most part).
Ultimately the relatively simple machine that created the world’s musical experience for decades up until about ten years ago, Has become a massively complicated and over worked computer (metaphor). We have yet too see how the dust will settle. In the mean time we now have this opportunity to taste every flavor we can and discover our own “top 40” or 80 or 1000.
the real answer to that question for me is…
To be continued…
I can always count on you Glen for some outstanding commentary. Thanks!
I meant POPULAR music. not POLAR. my bad.
gotcha!
It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d definitely donate to this excellent blog!
I suppose for now i’ll settle foor book-marking and addng your RSS
feed to my Google account. I look forward to new updafes and will talk about this blog with
my Facebook group. Chat soon!