Is the internet a blessing or a curse for music?

Real_Illusions · #1 01-19-2009, 02:54 PM

Hey guys, new topic this time!

So, do you think the internet is a good, or bad thing for music?

Consider particular aspects of it, such as piracy like torrents and usenet groups, and social sites like myspace and facebook. Torrents and the like have made just about everything available for free. But does this devalue music and make it something thats thought of and taken for granted as free? and consequently damage music companys. But sites such as myspace and facebook make it much easier for artists (whether they are signed or not) to promote and publish thier own music. Add any other points you can think of

So what are your opinions of the internet? as a listener? a musician? maybe even as if you own a record company?

toneboy · #2 01-19-2009, 03:00 PM

To me there's the business side of it (file sharing, downloads, et al) and the art side of it (hearing other musicians, sharing music and techniques).

The former has hurt it financially while the later has received great benefit from the Internet. Once the business side catches up, things should even out but that's usually the case with technology. We are ingenious at discovering new tech and creating it but we tend to lag behind on using it responsibly.

andy7jem · #3 01-19-2009, 03:02 PM

For one point i've bought many cd's on line i would NEVER find in High Street retail outlets that cater only for more mainstream music!!

So it does actually provide access to a far wider spectrum of music than i would have been able to own without it

toneboy · #4 01-19-2009, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy7jem

For one point i've bought many cd's on line i would NEVER find in High Street retail outlets that cater only for more mainstream music!!

So it does actually provide access to a far wider spectrum of music than i would have been able to own without it

That's a very good point. I used to work next to an independent record/cd store for a long time and it made me spoiled. I could walk into it and they would have all the cool instrumental guitar music I wanted. When I moved, there was not stores around like that but e-commerce solved that problem.

andy7jem · #5 01-19-2009, 03:25 PM

Yeah, there used to be a store in London years ago that used to do all sorts obscure rock/metal in the days of vinyl when cd's were only just gaining popularity!!

Hence i got a few gems on vinyl like Talas (Sheehan), Stu Hamm's solo stuff, Racer X Live, Steeler (Yngwie's first ever album release), and others!!!

Then it got bought out and sold rap sh*t

HMV doesn't quite stock much of interest

The likes of cduniverse, cdjapan, amazon etc have been a true blessing

rob777vdy · #6 01-19-2009, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy7jem

Yeah, there used to be a store in London years ago that used to do all sorts obscure rock/metal in the days of vinyl when cd's were only just gaining popularity!!

Hence i got a few gems on vinyl like Talas (Sheehan), Stu Hamm's solo stuff, Racer X Live, Steeler (Yngwie's first ever album release), and others!!!

Then it got bought out and sold rap sh*t

HMV doesn't quite stock much of interest

The likes of cduniverse, cdjapan, amazon etc have been a true blessing

theres a store up here in newcastle (steel wheels) sells millions of old rock/jazz/blues ect ect.i bought all my vai cd's from here some as little as £3.i dont download music off the net

shreddersymphony · #7 01-19-2009, 04:06 PM

I think it can be a blessing if people would just wake up to the reality that the world is changing. With Itunes still selling albums for $10.00 when the physical albums with all the artwork and everything are down to $11.00 in some stores, its certainly not a good thing. What needs to happen is some kind of system where you can buy an album online for a cheap price (4-5 bucks). There exist systems like this now but I'm not sure how legal they are.

Overall, I think the internet is a blessing. Music can now be distributed in the blink of an eye all over the world. It might not be a blessing business wise, but in terms of music as an art form it is certainly a great innovation.

Darin · #8 01-19-2009, 08:02 PM

It's an absolute blessing. We have the opportunity to share ours and experience others music impossible any other way. While I care about guys losing money with illegal downloads, the benefit outweighs it.

The Euphor · #9 01-19-2009, 09:33 PM

Music. How about young guitarists? No need to transcribe songs, everything is available online. No need to learn theory, always someone else to ask on a forum.

I think the Internet is really bad for up and coming guitarists. I remember I got so many things for free just by learning VH tunes by ear. Some of them were totally wrong, but I learned some basic chord progressions. Later, when someone told me about the modes, I could recognize it fairly quick. Today I feel most guitarists (fresh ones) don't see the need to learn theory. It's too accessible.

Then there is the business parts.

Well, I'll settle with those new guitarists.

Spiritinthesky · #10 02-20-2009, 04:30 AM

Its a great thing for music, its changed the way its run.

DEADTUNES666 · #11 02-20-2009, 10:42 AM

I love the internet for so many reasons. I run both of my businesses on there...

But...

IT'S MADE IT EASIER TO...

obtain knowledge, but not really learn it...

reach the masses easier, but with less real work put into it...

sell product overseas, but not be able to play live for anyone...

turned the tables on the evil record companies, but then we become our own evil empire...

reach a level of fame quicker, but without putting in the time to cultivate who you are...

put your information out there for the world, but on a much less personal scale...

The internet like anything else is good to a degree but it shouldn't replace hard work, artistic integrity, or the satisfaction that comes with time and effort put into something.

There were still shoemakers when I was a kid, and a pair of boots lasted a lifetime. Today they are made overseas on an assembly line with machines and I go through a pair or two a year.

More is not always better, but being better is!

Markice9 · #12 02-22-2009, 05:23 AM

To me it a good thing we got ripped off by the music industry for years in the UK Ireland I can remmember paying £19.99 for a cd in 1998 obcene . Screw them now they have to offer a little more for us to buy their product now we have the power nowget free dvds to get u to buy . plus when I used get a tab I usuallydidn`t have the song to match it now Can pull up any song on youtube . Although I still have`nt downloaded any mp3s to my hardrive I don`t belive in that , that is steeling . I think of youtube as Mtv you control lol or the radio without the royalties lol .

nickcoumbe · #13 03-06-2009, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy7jem

HMV doesn't quite stock much of interest

In my opinion if a record shop/online store/tab site doesn't have Dweezil's Version of "My guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama", the chances are thay wont have anything else I want either.

Answering the question: At the moment it is good for the fan and probably bad for te industry in it's current form. I am a recent convert to I-tunes, and although people still tell me to download for free, I just don't mind paying £0.79 for a song. I am actually buying more music now htan I ever have.

Saying that, home taping didn't kill music in the end, I doubt that the internet will.

**jim777** · #14 03-06-2009, 10:30 PM

I have been exposed to so much new music I never would have heard before by Pandora that I have to give the whole entire Internet a thumbs up just for that. Pandora rules, it's an awesome service.