A common sentiment found in the music industry executives is that music is perishing. This "music" is different than what we all know and love. To most of them, music refers to something that earns money. And sounds good. But that doesn't matter. As long as it makes money, it's called music. Although it's true that the Internet has given way to massive piracy of music, movies, books and software, it has been much more than simply "helpful" in providing access to the mainstream as well as the more obscure music. Not only it has done that, but it has provided people across the world a platform where they can post their content so that other people may be able to listen to it. This has helped many young artists breakout to the mainstream, where they have enjoyed further success due to their music. Major record labels sign them on and they get a chance to work with professionals, with professional tools in a professional environment.
Video and music streaming sites like YouTube, Soundcloud, Bandcamp and Spotify have supported these young talents and have given them limitless freedom to do whatever they want, to experiment.
These little experiments are one of the reasons why music has evolved. If you look back towards the 80s, 90s, there weren't as many music genres and sub-genres as there are now. Every genre now has many sub-genres that have a very specific sound.
The deepest and darkest depths of the Web are filled to the brim with music. So much so, that they extend the boundaries of what we call "music". They have incorporated all sorts of weird, eerie sounds and even noises. This includes loud static and screeching noises.
But even though you might find it strange and unsettling, these are the major albeit simple things that make the Internet an amazing place for music. It's because everyone can try their hand at making music. They are bound by nothing. They have the freedom to make twenty minute long track with nothing but robotic vocals, a generic beat, and a few loud noises here and there. They can let their creativity and imagination run free which sometimes leads them to the uncharted territories of music. And if they are lucky, they might even find an audience for the type of "uncharted territory" they discover. Once others hear their music and if it appeals to them, they might try their own hand at making that type of music. Thus, a genre/sub-genre appears.
When these genres fail to find a market or their audience seems to fall off, they fall back into obscurity and are considered "dead". This is what bothers me a lot. I can understand why people might want to change their taste in music or just stop listening to any music at all, but to consider a genre "dead" is just... bad. If there isn't as big of an audience for that genre like there was a few years back, it doesn't mean that people don't listen to it anymore. It is not like no one knows of their existence. There are still people who love to play that music, and those who love to hear it. So to label it as dead and just move on, is very douche-y.
I can see why the execs in the music-industry might think that their job is being threatened due to the internet, but if the internet has done anything to the music-industry, it is that it has helped them evolve.
Music can never die. Even in the darkest darks where hope fears to tread, like light and life, music always finds a way to shine and spread hope. It might sound that I'm being a bit overly optimistic but it is the truth. It's all in the music and the power it possesses.
The information age has spawned a lot of creativity from new generations. That is what scares the old generation. That one day their ideas and thoughts will be obsolete! I love this post by the way. @infinitor