Is Technology creating Music Elitism?
Posted on 27. Oct, 2009 by Hector Aviles in Blog
The following is a post I wrote for an internet music group discussion where the topic was “Technology vs. Mass Distribution”, with the implicit subtitle of “technology supporting elitism in Salsa”. The originator of the discussion, who lives in Peru, makes his point that since the variety and quality of Salsa music available through the internet is better than through radio, and since not all the population has access to computers, then technology must be creating elitism by allowing only those how can afford it to enjoy the better music available through the internet.
I begged to differ with the author, although I may be guilty of not emphasizing enough with the situation of my friends in Peru, as here in the U.S. the availability of internet access is more widespread. Yet I make the case that technology is democratizing the availability of music. Read my response below:
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This is a very interesting topic which I’ve been studying and researching lately.
I differ with Goyito’s argument that the internet is making Salsa more elitist. I believe quite the opposite, that technology is democratizing Salsa in particular and music in general. Be careful not to confuse gymnastics with magnesia (a phrase translated from Spanish and which makes more sense in that language, and which means don’t confuse things because they “sound” alike). The real elitists are those who do not play in the radio the wide variety of music available.
I concede Goyito’s point that not everyone has access to technology, particularly the internet. I also concede his argument that the variety of Salsa played in internet radio shows like Radio El Salsero at www.radioelsalsero.com is wider and of better quality than most of Salsa played through normal radio stations. This last point, although I’ll take it as true, does not apply exclusively to Peru, nor to Salsa music, but rather applies worldwide and to all sorts of music.
There are two important technological elements facilitating the “democratization” of music:
1. The use of the internet, and in particular of social networking as a means of distribution of music and music information.
2. The digitalization of music, first through the Compact Disc, and later through the evolution of the MP3 digital audio format and MP3 players.
The internet has served as a means to expand who can publish music. Radio stations no longer have exclusivity to the diffusion of music. Although there are radio stations with internet “web sites” from which they transmit their programming, technology also makes it possible for any person like you or me to us a Podcast or audio blog to create a selection of our favorite music and disseminating it through the internet at a cost close to nothing. So the music which previously you could only hear through a radio station, and therefore, was controlled by a very small group of people and influenced by the interests of the major record companies and their exclusive artists, now is accessible to anyone who wants to create their own “radio show” and transmit it online.
The digitization of music also provoked a major change, particularly with how we consume music. Digital music (MP3 and WMA) formats have facilitated the consumption of music not only through the traditional radio, vinyl LPs, and cassettes, but also through computers, MP3 players (such as iPods and Zunes), and (most importantly) and cellular phones. With this, the listener can enjoy his music anywhere at any time.
The 3rd important element facilitating the democratization of music is the increase in the supply of music. The digitization of music made the investment in technology needed to produce a recording affordable to many more musicians. Now musicians can literally create a mini “recording studio” at home using a computer, appropriate software, and standard sound equipment. Using the technology available today, musicians which in the past had to beg record labels to listen to their music with the hope of getting their support to produce a record, can now record their material almost at will.
With the emergence of social groups in the internet, musicians resolved the problem of how to market and distribute their music. Marketing and distribution were two aspects of the music business which record labels did very well and therefore created a dependency for the artist to use the record label. With the internet and its social networks, this dependency is no longer as strong. Now artists can market and distribute their music through social networks like Facebook, MySpace, music blogs, and their own web sites. A case in point is the latest recording by Ruben Blades “Cantares del Subdesarrollo”, which he recorded at his home with a computer and appropriate software, and where he played most instruments. He marketed and is distributing “Cantares” himself through his web site at www.rubenblades.com, and never used a record label.
You may ask, how does this impact those which have no access to the internet? The music produced by these means will propagate one way or another. It first spreads virally over the internet as people begin to share it friends. Eventually the wave of popularity reaches DJ ‘ s which start playing it in parties and dance clubs.
We are only seeing the beginnings of the democratization of music though technology. Like David Kusek says in the book “The Future of Music”, “the music industry is fine, the recording industry is the one in trouble”.
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