Music has changed and evolved with the evolution of science and technology. With the increasing connectivity with social media, growing singers on YouTube have gained international fame and importance. Patrik Wikstrom, a professor of music in the College of Arts, Media, and Design at Northeastern University was asked to elaborate on the changing face of music in today’s digital age.
Patrik says the availability of music everywhere is the most beneficial for music lovers. They can listen to whatever they want and whenever they want on various applications on their phones. This makes them connect and relate to music more. “Their music experience is more diverse and more omnipresent than ever”. The basics of the music industry are certainly transformed but, from the business and cultural perspective, the value of it still remains strong.
Though listening to music has always been one of the social activities, we see a slight change in this notion where now performers and singers not just create a song for an audience, but also create a base for fan clubs. They allow them to meet and discuss their music. This strength of unity is propagated by social media, where it influences the music lovers to listen to their favourite songs on YouTube, Facebook or Twitter at any moment. However, on the other hand, Patrik says that sometimes social media can also introduce uncertainty into the music business.
Patrick, when asked about the plans for the coming year, said that live music performances and music licensing will construct a larger share of the global economy. The evolution of music has occurred where access to music is far more important than ownership. Many legal subscriptions have provided and will continue to provide music adhering to the audience’s own taste and by 2020, the Americans will be accustomed to the new way of listening and acquiring music.
Akshara Palshetkar