Death Of The Band

Written by Jack Runyan

        Magical things tend to happen when legendary musicians get together and pool their efforts to produce the best product they can. The way all of the individual members’ personalities imprint on the music and production process is something deeply personal and unique to each group. So where are all the iconic bands of today? Everyone knows about the hold The Beatles had on the pop culture world, or the musical revolution that was Nirvana. Even though there are still plenty of bands working hard as ever making great music in the modern era, the last 20 or so years have definitely seen the decline of music groups, and the rise of the pop star. 

        Part of this has to do with technological advancements making it easier than ever for a single person to sound like many people with only a laptop, audio interface, and a microphone. Add some production genius and the right combination of software and plugins, and anyone has a chance to make it big with the help of talent, hard work, and luck. 

Despite all of our innovation, we seem to have regressed economically. The median wage is farther from the cost of living than ever before, and the inflation of the housing market and higher education have far outpaced average middle class incomes. CEOs take a bigger piece of the pie than they used to, while worker benefits like pensions and healthcare are being cut left and right for young workers more than anyone. These factors make it significantly harder for a struggling band to afford basic necessities without every member working full time, which often requires taking multiple jobs. Young people own significantly less property than they used to, and sky high housing prices force people to rent from multi million dollar real estate firms buying up all the houses that we should be owning. And when you share a wall with other renters on 4 sides of your apartment, it can be hard to rehearse adequately. Practice spaces have had to follow the inflation of the housing market and are out of the question for many bands. 

            Modern pop music and Hip-Hop are also more often than not one man acts. These genres are also the current zeitgeist, pulling potential audience members away from smaller clubs in favor of larger music festivals with already recognized acts. This also makes it harder for local venues to survive without catering to more modern tastes. 

            We must remain hopeful still, as every trend will come to an end or start to eventually move in a different direction. But as it stands right now, it might be a while before we see the next Beatles. Supporting local music can go a long way, and if you haven’t seen a live act in awhile, smaller venues are much more affordable than festivals, and oftentimes have a lot more character. I encourage all of our readers to go see a local show. I’m sure the bands of today and tomorrow will greatly appreciate your contribution.