Motown in the Movement of MusiQ

If You Cant Beat Them...

Apple to the Rescue??


The days of the $0.99-for-everything iTunes store are over. Of course, when Apple introduced the variable pricing feature into the iTunes store, they touted it as a way to get lower-priced songs — as low as $0.69, in fact. But what’s actually happened is the opposite. Thanks to the death of the album (something we can thank iTunes and other music downloading services for), labels are trying to squeeze as many dollars as possible out of the single song hits that get downloaded over and over again.

But i dont get it. If record lables are in competition with digital downloads, why would they turn over the fight just to get a penny? They are giving apple and other companies more and more power. But, the saying does go, "if you cant beat them, join them!"  Record lables are charging more for itunes to carry the same $0.99 for now $1.29. The sale of physical CD's have taken a major hit over the years and because ditgial sales has hit a major high, record lables had to jump on the band wagon.

Instead of selling CD's for $20, people are starting to download songs so they can have access to the songs whenever they want. Also, becuase the sales of apple products such as the ipod and iphone, itunes has taken over.

A Word From A  Fan:
           To be fair though, subscriptions will not be the service or idea to "rescue the industry from the decline of the CD". It may help, but it's not their savior. While what may be could come in a digital form, and let's not forget the rise in vinyl sales in the past two years, I think the real answer and the more immediate one for their struggle is -- BETTER QUALITY MUSIC. You don't support something if you don't truly like it (in this case pirating vs purchasing).

The Death of: Auto Tune

Do people really sing anymore? Auto – Tune is rapidly taking over the music industry one song at a time. It’s like plastic surgery, once you get one thing fixed, you fall in love with it and then you can’t help yourself but to go back for more. Once you get a taste of heaven, there’s no turning back. Now a day, Auto- Tune is being used by almost everybody. So before you defend your favorite artist against using this technology, check your facts. 

       Hip Hop superstar Jay-Z even took a hit at the overuse of Auto – Tune by releasing his single, “D.O.A” (Death of Auto – Tune). He claimed that he wasn’t making a statement towards T-Pain but if he got upset about it, then his job was done. But T-Pain surprisingly stood by Jay-Z at a concert while debuting this song. In the song, "Death of Auto-Tune," Jay called for more real rap. He said Auto-Tune has resulted in softer music within hip-hop and unnecessary crooning. But in an interview, Jay did made a point to compliment T-Pain for his use, admonishing the copycats. Jay also stated that… You shouldn't be confused by the message. I'm not saying Auto-Tune is wack. But leave that for them [T-Pain, Lil Wayne and Kanye West, the artists Jay said used it artistically]; it's not for everybody. That's how you stagnate hip-hop. You listen to the radio, and every single has Auto-Tune. So we have to get rid of that part." Some of the younger artist didn’t like the fact that he was making those statements, saying the he was an old head in the game and that he was a hater. But in actuality if they really would take the time and realize he is not trying to bring everyone down just trying to stop the use of auto tune so much because its taking the authenticity away from hip hop.
   

       Sometimes I feel like you can never have a good thing. Some people never have to opportunity to have the finer things in life, but once they get a hold of it, they tend to abuse their privileges. The same instance came be applied with Auto – Tune. Someone invented this amazing machine to help enhance a persons pitch, not digitally take over the music industry. For some people, music is an expression and a creation of art. Music is a means of sharing your creativity and passion with the world and slowly but surely, I feel that this meaning is going away. Yes, some artists still have this mentality but they tend to get caught in the midst of a trend. I understand that in order to market yourself you have to either stick with what’s new or set your own example, but you don’t have to fall under a spell to do it. Auto – Tune can be considered one of these spells. Auto- Tune can be a very tasteful tool to use when applied correctly, but when overused you completely destroy your creation. In the case of Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and T-Pain, they have found a way to make Auto- Tune Work to their advantage. But for artist like Brittany Spears, well, I just wont speak on it. We shouldn’t have to feel like the world is made of music for robots. 
    
        In some cases, I feel that Auto – Tune is making harder for up and coming artist because as Hildebrand stated, people are getting use to hearing a perfect pitch. I admit to being pitchy sometimes, but that is life and I am ok with it. So why cant everyone else be? Now if you are pitchy all the time, I think we need to find you another profession because I don’t think Auto – Tune can always be your hero. Or can it? As a new generation of music, we need to take the world back to “REAL” music and not allow the music of today tell us what is REAL.