Is Old Music Killing New Music?

For producer Rick Rubin, The Beatles' recorded achievements are akin to a miracle. The most popular bands in the world today typically produce an album every four years, Rubin told a 2009 radio audience. That's two albums as an eight-year cycle. "And think of the growth or change between those two albums. The idea that The Beatles made thirteen albums in seven years and went through that arc of change ... it can't be done. Truthfully, I think of it as proof of God, because it's beyond man's ability."

One thing I know that has changed over the last 30 years here in the US is the reduction of arts programs in public school education. The arts are always the first to get the axe in every school district across America. I have some familiarity with the issues since my wife is a theater director and fine arts director for a school district. 

Parents and schools just don't push their kids into the arts (music, theater, art, etc.)  like they used to do decades ago. The focus is STEM and athletics. Athletics for college scholarships and STEM for the big engineering payout (🤣). All the people I worked with during my record store days were all art students and almost everyone was in a band. Those stores gave those kids a place to hand out and talk music and who was playing with what group locally. That is gone. 

Found that quote from Rick Rubin pretty thought provoking. I'm a child of the 60's and love the music from the 60's, 70's and 80's but am also constantly searching for some of the great music available through streaming. 

There's a ton of great new musicians and music out there. 

@tgilb 

There's a ton of great new musicians and music out there. 

I agree with you on that. Once I started using Qobuz and Tidal I began finding a lot of new music. 

It's three a.m., there's too much noise
Don't you people ever wanna go to bed?
'Cause you feel so good
Do you have to drive me out of my head?
 

I said, hey, hey, you you, get off of my BarcaLounger