So, do you ♡ music or social media?

As teenagers of the 21st century, we ♡ both. We loveeeee both music and social media. The question is, can we really have the best of both worlds?

In the past, music reached us in the form of vinyls, CDs and tape recorders or via the radio and television. 

Today, most of these forms still stay, with the addition of Social Media. Youtube, Spotify, Pandora radio and other online streaming platforms have grown so rapidly in less than half a decade that it's no doubt they are here to stay for awhile more. 

As consumers, we are sooo enjoying the benefits of Social Media. We message our friends via Facebook and Twitter, we scroll through our Instagram feed to admire hipster photos taken by people we know and do not know and we conveniently head to Youtube to stream the latest new hits for free (with exception of your internet fees). 

From the perspective of the music industry, social media has probably taken a toll on them. Apart from having to review traditional methods of promoting and releasing music, they have to realize that consumers now know, see and listen to much more than in the past. They are more demanding in terms of convenience, price and variety. With social media, they are expose to much much much more music, and will probably not listen to a single album for a very long time. One they see something better, they would probably gravitate towards it. Moreover, there's no longer a need to bring a compilation of their favorite ear candies, no longer do they have to spend a lump sum of money on a new Ipod nano! 

Your mobile phone + a music streaming app = that's all you ever need! 

And the other unjustified thing is, Social media = data. The more followers, likes and shares you have, the more popular you are. That sounds pretty logical huh. and somewhat superficial. 

So now, bands and artistes use such data to decide if they should release an album, hold a performance or even do a tour. Sponsors would probably take into account these factors before deciding to fork out their money. It becomes an additional factor to consider at the expense of spreading music to the world. It opposes the passion for wanting to perform for fans since bands actually consider those who aren't even supporters. Talent and good music is no longer a priority.

On a side note, am I making sense to you? and am I going in circles? Hmm, I'm confused myself :/ Hahahahahaha!

Anyway, the weird thing of social media is how it is slowly and subconsciously frying our brains. Quoting from Tony Hymes (read article here), 

"social media has exposed us to more than we would ever know about without it, but at the expense of not really getting to know any of it. We are — thanks the spin of Earth — limited to twenty-four hours each day. The more things we have to pay attention to, the less time we can spend on each one."

Take what he said into the context of listening to music. Can you really listen and appreciate a piece of music when you have so many other things to listen yet so little time? Music is meant to take time, to be slept on and to be soothing. It shouldn't be objectified to race against time, neither should it be something which young people listen to feel part of the popular crowd.

Personally, I feel guilty over what Hymes said. Social media began as a fun and exciting thing for me. Gradually, and unfortunately, it became something which fed on my narcissistic self. I realized how relationships around me became increasingly disconnected (yet virtually and superficially connected). It dawned upon me that it has started to take control.

Therefore, to music lovers out there, it is necessary to realize that music is not something we can connect with in the same way we scroll through our news feed and get updates of our friends. Yes please, access music via Social Media since it's so easy and full of choices. But as Hymes pointed out, "give proper attention to make a deep and lasting connection to music."


Have a great weekend~
References:
http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2013/09/what-social-media-is-doing-to-music-hint-its-not-good.html
http://www.socialnomics.net/2013/12/02/how-social-media-and-streaming-have-influenced-the-music-industry/

P.S. Do take a look at this music timeline! :D It is super cool hahahhaha! :)
http://www.concerthotels.com/100-years-of-rock