Sissy Manolo

It’s an irrefutable fact that the music industry is undergoing major changes at the moment, and things will probably never be the same again. The industry is still in a transitory state at present, and has yet to settle into a new groove.

The development of computer technology means that the way we live our lives has changed because so many things, from paying your bills to recording an album, can be done at home on a computer instead of having to go somewhere and physically engage with other people. There are enormous advantages to this in terms of convenience, but there is a downside too; the chance element of new encounters and spontaneous chemistry sparking between individuals is greatly reduced.

There are fewer major record companies (and therefore less A&R scouting for new talent), less recording studios, less music or listings magazines and more music-related college courses resulting in more people chasing fewer opportunities. Record and publishing companies are much less inclined to take a risk and develop bands from an early stage because the music business is generally less lucrative than it used to be.

Now more than ever, the way you conceive and market what you do has to be as well thought-out as a military campaign. New bands are expected not only to make good music, but to be experts in home recording and viral marketing on the internet as well. The traditional tried and tested methods of learning your craft as a musician, producer, manager etc, whereby you would have some sort of apprenticeship and learn from more experienced people in your field are fast becoming a thing of the past. This means that vast amounts of knowledge and a wealth of information could be lost for all time unless we find another way to pass it on. There are literally thousands of individuals who have engaged with the music industry over the last 50 years whose stories remain untold; some of them have survived by adapting to the relentless process of evolution whereas others have sunk under the sweeping tide of progress. But regardless of which way their fortunes have gone, if we don’t try to learn from their mistakes, we’ll be condemned to repeat them!

Hopefully, as increasing numbers of musicians become computer literate, we can all start to benefit from chance virtual encounters and revive some of the spontaneity essential to maintaining a thriving music scene. As our real-world community spirit deteriorates, perhaps new on-line communities can help to restore the balance. With this in mind, Soundfreak will be seeking out individuals from all areas of the music industry, so that they can tell their stories, disseminate their knowledge and generally impart their wisdom and experience. In this way, hopefully we can reclaim this rich heritage and ensure it remains a part of our consciousness in the future.