Has music ceased being cool?
These days, when someone tells me about some cool new thing that just came out that I absolutely have to experience, it’s almost always been a TV show: Breaking Bad. House of Cards. The Wire. Dexter. Mad Men. Girls. Game of Thrones.
When was the last time someone told you about an album or a song that you simply must hear, with the same kind of intensity that they’ve used to advocate for their favorite shows?
This is not to condemn or critique our culture for being obsessed with its TV shows. I get it. I’ve seen House of Cards. Kevin Spacey’s unconvincing southern accent aside, it’s as good as anything Shakespeare ever wrote. If it continues on its current track, it’ll be one for the history books.
The defensive reply I often hear is that music can’t be expected to compete with these formats: How can an album, no matter how great, stand up to the lure of five full seasons of Breaking Bad? What kid is going to get excited about a recording when there’s a new Avengers movie out? What kind of concert is going to tear someone away from a game console cued up with BioShock Infinite?
I think that’s nonsense.
It’s a cop-out. Why, when presented with a challenge like this would you ever run away? Because it’s hard? Because it’s easier to just watch the show, download the movie, give in to the game and give up? Because it’s easier to just stop believing in the power of music, simply because someone came out with a bigger, flashier way of making bigger, flashier things? Simply because a few people have learned how to tell engrossing stories in ever more engrossing ways?
There have long been great movies, cutting-edge TV shows and addicting games to play. Music has a different place. You have your challenge. Now rise to it.
Personally, I’ve refused to watch Breaking Bad, not because I don’t think it will be any good, but because I absolutely believe it’s as great as all my friends tell me, and I simply can’t afford to get sucked in.
There are books I want to read, songs I want to learn, records I want to hear, courses I want to take, concerts I want to attend, people I want to meet. Some day, years from now, maybe I’ll binge on all 5 seasons. I’m sure it will still be as relevant then as it is now.
But for now I sit here waiting. Desperately. Wanting to hear something good. And I’m not alone.
Well, I guess that’s not quite true: I have plenty of great things to listen to. We all do. I’ve been quite satisfied with my choices, just like TV watchers have been with theirs. And I’m not really sitting around, either. I’m seeking things and I’m listening for recommendations.
So here’s a better question: Why isn’t your music on that list? What would it take to get it there? What are you going to do to make me care?
There are millions of us just waiting for a song to be interested in. Make me care. Make it good. I’m even happy to pay you. Significantly more than you might think. What are you waiting for?