Music has a different meaning to everyone. What one might defind as trash, another may find as a beautiful composition of rhythm and beats, set alongside an arrangement of beautiful vocal work. Therefore, arguing what is music and what is not music will get us nowhere, because its universal, undefined meaning. We could, however, set up a distinction between those who are merely entertainers, and those who are “real” musicians.
Music has a dynamic history behind it, and from generation to generation music changes. However, what we are listening to today: is it really what our generation craves, or is it what the marketing agencies and music industry brainwashed us to want?
Entertainers such as Britney Spears and N’Sync are categorized as musicians, according to MTV. Among the many in the music industry cashing in on the opportunity of teenage idols, MTV is changing the way music is heard. Without knowledge of what are outside the barriers that MTV and other greedy businesses provide, many teenagers and college students may not know what music is really all about.
From the revolution of rock n’ roll to the introduction of rap, music has always brought about new ideas. However, recently, musicians are acting more as entertainers rather than musicians and instead of presenting new issues, they concentrate more on new dance moves.
Shows such as Pop Stars and Making the Band, as well as MTV’s Video Music Awards, emphasize entertainment values rather than the production of music. When pop stars concentrate on their presentation more than the actual singing, its more the business of entertainment instead of the music.
There are many rock bands, rappers and singers who can perform better as musicians than what we see in the mainstream media. However, the music industry does not want that; they want entertainers who can bring in cash. It is true that the music industry is like any other industry trying to make money, but is it doing so at the cost of music?
It took me a while to realize that I was sucked into this business machine myself. I started listening to underground music, music from the past and various types of music in hopes of finally understanding the true meaning of music. When a classmate in high school asked if I knew who guitarist Jimi Hendrix was, I responded no. I now realize that he and many other influential artists have brought great accomplishments to the music industry.
We listen to music at work, school, home and the gym. In a sense we are being entertained, but that sort of entertainment is not decreasing the value of music. There are artists, in my opinion, who are both musicians and are great entertainers on the touring levels. Bands such as U2, R.E.M. and The Rolling Stones are popular in the mainstream as musicians, however they entertain us with their music everyday. However, calling individuals like Britney Spears or N’Sync musicians is a falsity. I accept the fact that they can recite choreographed dances, which in itself is a talent, but to call them musicians is like calling a portable a classroom.
