Play it Sam

Can older music really damage new talent?

For the past number of weeks, I have been working on my final project for my masters program – a magazine made up of all articles written solely by only myself. The project takes a look (a rather abstract one, I must admit) at whether or not the popularity of older music has a damaging effect on new music.

Although I have my suspicions, I have come to no conclusions.

It’s a difficult idea. On this blog I almost strictly write about music at least twenty years or older. Why? I believe in preserving this music for future generations of curious music-lovers. Journalists who wish to write about new music are just as important. Music needs to thrive and whether or not you like it, writing about music helps spread the love.

Even though I rarely write about it or talk about it, I solidly love a lot of new musicians. I think there is a lot to be excited about despite there being a lot of cynicism in modern music culture by many fans (and musicians themselves). But there needs to be some sort of responsibility with how we all handle new talents. I’m not going to say that we should throw our Stones records in the bin, but maybe we need to attend more gigs of bands that perk our curiosity instead of bands we have sworn by our entire lives.

In the end, it’s always about listening to what you love. One day, if we are not careful, there may not be any more music to get seriously excited about.

Just nurture the sounds you love.