Critics Be Damned: Real Talk on Modern Music

In today's livestream I continue my discussion of the developments of modern music, social media, culture and the decline of high quality art.
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[@RickBeato]

Ending today: 🇺🇸 The 4th of July Bundle - $89 FOR ALL OF My Courses: ⇢ rickbeato.com/ 📘- The Beato Book Interactive - $99.00 value 🎸 - Beato Beginner Guitar - $159.00 value 👂- The Beato Ear Training Program - $99.00 value 🎸- The Quick Lessons Pro Guitar Course - $79.00 value …all for just $89.00 Get it here: rickbeato.com/

[@barrypopik9315]

Have a great holiday!...Now, If I could write to you and show you my Audrey Munson (1891-1996) biographical song for Taylor Swift... (Audrey Munson, of Rochester, NY, is often said to have been America's first supermodel and deserves an epic song/music video. I led her rediscovery 30 years ago.)

[@AlexCastillo1]

How about a deal on the Arpeggios Masterclass???

[@Raybo-68]

Just more to sift through, but there certainly is a scarcity of good music. So many artist's with a cookie cutter wheelhouse, few influences... I call it bubble gum genres catering to their audience bereft of artistic integrity without muse or divine inspiration. Click Rave, Algorithm lalapalooza

[@erichkaanikin3555]

@@barrypopik9315how awesome. I need to look up Audrey Munson. Btw: I’m a HUGE fan of Taylor! Did you see her concert with Def Leppard? Great show. And she was only a teen. Amazing talent and beauty!

[@barrypopik9315]

@@erichkaanikin3555 Rick Beato grew up in the Rochester area. Rochester's Audrey Munson really deserves a biographical song. Her statues can be shown in the video, like what Don McLean did in the song "Vincent" ("Starry, Starry Night"). I call the song "Who am I?" and we see all the famous statues of who Munson is. I could explain it to Rick.

[@SRFArtandAudio]

The decline in music (and art) in general is a symptom of a much larger problem.

[@averyt4926]

@@SRFArtandAudio Exactly. I think the twentieth century produced so much great music because it was part of the collision of isolated, regional cultures with sudden globalization, technology, and corporate power. Well, now most of that original “real” culture is gone and all we have left is corporate domination and mimicry of art from the cultures we used to have.

[@estebandemosandmusicconcep4407]

it is the ditch of the concept of transcendence. Everything now is for the moment

[@rdlewis3616]

It feels like we are headed into a new dark ages culturally with every art form, and with politics.

[@basicresponsibility]

What do you think the larger problem is? How does it effect music?

[@manofaction1807]

Excellent Observation!

[@japanesemaplepruning]

Real music is like fire, you could feel its energy. The majority of modern music is like a picture of fire.

[@the_musicsnob]

Dig that 🤙🏼

[@Lotschi]

Ohhh, very nice!

[@artphotoscamp5788]

Perfect!

[@thanos9846]

Well said.

[@wd25a]

A heavily compressed jpeg perhaps?

[@kevinkey7241]

I’m a professional guitarist/bassist and work regularly with the staff band at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. We are constantly learning new songs from new artists to perform on a nightly basis, and it is so hard to totally digest most of the new music. Thankfully we have very detailed chord/number charts that we can use (and reuse). I find that I have to constantly review and literally “beat” the songs into my short term memory to play it once on a radio show, it is so hard to commit these things to memory! But to play a classic song from an older artist tends to be second nature, because they’re so much easier to absorb. Music these days is very forgettable, redundant, and not built to last… I love your channel and your passion for the music, thank you for your willingness to spread your knowledge of and love for the music to the masses, you are making a difference!

[@SimonLloydGuitar]

i played at the Opry back in 96..Just thought Id mention it!

[@user-nv2gw1tt5o]

Well said and thank God for artist like Marcus King!

[@dctrbrass]

What a neat city. I took the tuba audition for Nashville Symphony last year. It was my first time visiting. Yeah I don't know why popular music took such a huge nosedive in quality. I do like the pop style but of course as a trained musician it's hard to listen to nowadays. Especially w/ my perfect pitch...it's hard to listen to lol. Music training is a double-edged sword I guess. It's annoying when people misinterpret that stuff as arrogant or pretentious.

[@RUMPLEforeskin25]

@@dctrbrass Because the people running the industry are evil.. they want to ruin and destroy western culture and society. It's not hard to put all this together. lol

[@6806goats1]

I work overseas so no radio unless I want to listen to Arabic. As such I don't know what's being played in the US these days. Guilty of using streaming but I mainly listen to Dire Straights and similar or Yanni when the mood hits. I'm sure to offend but radio died when rap and hip hop came.

[@Harromuso]

I'm an Independent musician. I spend a big part of my time interacting with and listening to other independent musicians. It's a mega supportive community, without unhealthy ego, filled with humility. And the greatest thing? There's a seemingly endless amount of new music to find, with real soul. It's glorious!!!

[@Etrehumain123]

The point is Beato complain that music is too easy to reach and makes that it has less of an impact because you less value its scarcity like in the old days.

[@singingfedexmanjoshcampbel1614]

here’s a new one for you “the josh campbell band” send me one as well

[@Erickhetfield]

Thank goodness someone who isn't stuck in nostalgia. The same people that say music today suck in general, are the ones that don't care about anything past the 80's. If you don't support good musicians, obviously bad music why be predominant.

[@Erickhetfield]

​@singingfedexmanjoshcampbel1614 Listen to Castaway Angels by Leprous.

[@Etrehumain123]

@@Erickhetfield Also okay bad music is more exposed, but it always have been the case. But it doesn't mean if you dig a big you don't find good music ! This is bullshit. There is a new wave of youngs creating punk-rock music inspired by blink182, but from their new generation and technology, it's very refreshing !

[@MarauderMoe]

The best part of the internet is that everyone has a voice The worst part of the internet is that everyone has a voice

[@Yesica1993]

Ha ha, true.

[@LAFORCETV]

TRUE

[@bjorn0helander]

Same as democracy.

[@tomazferreira6990]

​@bjorn0helander Money has a much louder voice in democracy - and on the internet too

[@_AT41]

It’s not the worst part, but there are drawbacks to it

[@mikekelly1771]

As a kid in the 80's, on a Saturday my dad would take me to the record store and he'd let me pick a record of my choice. My first ever LP was Speaking in Tongues by Talking Heads. Holding that record in my hands in the car on the drive home, the anticipation of cracking it open and scouring every inch of the sleeve for lyrics and pictures while I listened to the album. Those albums became part of me. Part of who I am. Absolute magic.

[@jazzpunk]

That anticipation was magical! Eventually, it became buy the cd & plop it into the car on the ride home. 😊

[@garki1369]

Another aspect of having to buy music, before the internet made music constantly and freely available, was that you had to make a financial commitment to your music. That meant that you were much more likely to give music that you found difficult or even unlikable, many chances before you gave up on it. Some artists and CDs that were initially unenjoyable, slowly grew to become my favorites.

[@MrGeek2112]

...and the smell, the smell of a new LP.

[@yakmartin5429]

Speaking In Tongues. What wealth, what beauty to start with. Consider yourself blessed.

[@RebeccaTurner-ny1xx]

@@garki1369 The corollary to that is: music should be expensive, difficult to find and largely unavailable to most people. Not sure that most musicians want that.

[@smokeyg983]

It's not just music. We've lowered standards in education, arts, science, and we're taught to accept a crap culture as normal.

[@roddyboethius1722]

It's a Second Dark Ages. At least we had a better time before

[@alexcazet2694]

@@roddyboethius1722did we?

[@frakus3068]

​@@roddyboethius1722darkage of what? We have more talented artists, musicians, scientists, mathematicians, etc now than in any period of time. You just don't want to notice nor care about contemporary talents and want to complain on the Internet that they don't exist anymore.

[@kilmcm45]

​@@frakus3068 ok but, too much output is a problem too. With everyone producing so much material, it's very difficult to find the rare gold....not, every human has 9 hrs a day to listen to new music. The result is....people settle for whatever they can stand....which is why modern pop music sounds like it was picked by a 13 yr old girl. I'm 43. I grew up in the 80's and 90's. I used to record songs I liked on the radio so I could listen to my favorite songs over and over. I loved Michael Jackson, Hall and Oates....Stevie Wonder....in the 90's I turned on to rock, punk, and industrial.... Nirvana, NIN, the Ramones, Alice in Chains.... There was outstanding music and it was easy to find. Just turn on the radio in 97 and you could hear 5-20 great songs back to back. Yep, there's great music today but there's no place where you can find it all on one website. Maybe KZbin if you look up the short term pages that upload full albums of burned songs.

[@beingsshepherd]

​@@frakus3068 _'Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.'_ - Arthur Schopenhauer

[@georgemarie2049]

The critics will never understand. They are lost to music. Nothing can be done about it. But we can still listen to good music & let you Rick, take us to a deeper level of experiencing it. And I thank you for it.

[@justinfrakes4186]

My biggest fear in the streaming era is we own nothing. If a platform decides to remove a song or artist it’s gone for good. I have all my CD’s and vinyl records if my favorites get deplatformed but most young people now won’t. I don’t have to like someone else’s taste in music, TV or films but I sure want them to be able to enjoy their stuff for a lifetime. I’ve got CD’s from bands that never made it past being regional bad asses. You will never hear them on Spotify.

[@stoneneils]

That is 100% entirely on gen-z having no leadership lol. You guys are nuts to have any more than 100k subs ANYWHERE and not your also your own website. And yet...There is a reason gen-x and even millenials have websties still. Beato does, right? I'd be shocked if not.

[@foto21]

I went through an experience in stock photography that is such a cautionary tale. One company buys another, your work goes to them. Now Adobe is claiming they can scrape your submissions with an AI. We are not approaching, we have arrived at a point where actual physical product seems to be the only safe medium again. Of course, it's not because someone can digitize it and scrape it, but if you never submit yourself to any streaming service, you can at least have that legal leg to stand on. I don't know what the point of uploading to Spotify anymore would be anyway. They are literally creating music on their own service using AI. It's pure bullsheit.

[@ohsweetmystery]

If they don't care enough to secure it, they don't really care, so no loss.

[@karagi101]

There are ways to capture streamed songs.

[@ricardopineda8224]

I have the same fear.🤣🤣🤣🤣 This is crazy.

[@americanparser]

I'm 57 years old. Many times I would have collapsed with tears of joy if I'd ever found a single person that I ever knew who would just sit down and listen to a whole album with me in silence or near silence, from beginning to end. I've wanted this since the mid-70s. I've never known anybody --- friend, schoolmate, lover, children, wife --- nobody who ever had the patience and interest to do this with me. I devour albums as works of art. Right now, I'm in the middle of listening to every studio album Johnny Cash ever recorded, 67 in total, from beginning to end, first to last. I find joy and insight and deep satisfaction In the process. I'm getting to know Johnny Cash as I've never gotten to know him before. And I do it alone, mostly in my car. So I really appreciate you and what you do here, Rick. I feel like I have a cool older musician brother who's turning me on to the good stuff.

[@RY30DM]

67? I had no clue he was so prolific.

[@reneaut86]

Interesting, I also like to listen to entire albums without conversation. But, I’m also about your age.

[@c.6452]

Hey there! I'm also 57 and a lot like you! Except that I always also need to read the lyrics while listening intently because English is not my first language but also because lyrics are really important to me. I've decided to listen to everything that Beck ever put out because I used to superficially like his stuff but kind of forgot about him. I also love Johnny Cash and I may look into his full catalog at some point too. Greetings from Germany.😊

[@j.dragon651]

I am sitting at a concert, alone, with my eyes closed, head down in my hands, elbows on my knees. The guy next to me pokes me and says, "what are you doing, are you praying"! I glared at him and said no, I'm trying to listen to the music. He left me alone after that.

[@j.dragon651]

@@c.6452 Which Beck? If it isn't Jeff Beck, you will have to do him next!

[@Harcorwrestler]

Modern pop music is like going to McDonalds. It’s a cheap product that’s packed with fillers and unnatural ingredients and once it’s consumed, it hurts your insides. But people still come back to it because of how they market the brand to make you think it’s a good product. And the ones that don’t fall for it, we try to avoid hearing about it but sometimes you can’t because once you step outside, you get reminded of it. It’s everywhere.

[@mikewaddell7041]

I’m 57 and count myself lucky to have recorded countless Maxell XL-2 or TDK SA-90 cassettes for my Alpine car stereo. Those treasures cemented my formative years into the fond memories of music I have still today

[@senenjosecestipona]

.. God, I still have my my Maxell & TDK casette that I used to record when my favorite songs play on the radio..and that was 40 or more years ago..

[@manofaction1807]

Remember the days when you went to your local music stores, comic stores, and hobby stores, and the days lasted forever?

[@justinfrakes4186]

My local store was Avatar Records owned by Raymond. I considered Raymond a mentor and a friend. Spent untold hours hanging out and talking about music. About 17 years ago he was closing his store because the business didn’t make financial sense anymore. During that process Raymond had a heart attack and died in his store. His death affected me almost as much as losing my little brother or father. I can’t explain it. That’s just the loss I felt (and still do)

[@robnhood1416]

I still do that to this day , even though only very few record stores left in my city. Comic & hobby stores are still in pretty good number , but definetely nowhere near back in 80s-late 2000s.

[@fiction4u1]

@@justinfrakes4186 So sad. I sympathize, my friend. Music is magic frozen. No wonder you mourned the loss of your wizzard. Best wishes, a friend.

[@martinbabich1920]

That's today for me

[@dcimages9662]

I miss this. I often used to finish my Saturday job got to the local store and ask Joe the guy running it to give me something interesting. He knew what all his customers would like to listen to and I found some great bands this way

[@sether61]

Kid in the 60s, tween and teen in the 70s, college in the 80s ... what a blessed time to be alive for music! I may be 62 now and old (LOL), but I wouldn't change my "music time" on this planet for anything. :)

[@richatlarge462]

Same (born 1960).

[@peterhendricksen6946]

A big Amen!

[@SylvesterCarl]

1959 here! All that 60's radio, plus the records my older brothers had, then I started getting hand-me-down stereos.

[@RemoWilliams-jg4yb]

I know right? I am a little younger than you, but I was around the big brother and sister during that time and heard the music. I came full circle with it years later. The artist these days can put on the biggest "show" they want, but if the music isn't there, then it falls flat. I would rather watch a band on stage then a light show.

[@kevinkliegl9315]

Hell yeah. I graduated from HS in 75. We were drowning in great music.

[@JustIn-mu3nl]

There's no soul, corporations think they can digitize, but as you have shown, there is no syncopation, no nuance.

[@hannayoung9657]

Mixtapes, getting one from a friend or a boy was the biggest thing ever, it showed they cared. I miss that time.

[@matthewdennis1739]

I send friends and family Spotify playlists weekly.

[@Harlem-Instrumental]

@@matthewdennis1739 Not the samething.

[@beingsshepherd]

This thread made me laugh more than it should.

[@goldfinger-9992]

My records, tapes and cd’s are a diary of my life. The good, the terrible, the embarrassing ones, they’re all there.

[@nancysmith8626]

Oh yes indeed! Nailed it.

[@notTHEcher]

YES! Music is the soundtrack to life!!

[@saiko_1]

I got rid of many of my albums a few years ago and now I regret it. I threw away all the bad ones and only kept the good ones, but now I wish I still had all of them.

[@HeadacheMachine]

I am 61, I got 650 LP's, 700 CD's, I still have cassettes from the 80's, dozens of concert VHS and DVD's, and more than 4TB of mp3's (for convenience listening when I ain't home). I never had a day without music in my life since the first record I bought with my own pocket money in 1971. Albums are what I listen to. Always.

[@alicehb1606]

My dad played some jazz trumpet and listened avidly to jazz records too. He died when I was a baby. When I was 16 I discovered a milk crate of records, all jazz, down in our basement. I asked my mom where they came from. She said, they were your father’s. Billie Holiday, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Chet Baker. I was immediately hooked on jazz, first jazz record I played was Brubeck’s Jazz Goes to College. I’m 62 and still a musician !! Great video, Rick, as always.

[@zed4225]

: "I want AI to do my laundry and dishes so that I can do art and writing, not for AI to do my art and writing so that I can do my laundry and dishes "... Love this, spot on

[@toddfouts]

I think everyone here would agree that we all owe Rick’s parents a debt of gratitude for the way they raised him. The story of he and his dad listening to record albums is beautiful and totally inspiring. What’s to stop us from trying this with our kids?

[@edwardboggs1808]

There is nothing more satisfying than learning a new song on your instrument. I couldn't read music but I had a good ear and would listen to my parents records over and over playing along until I got it right. My guitar has been a great friend over the years.

[@andyharpist2938]

The whole world should have an instrument and some guidance.

[@BloodredRon]

For me there’s nothing more satisfying than WRITING a new song on your instrument. 🙂

[@jazzpunk]

...and maybe even a little better- Teaching it &/or letting your bandmates hear a scratch 4-track cassette recording of the song...allow them to do their thing, & hear it come to life.

[@larsjames777]

I'm 73 and you reminded me of getting the guys together in the mid-60s and listening to a new album intently, silently, passing the album cover around to check out the artwork and musicians. Such great memories of friends and so much resplendent music.

[@lesmowatt3563]

I specifically remember the Beatles white album, dark side of the moon and led zep one. Sitting around with friends and being "blown away" great memories...

[@larsjames777]

​@@lesmowatt3563It's unfortunate current generations don't have the opportunity to understand how deeply important new album releases (of certain bands) were to many of us seasoned citizens when we were young.

[@ToshaDCary]

You’re a treasure Rick. Everybody is watching your channel. Alan Munde actually mention you today during the Acoustic Shoppe’s Shoppe Talk

[@Dethmeister]

Tosha is a bot for a fishing (with a ph) clam (with an sc). It's programmed to copy comments. Sus profile pic, sus channel, artificially boosted likes. It wants it's profile pic to be seen so it artificially boosts it's likes to get to the top of the comments.

[@themercurialkeys1863]

There are teenagers who really appreciate music from the 60s to the 90s, also nuggets of brilliance from 2000s and today. I keep the faith that this is a groundswell to break through the current formulated music today.

[@danbardos3498]

Agree. Whether it's politics, music or whatever; when the pendulum swings too far one way, it has to swing back.

[@beingsshepherd]

@@danbardos3498 But we're not seeing a _movement_ here; what we have is an optimism vacuum, filled by nostalgia, envy and products.

[@amandlathree]

There are a LOT of young folks listening to 80s ND 90s music especially. I see it on TV shows, films, music on a variety of animal videos on Facebook created by millennials. It’s so pronounced it’s quite significant. It says so much.

[@RY30DM]

I was at my local music instrument store last year, and there were young kids who went to the same elementary school I did. I’d say they were in 7th or 8th grade. I asked the one guitarist who his favorite bands are. I distinctly remember him saying he liked The Allman Brothers. And as I’ve surveyed other kids, none of them like modern music. So why is it so popular? Who knows.

[@BugRib]

@beingsshepherd - That was a great reply! You should repost it as its own comment! 👍

[@oneofthefishheads]

I'm 56 and lost my dad 3 years ago, but my love of music came from him. Our front room was off limits to us kids, when he was recording an album from vinyl to casette with mics setup in front of the speakers. Some of those recordings captured the noise of London buses driving past vibrating our front windows.

[@devilsboxcar3925]

Great memories…… my mum was a MOD in the 60’s and her 7” vinyl collection was huge, we used to listen to it constantly. Tea time on a Sunday was always spent with the radio on listening to the Top 40!

[@scottmartin6479]

Rick talking about musicians working regular jobs and pooling their money and resources together brought back some great memories. Although my friends/band mates and I never made it big we made awesome memories. We scratched and clawed our way through life working minimum wage jobs, practicing relentlessly and just believing we would make it big. As the saying goes, often times it's all about the journey, not the destination. I truly enjoy looking back at those days, the struggles and determination we had was so special.

[@zogger5281]

Musicians finally have what they always said they wanted.. total creative freedom. They can write a song, record it, add whatever instruments they want, and publish it on a website with no one telling they what they can or can't do. They don't need other musicians or a place to play live. They and their music can be in their own world. But they find it doesn't work. They find their music doesn't get listened to by many people, they get chaotic feedback, and they can't make enough to support themselves. They find their music has no value.

[@ourlove8410]

I am a woman who comes from your generation.. work for universal music group.. and a songwriter... You are speaking such truth the younger generations have not dipped into enough of the past.. to move forward as we know the history of rock and roll has its roots deep in the turn of the century.. blues.. rhythm and blues.. soul Motown... I worked amongst those who are part of the very beginning of hip Hop and they over and over explained how dated music is... Someone said as a comment the music doesn't have a soul... I find that very little music has a real heart depth😮 or soul... The gatekeepers of the label I worked for... Open the gates for their friends who are shallow and copycats... And that's a fact... Love love love love love your show God bless you😅

[@colinburroughs9871]

music that exists as device for the worship of money by it's very nature isn't gonna have soul

[@powertuber4.068]

Paul said in an interview that "both" he and John traveled across Liverpool on a "bus" to meet the guy who knew B7.

[@JeffMTX]

That’s hilarious. Really? Least it wasn’t A7 😂

[@parthosen5942]

As a student who just touched his 20s, I can safely say that many youngsters including me have not lost the sensation of what it must have been to enjoy music without distractions. You need not always have to live without something to appreciate it. Certainly now with increasing consumerism the world is at our fingertips and it often becomes too much to handle. But once a strong personal taste in music is developed, that stays with you throughout. I listen to all kinds of music spanning many languages and eras; and I basically only listen to those songs which manage to strike a chord within me, which make me randomly jump up from my chair and start singing, or which give me fantastical feelings of joy, sorrow or excitement. That is not to say that I don't explore, but I am often quite certain about which song will be able to give me that 'undistracted' vibe, hence keeping my catalogue fairly unique and endearing to myself.

[@Sams911]

the fact that Taylor Swift took the 8th spot on a "best guitarist" of the past 20 years says it all... the culture is broken, people are dumb, and humanity is lost.

[@thephoenixhasflown]

Dave, I'm scared, will I dream?

[@spicealbert4904]

But she's a massively influential guitarist. Imagine how many girls have been influenced to take up guitar because they've seen her playing one.

[@Sams911]

@@spicealbert4904 really?

[@kkjhn41]

@@Sams911 Really, what to you think influencing means?

[@TheJFerg24]

I grew up on Journey, Yes, Chicago, Pink Floyd, then the Beatles and Genesis later on. I also can listen to Taylor Swift or Coldplay or other modern artists for hours.

[@greggorsag9787]

That little story about you and your dad listening in silence to jazz with him just twirling his hair and you “thinking about life” is perhaps the coolest, deepest thing you ever said on this channel. Now *that* is worth reflecting on. And what a beautiful experience to have had as a kid.

[@jimyfernandez5435]

My wife and I agree with you Rick, the passion to listen real good music with not only your ears but with your heart, feeling this goosebumps, electrical emotions running inside your body and you know this piece of art was made by musicians with undoubtly talent in their spinal cord. Technology helps to make life easier but can not create feelings by its own. Huge embrace from Perú.

[@eeblatter]

It's your enthusiasm that makes this channel so great. I just wish I had this when I was younger. I was recording jazz and classical off the radio then my new friend came over and recorded Zeppelin's Immigrant Song on it and a whole new world opened up. Sucked me right in.

[@mccloysong]

The pay-off of the discipline to be proficient on an instrument and actually MAKE music is such a deep satisfaction that I feel sorry for those who only use apps to do everything for them. They'll never know.

[@randyblythe1547]

Depth of experience and of learning are what’s gotten rare. Expediency as a value far outweighs richness of understanding. No one wants to put the work into learning at depth anymore.

[@mountainman4774]

I’m 76. Back in the day we had record “collections." We collected them, like you might collect fine wines, great paintings, or rare stamps, and we treasured and savored them one by one. We prowled around record stores, sometimes for hours, looking for things to add to our collections. It didn’t matter whether the music was old or new, familiar or unfamiliar. It just had to look intereting. Sometimes you got it home and it was disappointing, but far more frequently you found hidden treasures you never knew existed. That’s the way I stumbled upon Scott Jopin, Anton Dvorak, The Ink Spots, Iron Butterfly, The Chieftains, Wes Montgomery, Mississippi John Hurt, Flatt and Scruggs, and so much more. I miss those days.

[@MOZONEandGlambot]

"Somebody's got to be successful. It could be you." Is a FANTASTIC quote.

[@joebloggs1574]

I’m 65, a 60’s & 70’s pop/rock music fan. When I go to see my dad (he’s 91) we listen to his albums together. He’s a big fan of Bing Crosby, Dinah Washington, Louis Armstrong, The Ink Spots…. I really appreciate listening to these songs with him.

[@theorangegoodness]

Real music seekers (non-musicians), artists of other mediums and musicians will carry the torch for keeping real music alive for generations to come. We have to acknowledge that most music listeners treat music just like chocolate. It's tasty but not that deep. They get their fix and move on. They are not invested. So focus on the people that are music seekers. They are out there.

[@sterlingmillhollon2520]

This is facts.

[@dctrbrass]

I made that mistake way too often, but I am finally starting to ignore people who don't appreciate great art by professional artists.

[@martintayler23]

I just smile at you Rick and admire the passion in you talking about music, your parents, your influences and why you are still making videos and teaching people, including myself, about the principles of good music. Thank you.

[@damianjames0]

I can’t help but see rampant narcissism in the majority of artists out there today. But every now and again you get somebody authentic who comes along (e.g. Rick) and I say to myself, “thank God there are still real people out there doing it for a real love and passion for music”. Keep it up Rick! ❤

[@rorypotatochip1373]

I’ve crossed the 50 mark now, just started learning guitar two and a half years ago, drums recently, and started writing. I’m in the infancy of mixing, but it’s ok. It’s truly like learning a new instrument. Released a song, and we’ll see how it goes, people are listening, and the feedback is positive. But I refuse to be discouraged by the current state of all things music yes there is a lot of garbage out there (to me). I just don’t care, I want to have fun. Ultimately life is taking the good with the bad. Lets create harder. Right now is just a point in time. Make sure to keep the joy.

[@poec3292]

A kid in the 70s could hear an awesome song on the radio, and then perhaps, never hear it again for years and years, they might not ever learn the name of the song/artist.. And then one day that song comes on again, and you get struck with a sense of euphoria, 'OMG I love this song, I haven't heard it in years' That type of experience does not happen (as much, if at all) in the 2020s.

[@RY30DM]

It still happens for me, and I grew up in the 80’s. I’ll be out at a store or a restaurant and I’ll hear a song that floors me. Like why did they pick that song? Example, what do you always hear from Tears From Fears? Shout and Everybody Wants To Rule the Workd for the most part, maybe Head Over Heels, or Mad World. Well I walked into Subway sandwich shop and they dropped “Break It Down Again.” It’s been eons since I had heard that track, but somehow I still remembered it. It was not a huge song for them as far as I can remember, but I think it should have.

[@vanessasanchez785]

That's exactly what happened to me millions of times! It is, even now, such a great feeling!

[@garydumas3148]

Grew up in 60’s/70’s & like you have retained all my albums & cd’s . As I climber “corporate ladder” & raised our 3 children - I lost my time/energy for music. Retired few years back, and the joy of listening to that physical media, the associated memories, getting up to flip the album side two, and reading the liner notes once again feels like coming home again. My only regret is my children will likely not experience this art form as we did. Great stuff Rick.

[@DaveHill-xn7fz]

My grandfather sat me down in his living room between two speakers and put Ravel’s Bolero. That ignited the spark for me. At 9 years old I was educated in stereo sound! You have helped me rediscover that spark. Keep up the good work.

[@jksmithiii]

No proof of work. Taylor Swift is just an AI bot; she just doesn't realize it. If anybody catches a major commercial success like her actually doing this, the value of her music goes to zero and Steely Dan original albums go to a grand a piece.

[@wzekanoski]

"And how inconsolable a loss, when the taken-for-granted is finally taken from us." Joyce Carol Oates

[@willudallmusic]

1) a LOT of people share your opinion and frustration. 2) as a working (grinding) musician in London, being involved and surrounded by music (and being able to write my own) provides my life with a calm/perspective and depth that I am grateful for every day. It defines me.

[@SixStringRacer]

Ricks Rants are the best!! It's the perfect backdrop to practicing my diatonic scales! I put in a minimum of 3 hours a day and I'm basically Ricks age. The🎸 has saved my life. 🤙 Music is that important to me. 🌴😎🎸🌴

[@g.belanger8302]

I remember spending every evening alone in my room laying back in my bed with my headphones on a just actively listening to the music: The arrangements, the structure, the orchestration, etc.. The time spent doing this was so important to my understanding of music for the rest of my life. Now I can’t concentrate for more than 5 minutes on anything, goddamit…

[@neanderthalsnavel7411]

I remember having a horrible day at school. Blew off all my homework and sat in my dark room watching the traffic lights on the ceiling as sting's nothing like the sun was blaring in my headphones that was just released a few days before. I have a memory smell of that new cassette.

[@D.Appeltofft]

Luckily, since Max Martin produces fifty percent or so of contemporary artists you don't have to concentrate at all. Just put you brain in coma mode.

[@dctrbrass]

Russian 20th-century music, especially Shostakovich, was and still is my favorite to do this with. There's so much emotional and historical depth to that music.

[@RizHallowes]

As someone who beat their head against record company's doors for years, it is good to be able to record now without their approval. Everything you say though is preaching to the choir for me 👍

[@markyoungmusic]

Rick, I'm 63 years old, and I agree with everything you have said 100% Thank you for having this discussion!

[@jppestana1]

Being incredibly enthusiastic, bright, disciplined, and musical with a boundless curiosity and hard core work ethic guarantees many more years of success.

[@Manfish154]

Today's music is a bit due to the zeitgeist, where everything is geared towards quick consumption. But this will change again at some point. Because at some point, people will look for something else. Music or art in common is a timeless form of human expression, it will always exist. And everything will come back at some point. And good music still exists, it just gets lost in the masses.

[@dans2971]

Well said. I have no problem finding great music and neither do my early-20s children. People with zero taste are the norm, not the exception.

[@orlandoguitarist]

I'm not so sure "everything will come back at some point." I've been hearing that sentiment for a long time. The problem is that people can't miss things they're completely unaware of. I owned a high-end audio store from 1990 - 2000 and witnessed countless customers light up hearing music from a quality audio system in an acoustically treated room for the first time. Most young people these days have only heard music on their ear buds or car stereo and have no idea what they're missing.

[@martinlaporte2112]

For 4 years, I had to walk 1 hour to and from my drum teacher's house to learn how to play drums. It took, time, effort and some serious commitment to become a good drummer. People have it super easy nowadays.

[@resynthesizer4565]

I rode my beach cruiser to band practice with my Poly-800 strapped to me. Diamond Bar California to Anaheim.

[@MrTw2009]

Was it uphill both ways? Sorry I had to ask. Seriously ..that's what Rick was saying about sweat equity. I commend you for your commitment to the drums 👌

[@frankthompson5294]

@martinlaporte2112 "kids have it super easy nowadays" has to be the easiest way to identify someone who has no idea what they're talking about

[@TheBigdog868]

@@MrTw2009 what I came to comment 🤣

[@cdeweijer12]

Yesterday an awesome documentary on Jeff Beck was broadcasted. He was one of many great musicians. Your mother did a great job encouraging you and your siblings learning music. From the beginning I’ve been feeding my children with all kinds of music, which today they give me credit for. For some time they started introducing me to genres that were quite new to me, fills me with joy and gratitude.

[@jono2919]

Loving this discussion. In the early 90s I learnt piano. I used to record my favourite songs off the radio onto cassette tape then play it over and over until i could figure it out by ear. When I worked it out it was the most rewarding and satisfying feeling. It made me a better piano player. Now I play guitar too, just for me. Just for meditation, for life.

[@swisschaletsauce]

i think a big part of the reason modern music is suffering is due to a lack of involvement from young parents in their childrens lives. i'm seeing all types of gen x and millenial parents neglecting their children in favor maintaining their social media optics. every now and then i meet zoomers that have impressive musical taste and they are invariably people who have strong relationships with their folks

[@grahamparker538]

The book (zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance ) tells about the loss of individuals respect for quality and maintaining things of value . I feel for you Rick

[@heashburn6573]

My Dad stacked the hifi with music every Sunday, he whistled along to the classics, Sinatra, Doris Day, big bands, the ink spots. I miss him and that experience every day. Keep shouting Rick, people are listening.

[@psychesonic1]

I think a lot of us revere the way you evoke nostalgia while discussing the present.

[@davewielhouwer11]

I was a member of the channel when you hit 100k Rick. I told all my friends about your channel. You have enriched so many music lovers lives and help pass time for millions. Keep up the great work. Happy Independence Day to you and family. We live in the greatest country in the world, your channel is proof.

[@american_cosmic]

" We live in the greatest country in the world" -- Lol seriously? Yes, we have great music, but this country is failing its citizens bigtime. To just flat-out state we're the greatest country is naïve.

[@percybyssheshelley8573]

It's worse elsewhere. Look at what's happened to our neighbor to the north...

[@american_cosmic]

@@percybyssheshelley8573 Lol Canadians are doing a lot better than Americans right now.

[@scott9580]

The tape recorder in front of a radio resonates so much. I used to have a tape recorder parked in front of the single speaker mono radio on pause waiting for that Police song or whatever to come around. The agony of missing the unpause and knowing you had to wait hours for it to cycle back through was real!! But once you got it? Oh man.

[@TheBigdog868]

@@scott9580 I remember listening to Casey's count down for 3 hours. It wasn't a good place to tape. The guy talked all the way to the start of the lyrics on every song, foiling us pirates.

[@jazzpunk]

We lived a couple miles from a Naval Air Station...pretty much every cassette I attempted with a live mic had jet noise. 😁

[@CameronJull]

hey Rick I think your greatest contribution to us all is your encouragement of musical activity! every time I watch anything of yours I'll pick up one of my instruments and start working on something we all need reminding to get on with it Thank you so much. It really is helping the situation!

[@MrGeek2112]

I feel one of the qualities of your channel is like the quality shared by many of my favorite artists (visual & musical): that combined quality of authenticity & fearlessness. The process of creating content that comes from an honest place in your mind, informed by your expertise, and not generated for "clicks" or "likes", and in fact might seem in the moment almost foolhardy, doomed to get a few likes by only your diehard fans. Yet that's what makes it attractive, we long for bold quality content coming from a human experience. We long to feel less alone in our desire for authentic art that touches something inside. Keep it coming.

[@jcheco59]

I remember hearing the radio with a finger on the rec button of a cassette recorder

[@TieNylon]

...waiting for that one particular song to finally come on. I miss those days.

[@lot2196]

Ha, always missed the first 5 seconds or so.

[@LewisShieldsUS]

Ok, local commercial, get ready DJ is announcing and...go!

[@cooldebt]

💯 That's why we can all recognise our favourite song within a split second - to get as much of the song as possible but you had to be quick at the end too - to cut off before the ad! This is also why we hear bits in 'new' songs and instantly recognise where that was lifted from 😉

[@KCCheez]

I would just hit record for every song and then rewind to set up again if I didn’t want it.

[@kevinsaleeba2201]

Love your interviews with artists because you are conducting them from a musician’s perspective rather than from a journalist’s viewpoint. It comes across as two musicians talking shop and it really adds great insights to song writing and the music business and simply just playing. Keep up the great work!

[@RootBeer757]

I’m so glad that someone is talking about this, it’s something I’m passionate about and I’m glad it’s getting to people I love music from the 50s/60s/70s and I wish I could’ve grown up surrounded by that instead of the mass produced corporate content that’s pumped out today I try to value music by playing jazz with my friends and collecting jazz and rock records and it’s unfortunate to see the general apathy towards music that most people have today. I hope your message reaches a ton of people and helps combat the current state of popular music

[@brucellosis9887]

You are so lucky to have had a parent like that. I loved my dad, but one of his famous quotes to me was that sitting and listening to music without doing something else was a waste of time. I was born in late '63, so we're close to the same age. My solice was a friends family who were very musical and talented. They also had all the top albums in the 70s. I poured over them every time I visited.

[@dangutwein]

Thank god you exist! Everything you say is ABSOLUTELY TRUE! I’m 73, a former tenured college music theory teacher who evolved through mid 60s garage bands, through being pro jazz touring musician, to being a retired guy playing pub gigs in blues and jazz bands. So true…. EVERYTHING WORTHWHILE MUST BE ACQUIRED THROUGH YOUR EARS!

[@embodiedconducting]

Most people don''t have the attention span that would allow them to listen to music for 35-40 minutes without interruption.

[@robnhood1416]

Hence dumb tiktok and YT shorts are popular.

[@zed4225]

I used to take my Mum n Dads record player into my bedroom, and their records, the record player was one that drops the singles down on top of each other. I played The Seekers on repeat. The Beatles. I learnt all the words, got told to turn it down all the time. I had a walkman and fell asleep to it every night, I taped the songs I liked from the top 40 on the radio back in the 80's on a Friday night, trying to push pause as the song ended, and un-pause when next song starts. It's my passion. I can't live without music. Tommy Vance th DJ...legend of the Friday Night Rock Show❤

[@zelaznog73]

Rick you nailed about the scarcity of music not because the lack of it but you just because you can't afford to access to all the records you wanted. Going to the record store was like therapy, spending hours listening, and selecting records was magical. I still own several cd that I don't listen anymore because I have all my music in digital formats, but I kept them because every cd was handpick and it's part of the soundtrack of my life.

[@juanmilian4207]

These kids just don't listen to us "old guys."

[@thealchemisttiger688]

I think this is the most passionate I’ve even seen you Rick, I can tell it really means something to you, thank you for this

[@garybraddock9890]

Early 70s, growing up in the sticks, everything was far away. Spending hours every day in a car, we listened to music. So Much Music. Miles, Floyd, the Stones, Steely Dan, Beatles, Zappa. I could go on and on…

[@allenf.5907]

LOVE when Rick rambles. He stays up to date but tells it like it is!

[@QuintEssential-sz2wn]

I’m 60 and grew up, listening to vinyl records and cassettes, but then dumped all that for CDs when those came along, and then moved on to streaming once that cut on. However, I found I developed “music ADD” when trying to concentrate on listening to music using streaming. I’d sit down to listen but with countless songs at the swipe of a fingertip, I found myself surfing music restlessly, always looking for the next song, and rarely listening to any full album or getting to know an artist. I solved that by getting back into vinyl records again a few years ago. Aside from the fun factor of turntables and records, now I listen to full sides and usually full albums effortlessly. It totally solved my music ADD.

[@scotabot7826]

Bingo!!!!!!

[@walterkneis4147]

Oh boy - this strikes a chord. I find I’ve become as much of a music “hunter” than a listener, like I used to be. Need to get back to basics and just LISTEN.

[@duaneemery8684]

It is just like photography where you had to learn about the camera, exposure, film, developing, darkroom, enlarger, photopapers, filters and it took time and money. Now people with their only investment is an automatic digital camera and they are now photographers. With music it is the same way.

[@Yesica1993]

And AI will only make it worse. It's this way in all the arts, even writing. Why bother to learn the rules of grammar and spelling and storycraft, when the computer can spit something out for you that took pretty much zero creativity or effort on your part? It makes me want to weep.

[@patricklarry6645]

A cell phone has a digital camera!

[@beingsshepherd]

I don't hear learned musicians producing anything of note these days.

[@duaneemery8684]

@@beingsshepherd lol

[@coreylapinas1000]

I am a computer/phone composer but AI just makes me sick.

[@1683clifton]

I used to record myself on a boombox, take the tape and play it back through the home stereo, wood furniture thing with the turntable, then play the leads and sing for my gramma. With a shitty drum machine for rhythm. Let's preach Rick! Appreciate every day you have and forget the limits.

[@mrfugazi1181]

I have all the albums I've ever bought - a collection I started in the 90s. I've always been amazed at how some of my friends put their CDs and vinyls in boxes, to never listen to them again, some even got rid of their music collections entirely. They started listening to music on streaming services, as if they were chewing gum. The involvement is completely different when you put a vinyl or CD in the stereo and listen to an album from start to finish. Sometimes we buy an album because of one song and on the first listen we ignore or disdain the other tracks. With the passage of time, we often rediscover that same album, appreciating the songs that we initially overlooked. Often the track that made me buy the album becomes the one I listen to less, but it gains the importance of having opened a door to a listening experience that isn't immediate. Music is the true supreme art and deserves our investment and respect.

[@iangall9529]

Rick! Albums! Listening all the way, front and back! Hour-long bliss! I did the same at home, and never thought anything of it! That's the way an afternoon went... with MY PARENTS! And I'm in Argentina!

[@grandlakeman22]

You are a national treasure Rick. Thank you for taking the time and energy to share what you (and I, and millions of others) care about so deeply. Music is both the spark and the glue to many of my most treasured friendships. I wish you lived next door. "Hey Rick, check this out!" Anyway, don't stop...you are making a difference.

[@billklemm7284]

The sound of live acoustic music is like nothing else. Classical, jazz, folk, or whatever has an inspiring vibe.

[@DScottMoore]

Appreciate the Welles quote. The rules, the restrictions we place on ourselves are really challenges to be overcome. This is the essence of growth and ingenuity, and the reason why boundaries are important.

[@supachill1]

I purchased my first Fostex 4 track recorder in 1992. Play back with 4 tracks, guitars, bass and a Dr. Rhythm the first time blew my young mind! Then I discovered how to bounce tracks and it was a creative overload i could not contain. The creative freedom just seemed unreal!

[@clarkkunzman2279]

Same

[@EdenAcresStudio]

Fostex X 26

[@RY30DM]

A classmate of mine sold me his Fostex X-26 four-track in ‘89. As far as I’ve know, it still works, and I’ve still got my tapes. It has six inputs and you can use a sustain pedal for a keyboard to punch in and out. Several years back, I wanted to see if I could make improvements to the sound of my band’s tape and I took the direct outputs into Logic. It was so much fun. I was able to re-amp the guitar tone that I never really liked from a Zoom pedal using Logic’s guitar amp simulator, and double the track too with a keystroke. I threw all the usual suspects of plug-ins like compression etc. The vocal channel was where I had the most fun and I finally was able to fix some sharp and flat notes using the pitch corrector plug-in that is native to Logic.

[@ibdense]

MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) was formed 40 years ago this month (July 2024). And that was about the last time I played in bars, night clubs, and casinos. I was lucky enough to make a living for 20 years playing as much as 5 hours a night, six days a week. At that point I decided to return to college to get a degree in computer science. At the same time a major shift in people going to bars and alcohol related places happened. In many cities there had been 5, 6, 10, clubs where musicians could play. But, things changed. My point is that so many of us that honed our skills in the clubs went on to record. I was with a group on Columbia. Another group that played down the street from us ended up on Columbia Records, too. They were The Spiral Starecase. When I got my B3 it was their organist, Harvey, who showed me how to get all the cool sounds. I figure I put in over 20 thousand hours playing live. Far too much of the music these days is made by “recording artist“ and not people who have played music. At 79 I still play every day, and write one or two songs a month. And technology has allowed me to use programs like MuseScore to do arrangements. In the early days I did some arrangements for money and it would take me several days to do the arrangement and the copy work by hand. Well technology. But, I have the background of playing music. But people don’t drink, dance, and drive like they used to. So, there’s no place for young musicians, or old musicians, to practice their craft. Happy anniversary MADD. I’m glad this country has somewhat come to its senses about drinking and driving, but I really miss being able to go hear some group that plays four, five, six nights a week while improving as musicians and getting the band tighter.

[@55TeleMark]

I sat in front of my stereo. I couldn’t tune my bass but, I remember my utter joy and excitement and joy when I played notes that matched “Rocky Mountain Way”!!! The journey began.

[@timgant7141]

So true Rick, as a 12-17 yo youth I pretty much did without as all my allowance and outside job's earning went mostly to music. A new album came out, it was no problem finding like minded people to sit down and absorb new lp's like an air starved astronaut. I'm 70 now and many of those people I still am in touch withy. THE POWER OF MUSIC! Never underestimate.

[@MrMont-ue8kh]

My Dad belonged to the Columbia House Record and Tape Club. Remember: 12 tapes for $1 and then they sent you one a month and you had to send it back or you bought it? He bought 8-tracks. From about '69 to the mid-70s, all through elementary school I was exposed to Procol Harum, King Crimson, The Moody Blues, Kansas... An amazing education in music.

[@fonkenful]

Now that takes me back to the ‘60s - vinyl only in my own case.

[@thepadgettclan6309]

Rick, My dad is not a musician (he doesn't play or sing), but is more of a musician than most today for one reason. HE LISTENED. I remember in the late 70's. early 80's, he would sit down after dinner and listen to Pavarotti or Patsy Kline or J. Geils or the Eagles.... I didn't know it then, but the beginning of my now 35 year career as a band director and pianist is all because of him. Thank you Dad for filling our home with great music and movies.

[@RenePeraza]

Chris Isaak was my rehearsal space neighbor in the 90s at San Francisco's Downtown Rehearsal Studios on 3rd Street near the old Candlestick Park. We had 24 hour access and our stuff was always set up. We also sublet our space to others on 'off' nights but they had to work around our covered equipment.

[@davidbachy5627]

Who better than Rick to eulogize the tragic state of the music industry today. He is such a great communicator and a wealth of knowledge.

[@Cheese-hl5bd]

Completely agree with "if its new to you, its new (regardless of when it was made)" - its a tragedy how many people dont look backwards and get into older music

[@Phil-hr6hi]

This is it. History in general. Old movies. Understanding that you are not the first person, and whatever epiphany you just had - someone’s probably had it before

[@cooldebt]

@@Cheese-hl5bd Interestingly, when my son shows me a tiktok video, quite often I will show him where the music comes from as it is a snippet of a 40yr-old are song - some young people must be into old music!

[@RY30DM]

You see for me, I think there’s a worse issue. It’s the people who get to a certain age, and stop. They never try to listen to anything new. The only music they listen to colmes from Jack FM (still around?) and its corporate programmed playlist.

[@justinfrakes4186]

I like finding “new” old stuff. It’s easy now to watch interviews with bands you like and pay attention to their influences and look them up. The algorithms can help too.

[@BobSimpson-rq6kt]

They do and don’t trust the ones wearing the t shirt. I’m 44 and kids know nirvana, zeppelin, queen. Old people like me hahahaha have hard copies or digital copies. Kids listen to Spotify and those bands have huge numbers in that world.

[@romansingleton8831]

We currently live in a culture where a drunk girl can say a random thing in a random interview outside a bar and "get famous"...never mind people who actually spend years and years working on a craft or art. There is a much bigger problem with society today.

[@arlandehavilland1355]

You are correct sir!

[@nicholasvinen]

Exactly. People tend to get more of what they want. The problem is what they want is not good.

[@TheMoodyLoners]

Yep it’s called living in an “Idiocracy.”

[@dctrbrass]

It would be nice if we could get people to understand the difference between "what I like" and what is actually good quality. That's not always the same thing. It's actually really mature to be able to say, "I don't understand this." I feel that most people don't appreciate good quality stuff anymore. Every once in a blue moon, I'll converse with someone who appreciates quality. Those times are so refreshing.

[@Baltimoreed]

‘’90% of everything is junk’’ is a statement I remember hearing somewhere in my past, I’m 73. The internet is absolutely the most perfect example of this. The internet is destroying creativity and will eventually destroy mankind. Been playing piano on and off since elementary school. Just discovered your channel. Good stuff Rick.

[@loupasternak]

It's up to 95%

[@daegabmusic59]

I'm a 64 years old musician, born into a non musical family, my parents never listened to music, I used to spend all my savings on records and all my free time teaching myself guitar and listening to records in total, "religious silence", deep concentration and absorption; my mother was worried about that and asked for help! She thought something was wrong with me!! She was like: "Help please, my son is "possessed" by music, he doesn't react when I talk to him while he's listening to music!" And I had to get a part time job to pay for my first Jazz guitar lessons as my parents didn't want to to pay for them (Nevemind...).

[@paul-ld9vh]

I really appreciate your insights into music and the process of learning music. It's more important than most people realize as far as personal growth and the value of perseverance. What you discuss about music is as much about one's life and goals.

[@scotabot7826]

Yes, so true. That's what I wish all these young communist and socialist could understand!!

[@gatesurfer]

@@scotabot7826some of the best classical musicians these days come from China. And some of the others come from socialist countries in Europe. Get your head out of your a-.