The Real Reason Why Music Is Getting Worse

[@RickBeato]

The best way to counteract this alarming trend is by educating yourself and becoming a more knowledgeable musician so that great music can make a return. This is why I'm passionate about teaching and have created comprehensive music learning courses and software to support this process. Check out my Channel Anniversary Sale below if you're interested, which contains all four of my music programs. 📚 The Channel Anniversary 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/ This sale will end Friday, June 30th at midnight EST

[@suzyhakjes]

You're right Rick. Education is our only way out of this mess...

[@crookim]

unfortunately nowadays finding a record store is extremely hard, miss the old days.....

[@Blackkey034]

Reason why musics gone down the drain ia not just business etc. its cultural. People are losing their morals and becoming more entrenched in degeneracy, me included. So if we stop being so goofy we can make better stuff my son. Get some morals yo theyre dope as heck

[@seanjohnson7367]

Damnit Rick, I haven't even gotten past page 30 of TONAL HARMONY. Slow down.

[@seanjohnson7367]

@@elusivelectron Thank you!

[@Trebor_I]

I was working on a project at Ocean Way studios in Nashville. On the flight home I was reading Mix magazine and an older gentleman sitting next to me asked "Are you in the music business?" I replied "my accountant would argue otherwise, but yea." Well this gentleman was the engineer for Led Zeppelin, we had an amazing conversation and then he said something to me I never forgot. He said "As engineers and producers we used to capture performances now we create them."

[@csmecca]

That is profoundly sad.

[@adamrad2220]

That's actually a deep insight. And is tragic.

[@castorkat4868]

wow

[@nickmaddalena985]

Great insight!

[@SFDestiny]

@@adamrad2220 He said "create" not contrive or manufacture, even though I understand your point of view. We are blessed that performances have been captured! But I really cannot believe tech or business could interfere with the genius of a Jimmy Page.

[@markusbredberg]

This reminds me of how social media was meant to improve connection but ended up segregating

[@tsardean9192]

The idea that everyone was connected before and social media increased segregation is mostly a myth. Before the internet people still only watched news/talked to people who agreed with them. After the internet people are more exposed to things they don't like, an attention-focused algorithm likes to show you things you hate, hate=engagement. Kurzgesagt did a good piece on this

[@bige2220]

@@tsardean9192 depends upon what type of connections are made, are they stronger due to social media or are they weaker, reality is weaker, meaning the connections are worse, similar to how the music is getting worse in this video

[@Tiasung]

@@tsardean9192 The algorithm didnt exist in the earlier days of the internet.

[@Ejexion]

@@tsardean9192 I disagree with that. We're more segregated than ever. Politics are proof of this.

[@tsardean9192]

Honestly I don't think I well represented what I was trying to say in my original comment. The points made in the video "The Internet is Worse Than Ever - Now What?" by Kurzgesagt (the people who make the science videos with the birds) is more what I wast trying to bring up.

[@michaelhammond5895]

As a very young teenager, I used to cut grass in the neighborhood and ride my bike to the store and buy a record album or the small records we called a 45. I would sit and listen to it for hours in a relaxed state and meditate on the song that was playing. That was long before computers or cellphones. It was more of a simple life, and a lot of times, I wish I could go back to those days.

[@genewilliams617]

I have been playing kit since 1962, and I miss those days!!!

[@nap871]

I was there too. And I prefer it right here and now. 3:45 If you went back, youdwant out of there in a few days. It's called the good old days fallacy.

[@kuzy2112]

Fleetwood ??

[@roadyholmes]

But mp3 is a hell of a lot more portable than truntable

[@michaelhammond5895]

@@roadyholmes we didn't have mp3 back in the 70s

[@doctorgrewv]

Great commentary, as usual. It is a sad time, I am 60, and the world we grew up in is gone, quite literally, its gone. Thank you for all you do, you are a treasure to us all.

[@moonfire41]

I miss real instruments played by talented and original musicians.

[@tonyrodriguez1844]

Just turned 59, so we have enjoyed the same music and artists. From, wiring speakers, and cassette players to CD's. It's no wonder so many radio stations are still playing our generations music. Like the song, "I love music, any kind of music." 8 tracks, albums, cassette and cd. No experience with real to real, but must have been great.

[@niallmorrissey3715]

It's not gone. Not at all. Take it from someone who is your age. I enjoy my music on vinyl. I develop my own photos. The old technology is still available.

[@magiccruislng]

I'm a musician.I play in three bands, five nights a week. Our audiences love us and dance. We use small amps. The guitar players use a couple pedals. We have fun, the audiences have fun and the club owners make money. Real live music is still available, but just like when we were young, you got to work for it.

[@thecowgirlmermaid]

Are y’all primarily playing covers? Or able to also play originals that keep the crowds?

[@kevinwickerproductions3089]

Cool! Keep it up! If you are any good, your audience and income will grow. Then anything is possible.

[@icantchooseanamesoiwritethis]

That’s awesome to hear. Keep going!!

[@tonybarnes3858]

Thank you for your service. We have a military/veteran discount where I work. I'm going to suggest a pro musician discount.

[@ezrollerj]

Exactly music is about the moment... Not bottling it labeling and monopolizing for profit. That's what people spend money or time on it for, the moment...

[@damianlarocca4359]

My wife and I will do a 1000 piece puzzle and listen to a whole album through, and discuss it as we work on the puzzle. It's become one of my favourite things to do.

[@lisahall1989]

I envy you both. Wishing you many more years of puzzle time & music.

[@TheHarryMoose]

This is brilliant. I feel a new date trend coming on for me and my wife.

[@blissjohnson4242]

That's really beautiful ❤

[@Compulsive-Elk7103]

Ok

[@j3ffn4v4rr0]

that sounds like an awesome way to connect with someone you love

[@TrentFuehrer]

My kids basically multi-task music into their day. It just plays while they do other things. I remember when listening to music was an activity. Bringing an album/tape/CD home from the store; pulling off the shrink wrap; sniffing the tray card; and reading through all the lyrics while I sat on my bed and listened to the album in its entirety. The world has definitely changed.

[@ellam3nno]

"sniffing the tray card" 🤣🤣🤣Me too!

[@jakubchrobry3701]

Experiencing music live has always been the best way to enjoy music and have lifelong memories. In the 1980s an Ozzy concert would be $10 to $15. Do your children have enough access to wealth to even attend a concert today? If so, they are more fortunate than most. Talking about the costs of recorded music without bringing up the cost of live music shows the extreme bias of Rick Beato.

[@-sturmfalke-]

My father has a lot of CDs, and some of the best ones I actually listen to without doing anything else. It feels kinda weird doing just one thing at a time, only one sense. Of course this doesn't work with every song, but I find that a lot of new ones are not deep enough to achieve complete attention. There are, als always, lots of exceptions though. Adele, Gorillaz and a good amount of rock songs examples for that, though I'm not really following any artist so this could be completely bs I'm talking, I just find a higher density of good music there.

[@Kjevois]

That's why 60's 70's 80's and 90's was the gold era of music.

[@PatientPerspective]

Indeed!

[@tombarzey7964]

I second that emotion!

[@musical_lolu4811]

...up to, say, 2005.

[@Anna-ql7tw]

I saw Led Zeppelin live in concert in 1969. At least I THOUGHT it was live. Robert Plant hid his face whenever he sang. I sensed something was wrong, because the performance was good. Too good. When I later read about him being accused of(and apologizing for) lip synching, it all made sense. I suspect that there is a lot of pre-recorded hanky panky going on, with musicians being faded in and out as necessary during so-called live events. The excruciating volume levels facilitate such chicanery. I'm not saying every concert was fake. I'm saying they got by with a LOT of help from their friends on the mixer board, and if it just meant that you were hearing the best version of themselves, what are you complaining about? They probably did the solos live.

[@garymartin1045]

The 90s, the only good band in the 90s was Damn Yankees. Let's see this other s*** that came out in the 90s. Mostly rap c***

[@briancolw]

This is a fantastic bit of social commentary. Speaks to something beyond just music. Our whole culture is increasingly 1) Easily produced, 2) Easily consumed, 3) Valued less.

[@beejls]

This goes right along with a discussion I had with a male friend earlier about how hard we both are finding it to find good quality trousers. Yup, everything out there is crap. Good and cheap, but garbage. And since neither of us want to shop online but want to go to stores it's even harder to find anything passible. That seems to be the world we're living in right now. We've been Walmart-ized. Everything is cheap and available but it's not worth much.

[@SarlasMusic]

Spot On.

[@ZenMorph]

4. Easily forgotten

[@maggiepeterson_]

👏 Yes!!!

[@55Porter]

Just replace all that with: fake

[@snaredude56]

"The enemy of art is the absence of limitations" - Orson Welles Pretty much sums it up.

[@pcno2832]

That makes me think of the way the Hays codes forced movie script writers to get around them with some of the most brilliant examples of innuendo the world has ever seen. Today, with almost no limitations of obscene language and imagery, all of that is lost.

[@AquarianNomadic]

KZbin channel creators...

[@KurtWitowski]

Truth! First time hearing that one, thanks. Right up there with “The great rule of art is complete unity in diversity.

[@davidrobinson7684]

Yes! The BBC once commissioned Benjamin Britten to write a piece for some occasion or another, and Britten asked how many horns he could use. The BBC answered, "Oh Mr Britten, you can have as many horns as you like!" But that wasn't what he wanted to hear. He always needed to work within set parameters.

[@snaredude56]

@@pcno2832 I was thinking more budgetary, time and technological limitations, rather than censorship, although, censorship is a limitation that did provide for some creative writing.

[@StefanVale]

Excellent summary on how public appreciation for music has so drastically changed over the years. There's nothing more pure, organic, and human than live acoustic music. When the internet & power grid goes out, live acoustic music will become very valuable and even essential.

[@tofromks]

Had a friend in high school who restored an old van. Whenever anyone got a new cassette we'd all pile in the back, park somewhere, light one up and just sit and listen. It was an actual event we looked forward to, sometimes days in advance!

[@erichartman1696]

Great story! I had similar experiences in the 70s

[@ritadavison4857]

I’m sorry I missed it!

[@edgregory1]

Cassette? 70's was 8 track.

[@user-do1fq8oy9c]

Dude said "experience". Comprehension is your friend!

[@PqV72MT4]

Exactly right! The same with television shows in the eighties.

[@thomasjohnson2435]

The best advice I ever received from anyone about music was from my dad. He said to listen to the entire album and appreciate it as a whole. I have found some of my favorite songs from this. There are so many songs that are great that never made the charts.

[@garyb6219]

I was a DJ at a bar for three years in the mid 80s. My philosophy was that when I played tracks off classic albums I wouldn't play the one or two that only the radio played. I'd play the others that you never heard on the radio but everyone knew because they had listened to the whole album many times.

[@kenbrunet6120]

I love finding amazing songs that never hit my ear because they didn't make it to charts. Any favorites you're willing to share?

[@kyledavis635]

@@kenbrunet6120 Along those lines, I would argue that there are numerous songs in a good band's catalogue that are better than those on the charts. Those on the charts are just catchier, easier to digest...

[@Hampton23]

Thank YOU Dad!

[@mihalyshilage5826]

Fantastic yet dated advice. I too have found some of my favourite tracks from listening to whole albums. However, increasingly, modern artists have adapted to streaming formats and are more and more making albums that are merely a collection of songs or single tracks aiming to get one of them to go viral rather than a full 40+ minute continuous composition.

[@SimonBishop779]

The paradox of having the world of music quite literally at your fingertips, yet being numb to it.

[@Dreyno]

This. I’ve noticed young people who don’t know even the most obvious music. They hadn’t heard of anyone. Or they say “OMG I looove Zeppelin, The Who, the Smiths etc. But when you talk to them it turns out they know one or two songs by them. They’re remarkably incurious.

[@vixo551]

@@Dreyno Do you know Car Seat Headrest? Alex G? Mitski? Men I Trust?Boygenius? Young people have never cared about musicians that are way older than them. Why would a kid born in 2000 care about a band that began 40 years before they even gained conscience? A b-side of Pavement, fucking Pavement went incredibly viral with young people. Just accept that the passage of time and juvenoia is kicking your ass

[@vixo551]

@@SimonBishop779 That sounds like depression my guy, are you feeling good? Genuinely asking.

[@Aveance94]

@@vixo551 Most of the music I listen to daily was written, recorded, and gained popularity before I was born. What the fuck are you on about bud?

[@vixo551]

@@Aveance94 Me too man, and so I know for experience, the average young people don't really care that much about music older than them.

[@joeday4293]

"What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value." - Thomas Paine

[@regis_red]

I wish I could like this more than once.

[@violinmke]

Hell ya

[@MisterMoccasin]

T. Paine

[@joeday4293]

@@MisterMoccasin LOL, the *real* T. Paine. 😆🇺🇸

[@craigiscanadian]

Capitalism ruins everything

[@daniellaforme9868]

Nice job Rick! I’m 68, I remember listening to music the way you described it. We truly appreciated music the way it should be appreciated. Keep up the good work. 👍🏼

[@beanobanelli]

Excellent Rick, you nailed this. I'm 59 and you brought back the day Van Halen's 1st album was released. My buddies and I prepared for a week, we all cut lawns, pooled our money together, got the album and listened to it forever. There is Nothing like the Anticipation feeling we had back then. Thank you!

[@ermanevcil]

This is one of your best videos Mr. Beato. I will repeat it so that holy algorytm may show it to more people. And hoping that people have 10 precious minutes to spare and appreciate this amazing history of modern music industry. Thank you Rick

[@dakotarogueeagle]

I think this, partly, relates to why people are so depressed. There is so much overstimulation available and it’s so easy to access. Plus, the overstimulation is so addictive that we’ll become bored when the overstimulation is under-stimulating. Great video, Rick. Thank you.

[@DxModel219]

yup instead of music taking us in a slow and ascending journey of 6mins… it’s a quick sound catchy bite of 2mins for tic tok videos. Also the modern production is bad very bad. No more money made in producing albums but only in tours.

[@orangefacedbuddah1776]

your on to something.

[@tonybarnes3858]

And a lot of the information is BS; there's so much out there that the wheat is buried under chaff.

[@lisahall1989]

Well said.

[@sixstringsandamike]

Excellent comment

[@nitemirror1]

Music isn’t getting worse. There’s no media outlets to promote it. There’s a lot of talented musicians, who perform live but are being ignored and censored by algorithms to promote mainline mass media trash.

[@richpeltier9519]

Full transparency: as drummer, when he described how he mics a drum kit.... I yelled I LOVE YOU Out of respect and the fact that you went more overboard than me. I like that.

[@maisonwolfe1890]

Rick, I'm 18 years old. This is the best video I have seen about music. I started my life listening to the Doors and the Beatles. The whole CD!!! Now i have my grandfather's record collection, and i know the names of players and producers. This video spoke to me. I hope to spread this as much as I can, I want my friends and generation to cherish music.

[@ronjones-6977]

Cherish music? Not gonna happen. They can't even deal with the fact that they are born a certain sex or that they have to WORK for a living.

[@theturtleproject]

good for you lad, keep it up

[@jansmitowiczauthor78]

I started my serious music life as a teenager listening to 60s and 70s music as well! It's just that that was 20 years ago now ;)

[@hamidrezahabibi8111]

You’re most welcome and it’s a great feeling to do drop the needle 🪡 on a vinyl record and listen 👂 to the music 🎶 and do nothing. No phone 📱 No 🛜 No Instagram. As German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said, “Without music, life would be a mistake.”

[@jimkon1479]

Speaking of knowing producers, starting to follow the works of Kevin Shirley and the late Steve Albini who know how to get the best out of their artists. And Steve himself has been a great champion for artists willing to create.

[@alexandremello6913]

This is probably your deepest, most important video so far. I am 57 and I have a huge vinyl collection. I listened to LP records at my friends' all the time. Back covers and lyrics meant a lot. We knew the musicians and we followed them. Most of us played an instrument (I play the drums). I can relate to everything you say here, and your diagnosis is perfect. Thank you.

[@chrisdunnettmusic]

A HUGE hit songwriter mentor and friend of mine asked a question asking this the other day on his FB page so I shared this video and got accolades LOL. Seriously though, you nailed it as always and it truly is a very sad state for music and I fear it will only get worse. I am, sadly not by choice, almost semi-retired from the music industry because of many of the reasons you mentioned. While many of the actual artists you used examples have little to worry about, the lesser-known more "indie" musicians such as myself have suffered greatly from these things. I once made a "decent (definitely not set for life type) living in the music industry but sadly those days seemed to have be dwindling unless you are already an established artist. Well done Sir.

[@lifeisagift.cherisheverymoment]

"The best way to counteract this alarming trend is by educating yourself and becoming a more knowledgeable musician so that great music can make a return." Educating yourself and becoming a more knowledgeable person... applies to every aspect of life, not just music. Beautiful video, beautiful essay. Thank you.

[@yetiwestin]

Rick, make this a 90 minute documentary, with guest interviews, discussion about future of music, past of music. I would watch that 100%

[@RoyDontHugMeImScared]

Me three

[@TonySZL]

There's a documentary that came out around the beginning of the end. It was called "Press Pause Play"... check it out!

[@patolorde]

As he said, you vote with your attention and more complex topics will not be watched. He would best do a 10sec tiktok

[@adamrad2220]

Agreed!

[@-______-______-]

90 million? Why not 100 million?

[@markcrowley6906]

Rick Beato just gave the most comprehensive and descriptive analysis of why the music composed today lacks creativity - which in turn means a lack of originality. I have been playing guitar since 1964 and Rick you have answered all of my questions that I have had for years. Thank you!

[@ethangriffith1663]

God bless you for making this video. So many others have either been unwilling or unable to articulate what you have successfully did in 12 min.

[@njsteere]

Sitting down, without distractions, and REALLY listening to an album once or twice a week has made me realize how much music I listen to nowadays, yet how little music I listen to.

[@charlienyc1]

My rule for myself is no screens. Whether I'm looking at my turntable spinning, the LP jacket, or nothing because my Pi-based streamer has the touchscreen backlight powered off, my eyes need no distraction to really hear the music. Then and only then can I listen to an album and really hear it.

[@njsteere]

@@charlienyc1 I’ve looked at getting a vinyl player specifically BECAUSE it’s not a smooth experience. Consuming music is so frictionless now, great in a lot of ways, not so great in others.

[@sproesser1]

There is significant value in deliberate listening. Where all you are doing is consuming your music. My friends and I have social gatherings where we sit in front of a stereo and people put on songs. We have a very enriching time!

[@charlienyc1]

@@njsteere I just bought my first one in the last couple years. Besides all the G.A.S. (gear acquisition syndrome) that came with that purchase, my listening got much more intentional. I'd recommend it. And set yourself an initial budget for TT, preamp, cleaning products, and any other accessories plus another weekly or monthly vinyl budget. Don't do what I did and spend more than double what I meant to spend 😆

[@gtvon2556]

How much music you hear but how little you listen. People talking over songs irritates me no end. Play ambient music without lyrics if you don't want to hear the messages enclosed.

[@monimelody]

“I find it so amazing that when people tell me that electronic music has not got soul, and they blame the computers because they think and they point at the computer - it’s like “there’s no soul here!” It’s like, you can’t blame the computer. If there’s no soul in the music it’s because nobody put it there and it’s not the tool’s fault.” -Björk

[@malafone]

this

[@BM_100]

she was really ahead of her time for sure

[@Toenail_VR]

That's why I love Aphex Twin, Richard D. James puts his entire soul into his music and it's awesome.

[@tobiokanlawon1562]

Haha, lol. She's wrong. Tools influence the way we produce, so yes we can point to the tool. But she's partly right in the sense that we have some degree of freedom while using the tool too

[@jenkins85]

​@tobiokanlawon1562 so you can blame your influences for why your music has no soul? At what point are you going to have accountability as the creator? She definitely isn't wrong. there is electronic music that certainly has soul and no, it isn't predicated on accompanying vocals. If you can't listen to DJ Shadow and recognize the soul in his tracks, it might actually be a you problem

[@mikemartinmusic704]

Man, I am in so much agreement with you Rick. I'm 30 but I don't stream. I started buying cassettes when I was 7 with birthday/Christmas money, I started buying CD's when I was 10 when I finally bought a Discman. I listened to the albums and read the liner notes. I have a massive CD collection, and a small cassette and vinyl collection. I got into playing music when I was 22. I do it for part time work now. That money made largely goes into gear. I record my own music in my house - real drums, real guitars and amps, real microphones. No samples, no autotune, no backing tracks, a basic DAW. Music has been such a massive part of my life, and you have been a massive inspiration for me. Thank you for keeping music real and meaningful, some of us are trying to do the same.

[@nonosays]

Such a great meditation on what we have lost and what we have made worthless and insignificant. When I was almost 10 years old, I saved my allowance until I had $3.50 to walk to the record store with my sister and buy my very own copy of BEATLES '65. I walked home with my treasure feeling delirious and grown up for buying my own record. Every sound and syllable of that album is tattooed on my brain, my soul. We are truly removing beauty and significance from our lives. Heed Rick's words, get a record player and do like the old song says, "put on Sinatra and start to cry. "

[@bobma62]

Perfectly said Rick. I’ve been in the industry my entire life and now at 70 I feel blessed to have lived in a time when music had value and meaning

[@6idangle]

Agreed, I’m born 92 and I’m lucky I got to experience a world of more music choices and risks. This isn’t just “kids these days suck” stuff, this isn’t just nostalgia this is a corporatized world with no art anymore. You guys had the perfect mix of access and creativity and I saw it in my early days but it’s sadly now gone.

[@Netunoblu]

Honestly, I wish I got to live through these times too... I hate that these days its more about "content creation" and marketing rather than making timeless and original art.

[@cynthiak3376]

I'm 76 and I fully concur - I'm an old analog gal in a digital world, and I like it that way. Joe Walsh (also our age) wrote a great song "Analog Man" You should get that album and give it a listen (In analog of course!) LoL💗

[@geesehoward700]

wtf is all this bs? mainstream music has always been populist trash. go listen to stuff like jinjer and tell me nothing is good.

[@zenos.5315]

Myself included, playing albums in my friends basement,having a few beers,was pure magic

[@lilleyman69]

“You Vote With Your Attention” what a great quote Rick. As a Music teacher of primary school aged students I get them to listen to one song at the start of my lesson to set up my intention to get their attention and watching their expressions when they come across a bridge or a chord change in a song is wonderful because they than question can songs do that!

[@marikothecheetah9342]

you should go through anime music then. Things what Japanese can do with pentatonic scale is crazy. They change tempo, rhythm but so cohesively you still know this is one piece of music. You can start with a bit of jazz: Tank! from Cowboy Bebop for example. Or OST to Macross Do You Remember Love? Both OSTs are by the one and only Yoko Kanno, known to switch genres like it's nothing. From classical music - Litvinovsky is a good choice - his pieces aren't complicated but have enough variety to them to spot them easily. And they are just good pieces to listen to. And, of course - traditional music. My fav go to album is Rhythms of the Pridelands - never gets boring. For that Asian vibe I like: erhu, gu zheng, taiko drums, shamisen, shakuhachi... And enka for singing.

[@danaaxelson6200]

As older,70, former professional musician, you are absolutely right. At 15, I saved up money to buy my first album. The experience of opening the album cover, after studying the cover for a long time, pulling the record sleeve slowly and removing the vinyl and getting that smell. It made your connection with what you were about to hear so special. Nothing like it. That ritual was so special.

[@dcostello1976]

Albums are things to own and treasure whereas streamed is throwaway. You are also more likely to listen to the whole thing and let it grow on you, rather than skipping stuff that doesn't have that instant hook.

[@denisblack9897]

Pretty same with video games for me. I got tons of pleasure out of searching for a worthy game, saving up, anticipating the day i’ll finally buy it, installing… Now you can install thousand of shitty free games and get zero pleasure out of them and even get scammed into paying for quest rewards 😅

[@oldskoolmusicnostalgia]

I'm glad I never gave in to the streaming trend even if it was supposed to be my generation's thing. Still got my collection of CDs and I save the songs I love most on various devices to listen to. Streaming, never.

[@tysfalsehood]

@@dcostello1976 For most young music fans, we don’t skip tracks, even on streaming. Bridges still exist, you know?

[@Rojave]

Funny you mention the smell. At the time we discovered different labels had slightly different vinyl smells. We used to play a quiz-like game by guessing albums blind-folded, without sound. So much fun we had, back in the 80's.

[@bigbluecrab]

The fact that people stopped and listened to this video, and then commented gives me hope. There are 'some' who still care, which gives me hope...alas it is fewer each day, and even find myself swept into the river of mundane hopelessness, but then click on that song of my youth and transported back to that time of hope and appreciation.

[@jeffmerena5790]

I write music for the art of it and for exploring myself. I'm not concerned with trends. You know that something is a passion when you put time and sweat into making it knowing that you might not get any monetary value from it. Keep your art alive. Shine on!!

[@DaveMcleanJr]

Same here. I make music for one person... Me. If other people hear it and like it, that's a bonus, but it's not why I make music. I have songs in me that I have to get out. I think they're awesome, but I would do. After all, they were written and recorded just for me. I found creative freedom when I was released from the dream of being successful or making a career from music. That was always a hard dream to chase, but it's even harder now when 100,000 songs are uploaded every day. It's pretty much impossible to get noticed in amongst all that noise. So why pollute your art by trying to make it for people who will almost certainly never hear it? Make it for yourself.

[@deepsbooch]

Is it really possible to make music only for yourself? I mean what motivates you to create music just for yourself. I am a musician and I would love to make music for myself but honestly .. me alone does not motivate me. I like it when I receive praise for my songs even more when make a new fan and that's what makes me want to churn out more.

[@bernardwillis6461]

Same here. I just make music for myself. When people say music is getting worse I say, how dare you! I just dropped a project two weeks ago. I'm still the dopest.

[@geoff-brady]

Dogs chase cats because they are dogs. I create music because I am a musician. Just like a dog, I can't help it. It's just who I am. To stop would be going against my true nature. To stop creating music would make me miserable.

[@france4me117]

I can't agree more Jeff as that is what my philosophy is too. I create music as a well trained pianist and my love for being creative and not simply follow a trend is a big plus for me. Well super done and keep enjoying your passion for music.

[@galahadthreepwood9394]

The irony for me is that having all music always available was the dream. Now that it’s here ….. “the only thing worse than not getting what you want, is getting what you want”. I must admit I’m very glad I have access to all of Bach’s music, it brings me so much comfort and joy.

[@Red_Lanterns_Rage]

Yeah, Sebastian Bach was great in Skid row! in a Darkened room man ugh.......just......and Wasted Time.....ugh....we haven't got anything like that since....well the early 90's! lolz

[@ninjer66]

I've always said that if you would have told me in 1984 that I could have access to any music I wanted instantly I would have lost my mind. But in reality, going to the record store on the weekend and digging through the import section was so great!

[@QED_]

I wonder sometimes whether the same holds for Women . . .

[@innercynic2784]

Many a Friday or Saturday night spent at the record store doing exactly that. I picked up so much import vinyl it was crazy. Good vibes and the constant pursuit.

[@Marchant2]

I miss that too.

[@NotTheStinkyCheese]

I miss going to real stores to buy stuff. It feels soulless. There's this lack of discovery. And worst of all : I don't get to own the music any more ... I got a thousand cd's I have bought (and digitized for easy consumption). And I'm only rarely adding new things when I see new bands at events in real life, because I simply can't buy the physical product. Never mind the ridiculously small amount of royalties that artists get when someone listens to their songs on a streaming service. Record companies were bad, but streaming services are even worse when it comes to exploiting artists.

[@marctowersap8018]

and I'd read music magazines, Kerrang, Creem, Rolling Stone, find out what they raved about, ooh, who is this Accept? Never heard of them. Bought Restless & Wild, thought it was a mistake when the start of Fast as a Shark came on, like, wtf? did they switch disks? then the Udo scream, ah, now that's better! one of my favorite disks now! Picked up Bad Brains, X, Tool, Skinny Puppy, and Godflesh among others based on magazine recommendations, until I found a good core of friends who we can talk music with as magazines died

[@TheMarbo74]

When you mentioned kids just clicking to the next one if they don’t like it, it reminded me of how, back in the day, we had no choice but to listen to an entire album, even the songs we didn’t immediately connect with. It was like being “forced” to give those tracks a chance, and so many of them ended up becoming favourites after a few listens. That experience of growing to love a song is something I really treasure.

[@kenny_numbers]

I got the chills listening to you describe what it took to acquire music (an album), what it meant to you, adding it to your collection and sharing it. This is exactly how it was for me growing up in the'70s.

[@XTRMJ]

That's because, Rick is exactly right,... Now is too easy to steal a sample of real music, loop it, & make some rap (crap) out it,...

[@a9ball1]

We used to have a record store called Wide World of Music and we called it Wild World. They had a sale every month, any album $5.44 per disk. And they would play albums in the store during the day. That's one way we found new artists that weren't on the radio.

[@saulgoodman.exe_]

I can't imagine how people listen to music without the full context of the album, it's ludicrous if you ask me I might be Gen Z but I've felt and heard Zep IV on a mint condition 70's pressing and it's magical. Love my Don Cab 2 vinyl in particular, that record just hits different in analogue

[@CB018332]

And adding to that - If you didn't enjoy what was popular/mainstream you either had to go to great lengths to find something different OR you created something yourself. Now you just need to browse youtube for 20 minutes.

[@davidshanahan5134]

@@saulgoodman.exe_ Albums as such are rare today. They are usually a collection of unrelated, stand-alone objects - there is no theme any more. "Tommy" by The Who would be impossible today.

[@BehrangAjam]

Rick, you nailed it. And when music is valueless, all arts and the beauty itself gets valueless. And what if people stop creating beauty when it's valueless. Are we still a human if there is no beauty? You're a legend. Thank you so much.

[@SibilaDelphos]

Just see Ai making all those pictures... I say when "everyone" is an artist then no one is.

[@nativevirginian8344]

We are still human, but we end up being of no value also.

[@BrotherBoresIsBest]

Yes

[@Juan________S12]

This can get philosophical real quick.

[@plaxy]

music isn't getting worse, popular music is getting worse.

[@fredjones9750]

A very valid point.

[@brandongomesfernandes4828]

Fully agree

[@IvanPolyansky]

this.

[@MrGougui]

and how many top 10 songs from 50 years ago are completely forgotten?

[@Paul_Halicki]

The problem is with a new song coming out every second, popular music is losing its meaning. A popular song would rise through the ranks of the various countdowns and become part of pop culture. Now songs are far more ephemeral. They become all the rage until the next new song comes out and then they're quickly forgotten. There is still good music being made, but the most popular means of distributing music doesn't pay attention to them.

[@OjanMusic]

Love this video and as a young dude I proudly admit that 99% of my listening time goes to older music cuz it ain’t no thang if it ain’t got that swang!! 😎

[@strangeitude1]

The flip side of streaming is that if you really love music, you will discover, experience and enjoy 1000% more music that only would have purchased and listened if you were a millionare. I still collect cds, but not purchasing as many as in the old days. With my friends who also love music I share the album links and personal playlists, it is another experience. With that said, I sympathize totally with Rick on this matter.

[@Drstrange3000]

I think this is why I like streaming despite it being looked down upon. Especially, as someone who didn't always gel with the music from my country. Even as a kid I didn't get to connect with friends through music since my tastes were different. I was able to listen to and discover so many gems through streaming.

[@peternelson3862]

You're spot on Rick. I was a research and practicing psychologist for 55 years. I think there has been a loss of the knowhow of using attention. Not only have we lost the capacity to deeply listen to music, we've lost the ability. to listen to each other--music is just one symptom.

[@MOONSHINEPLACEPRODUCTIONS]

Peter, this horrible trend of people unable to "lock in" to any endeavor is horrible alarming. Obviously a byproduct of electronic technologies (aside from video games and a few other meaningless "entertain me now" pastimes that seem to be the only time people "lock in", we are reaping the results of short sightedness commerce. Yes while it's partially true that the smart phones, computers and other devices have helped us in certain ways, we are only seeing the beginning of the damage being created through these media methods. While my statements may sound more like an old timer the truth remains, next time you're with a teenager have them shut off their phone and ask them to describe in detail what they hear, see, smell and feel in the moment and see how in depth their answers are..

[@Fred-oh9vl]

​@user-kg6di5vf9x Very true, and if you're a young person starting out in a career this can be used to your advantage. I taught my children to be the young person that shows up, pays attention, and keeps focus until the task is completed. This has paid off in a big way for them.....because to your point, they're in a sought-after minority.

[@straymusictracksfromdavoro6510]

Yes, it not just music, its "everything". There is now very little critical thinking and/or intellectual curiosity taking place, we seem, as a race, to have adopted such a lazy approach to everything we encounter that we would rather have a set of algorithms do our thinking for us and we just skim everything - news articles, informative television programs and ultimately our greatest creation - music. Digital manipulation and AI are creating a world where we don't know what is real or true and so we now mistrust everything, just so sad.

[@jet251]

@@straymusictracksfromdavoro6510 I think this is just another step in evolution, and a greater divide between parts of the species is being made. We still have great scientists that think deeply (Higgs Boson and CERN for example in 2012 or The James Webb), but I cannot think of any recent creativity that would match. Maybe Kush the painter, or Billie Eilish come close for me. I still wonder where evolution is taking us, we definitely are not driving this bus.

[@nemanjastankovic4439]

@@jet251 Is it really progress ? Evolution can make you go back if it helps your survival right ? So if everyone will forever use AI to make songs in 100 years we will lose ability to play instruments and why would we need them anyway if AI is doing the job.

[@timdewart9261]

Great video. I'm a little bit older than you, and I can remember that one of the great joys of buying an LP from a favorite artist was having to listen to all the non-feaured, "fiiller" tracks and discovering true gems.

[@EM-fg3hm]

Love your thoughtful reflections. I was born in 1979 and when my 12 year old chooses music to listen to in the car using my phone, he has to close the cover, listen (rather than watching), feeeeel the music and look out the window.....life! ❤

[@kyrilson71]

I’ve thought about this before. When I was a kid I would buy an album and listen to it over and over because a) I worked to get it and b) I didn’t have a crazy amount of choices. So I would deep dive into these albums, read the liner notes, lyrics, etc. as you mentioned, this resulted in a very deep connection to the music and the band. Nowadays, it’s a paradox of too many choices. I use Spotify, but I tend to use it meaningfully, I will take one artist, and listen to every album in chronological order. Things like that. It helps me see the progression of a musician, and find new (to me) music I enjoy.

[@immozelle]

I use Spotify music like that as well. I'm catching up on music I missed when life just got in the way, like my workplaces tended to disallow playing music or the choice of music, or my car stereo broke and I couldn't afford to replace it. I do have to put some effort into active listening. It may sound lame, but I have to maintain a job, a home, and a computer with internet to do all that. No small feat nowadays. And of course, I try get out and experience live music. I simply can't afford today's ticket prices, so a big name concert is a once a year special event. But I can attend less popular artists and still get just as wonderful quality auditory bliss. Local bands are great, too!

[@Bigfoot-px9gj]

I've been collecting CDs since the format was first introduced, and I have somewhere near 1,500 CDs. I used to buy every album by bands I like, even if I didn't like every song on the albums. I stopped doing that when streaming mp3s came along. Now I bookmark bands I listen to on Spotify and or Tidal (Tidal has better sound, Spotify has more stuff I like) and that also had the extra benefit of making my wife happy. She used to tell me to get a room for all of my CDs... So I told her to be happy I didn't collect LPs, they take up a lot more room. Those comments were rewarded with a blank stare that said in no uncertain terms "Are you crazy?" Then I started collecting DVDs and BRDs. I bet you can guess how well _that_ went over...

[@timdawson7430]

SO well said. I'm a professional musician and retired middle school band/orchestra teacher. I've been doing this my whole life and you just distilled everything I've been saying and thinking into a clear and concise 12 minute video. Well done, Rick. Bravo.

[@CYB3R2K]

Well said? He's wrong.

[@NathanMason-r4s]

Dude is just hating. He is 100% wrong. It's all about finding which bands or artists to listen to. Maybe he should try expanding his playlist. lol.

[@farentimonnaewens4662]

@@CYB3R2K So says the incorrigible Cyborg cult here!!

[@farentimonnaewens4662]

@@NathanMason-r4s So says the incorrigible Cyborg cult here!!

[@p.b.edwards7287]

@@NathanMason-r4s , he didn't say the music doesn't exist. Of course not. His hundreds of vids demonstrate his love for music past and present. He said the technology has literally devalued it for the average person in our culture. He's sure not wrong about that.

[@ct00001]

I remember the days of pouring over liner notes, knowing who produced and engineered the record, what studio it was recorded in, etc. Knowing and caring about these things really does bring the music alive on a whole other level

[@realityjunky]

Then cds came along and I had to get out the microscope. All that beautiful artwork shrunken, how would the artists have felt?

[@derrylallen]

i loooove album notes

[@TheEvolver311]

​@@realityjunkyhappy they got paid a decent commission

[@ParamotorSteve]

Ah yes! Loved reading the liner notes. Do record companies even make them anymore?

[@louise_rose]

Yep, as a huge Yes fan I remember being irritated because "Relayer" (at least the LP edition) said nothing about who the recording engineer/s was, or about what kind of keyboards and synths Patrick Moraz was using. I could hear that it was an outstanding feat of production, mixing and musicianship, even by Yes standards; it sounds really different from any other album with the band - but all the album said on production was "produced by Yes and Eddie Offord; tapes by Genaro Rippo" (a name I have never seen on any other album). :) It was a quarter of a century before I found out that most of the album had not even been recorded at Offord's Advision studios in London, but - in Chris Squire's basement! 😄 Which makes it even more impressive, even if it was actually mixed at Advision. :) And I still don't know who those sound engineers were...Offord was mostly sitting in a studio bus outside of Squire's home when they were recording the album.

[@TheMathius78]

After getting paid this week I spent what little extra I had on a 2CD set of Eagles Greatest Vol 1&2. I now look forward to getting in my car everyday after work. Unparalleled experience.

[@everydayeverything]

My son is a young 20s something up & coming musician, extremely talented (not just saying that because he's my son) and I'm in my mid 50s. I have Spotify and make playlists and sometimes listen to the Spotify recommended playlists. My son challenged me recently to only listen to an album. 1 album only, all the way through, not these silly mixed playlists. He's a kid and gets it. I have to say I was brought back to my childhood sitting in my parents living room holding Rush Farewell to Kings, and listening to it all the way through. We used to do that! It took my son to remind me. I'm forever grateful to him!

[@marikothecheetah9342]

People don't listen to albums anymore? It's the only way I listen to my music... I do have some mixes but then extend them to mixes of albums, i.e. a couple of albums of artist X then artist Y etc... Not using shuffle.

[@wuokawuoka]

People are using Spotify wrong. They should treat it like being at night at the record store: rummaging through the albums, looking for new artist.

[@jacks5463]

I’m 22 and routinely listen to albums. Recently listened to Hold Hold Your fire by Rush. Had to comment because I saw Rush!

[@tooluser]

Not to be overly cynical, but part of the reason you (and I, I'm 59) did that was because that's the way the music industry was structured. It was limited by the technology of the time, and was kept that way to maximize profits for a cabal of ultra-powerful music labels. You may also be nostalgic about making mixtapes for your crush in the early 80s like i did . . . yet at the time, THAT was the technology that was disrupting the music industry business model and playing it's part in destroying the album-format of music production. Overall I think any fan of Ricks channel can agree that we should actively listen to music to better appreciate its magic.

[@everydayeverything]

@@jacks5463 Great album!

[@MrTcamargo]

I'm 53 and this year my wife and i joined a choir (first time singing into a semi-pro fashion) there I met various youngsters (they are in their early 20's) and we became friends, and during the break on one of our rehearsals the kids started to talk about vinyls, and long story short we formed a "Vinyl club" where we meet at my house to play my vinyls!!! the greatest thing of all is their amazement listening to "new-old" music, and as you said here, I showed them the process, and how we used to enjoy it, told them that's the way we used to do it back in the day. That's why it was so important... but now it's just chewing gum

[@marikothecheetah9342]

kudos to them that they made the effort. And kudos to you you share your passion with them.

[@crazydigitalmusic]

Great story, my friend. Those were the days !

[@dionysusnow]

Shame on you for contributing to the delinquency of the youth.

[@EjayT06]

@@dionysusnow ?

[@thedamianpetrus]

As a music teacher your massage at the end is one of the most important ones I’ve been teaching my students. When we listen to music in class it’s the only thing we focus on, and afterwards we start a discussion on what makes it beautiful (or not so beautiful). I hope they keep listening to music properly outside of my classes as well.

[@stefanp2883]

Sound like a good Idea to me! When I remember the music lessons at my time at school we mostly listened to classic music and had to remember when the artist lived and so on. Mostly dates of birth and death. Now i'm 38 and I know that it is or should be interesting how music was made in the beginning because that music influences music until now, but it would also have been pretty cool to listen to current music, which genres exists, what makes them special and what they have in common. I regret not to be able to play an instrument (I learned accordeon when I was around 10 for about a year or so but didn't like it really much), but I plan to start learning to play guitar soon. I would really like not to only listen to but also being able to play music myself.

[@the_real_boulder]

Beautiful, Amen

[@pelerinc]

Wait, there was a massage at the end? Thank god, because this video needed a happy ending.

[@micktek]

I have plenty of playlists that I made for myself on Spotify, and hit the shuffle button, like so many people out there. But when I am listening to a specific ALBUM, I always listen from Track 1, no shuffle, no skipping. That's how the artist and producer intended the album to be played, so that's how I listen to it.

[@unstablesun8179]

When I was a kid, I saved up, my dad drove me to the record store and I bought the White Album by the Beatles. It was a huge event in my life. Today I still cherish it!

[@canadagood]

I walked into a church basement that was doing some sort of after-school teen hangout thing. Somebody put on the White Album and played the entire thing thing loud on big speakers. It had just been released and we were eager to listen. It builds and builds with all those sweet little songs and then erupts into the frightening and magnificent Revolution Number 9. Every song is a solid gem but together they all build something so much bigger.

[@ronin5th]

I have mentioned this to my children countless times. When I wanted a piece of music, my commitment to the artist was huge. The amount of time and effort to procure the music was like buying tickets to a show- lining up with lots of coffee. That is why my 45 year old record collection is paramount.

[@joeb4349]

Rick: You have done many YT videos as a working, knowledgeable musician. I watch and respect everything you do. But here on Sunday morning with a hot strong cup of coffee in hand I am blown away. I must admit this is the BEST thing you have ever posted ! Why? 'Cause it's so damned true!

[@lennyfederico960]

Rick you hit the target spot on. Dead center! Working hard as a young person, paper routes, working at my Father's TV store, mowing lawns etc. Taking the bus to down town San Jose to purchase Jimi Hendrix, Deep Purple, Elton John, Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Doobie Bros, on and on. There is NO sweat equity!! The best feeling is sharing the music with your friends. Having something tangible in your working hands to share. You would play side one and finish the story with side two. I started playing the ukulele at 3, violin at 8 years and guitar at 11 years of age. I learned by ear. However I purchased your Beato bundle because learning is endless! I love and appreciate all that you have done for the music community. God Bless you my dear friend , even though we have never met. Keep up the fantastic work! Sincerely, Lenny Federico

[@aramebandari2259]

I'm 34, born and raised in Iran, a restricted place from all planet. I've been dreaming to have my loved artists original cassettes and vinyls and now at this age since I am out of the place I born, I have the opportunity to collect all vinyls and cassettes and still enjoy the music.

[@dogfish4147]

Viva! Googoosh!

[@jr2904]

Congratulations on your freedom and I hope you're enjoying life now!

[@MisAnnThorpe]

Congratulations on your newly found "freedom". I hope you won't be too disappointed by it.

[@warrendavis6023]

Another great argument. Music was once known as the international language. People from all over the globe were brought together by international, regional, or popular music. We found things in common from liking a particular musician and their music -- not just their celebration of their own eras.

[@peterkovach8655]

Great to hear. Questionable government to say the least, but every single Iranian I've met has been incredibly friendly.

[@emmitscully7364]

My cars infotainment center cannot save radio stations. At first I was annoyed at this problem. However as time went on I have found it extremely liberating. Now I only listen to one independent radio station that exposes me to a wide variety of music I would never have heard before, with zero commercials. It’s incredible.

[@jiunjuan]

"Just listen to the music." Perfectly said. Just sitting with music is such a beautiful experience.

[@csmecca]

I live in Toronto. One night in early 1997 I was driving home late from work. There was a massive snowstorm. My normal 25 minute commute turned into two hours. The DJ on my favourite station at the time came on and said that he knew a lot of us were stuck in our cars and that as a gift he was going to play Dark Side of the Moon in it’s entirety with no commercials. It was the best 42m50s I’ve ever spent in a car. It instantly transported me back to album listening sessions I had with friends in high school and university. Pouring over the cover art, the liner notes and anything else we could get our hands on….and had to expend energy to get. Something you’d never get in the radio today or listening to Spotify. Just sitting there and letting the music wash over you. Listening to the lyrics, the bass line, the drum fills, and all the little intricate details that make music such and engaging art form. But Rick’s right. We vote with our actions. How will you vote ?

[@rhondalyn100]

I vote for Dark Side of the Moon...

[@trailofdistraction2932]

Sounds like a top night 👍🏻🤘🏻

[@uncoiledfish2561]

I've found artists on Spotify that I've then gone looking for. I've watched every interview. I've gone to their Bandcamp page and paid for their music. That still exists for those of us that care. The vast majority of people just want generic songs they can listen to while they clean their house 🤣 That's their choice.

[@alexs9168]

I’m from Toronto, was it 97.3?

[@genestone4951]

This is why Im not worried about AI ruining the visual arts...AI art is not real art. Never will be. This tech will PREVENT hacks from having hits because they will give in to temptation.

[@jamessharier7529]

Talk about hitting the nail on the head with this video. You’ve perfectly explained how music has been trivialized to nothing, that is such a sad, sad thing

[@DougRobinsonMusic-d3w]

Holy moly. Rick, I’ve been a fan for a while. You never strike out, but this one is the equivalent of about five home runs. I’m sharing it with my music-loving friends and specifically people who don’t make music themselves. I’d like to think that listeners could start the next revolution.

[@MrJurgen]

15 year old here. I feel real bad when I hear this. I see this happening with all of my friends! They don't understand the value music brings and what it can do to you. I always always appreciate ''talanted'' musicians, those who actually KNOW things.

[@cyclethelock]

Optimistically speaking, it could just be your circle of friends aren’t into music. Some folks just aren’t-as befuddling as that is to folks (like us) that are. That was the case 30-40 years ago, too. And it might be the quality of and access to contemporary music (as RB is pointing out) has changed, and those changes have caused a cultural ripple, but I feel very confident in saying: there are definitely folks out there, your age and younger, that LOVE music. You, yourself, are proof of that. Those people, for lack of a more potent societal driver, likely have parents that are into it, play stuff at home, are imprinting and passing along their love to their children. And it could be most of the non-musical people you mention don’t have that, or if they do have it just don’t resonate with that (same as non-musical people coming from musical households 30+ years ago). Also, the social element of music has undoubtedly changed; you probably don’t regularly see peers rocking band or concert shirts at school like I did. But I maintain: music has been with us for thousands of years, and has been important to us-some of us very deeply-for as long. While connecting with music peers might be trickier or different than it was in generations past, they’re out there. You’ll find em!

[@bforbes1]

you are the future. be the change you want to see in the world. don't mind your friends. we were all surrounded by sub-par friends in high school.

[@frankmarsh1159]

@@cyclethelock I grew up in the 1970's and everybody I knew was into music. Just about everybody had record collections. Some people had just a few while other people had hundreds. Most people I knew went to concerts... I bought my first album - Led Zeppelin II when I was 11 years old...My first concert was Pink Floyd at the Atlanta Stadium when I was 15...I camped out for Led Zeppelin tickets when I was 17. Music was a big deal for my generation and it still is. Many of us still go to concerts and still go out to hear local live music...Young people can't possibly understand how much music meant to the fans back in the day... It was a big deal for us ...But it was a different time. If what I hear in the checkout line and the coffee shops these days is representative of today's music then I can understand why young people might not be "into it" .

[@josd6387]

lol! Hey 15 years, go start a band.

[@tobewanad]

20 years ago when I was about your age things weren't that different -- look for kids with t-shirts of bands you like, maybe get into band or theater and you'll find your group 👍

[@TheArc37]

This is a very heroic move against the end of humanity, Rick. People need to hear this everywhere. I'll be doing my part as a 20+ year musician who just decided to start giving music lessons in a town where there aren't any left. Together we rage against the dying of the light.

[@lebe220]

So true. Greetings from Germany (born in 1958).

[@stormstereo]

It's curious you call it "end of humanity". For years, I've said music will save humanity. (Or rather, is actively and continously saving us.) Just an observation on your choice of words. There are dozens of us! :)

[@cameronpeters9971]

Beautifully articulated thought and expression.

[@s.miller2648]

LMAO, you don't like modern music, so it's the "end of humanity"😂

[@lebe220]

@@s.miller2648 It´s the end of freedom.

[@MentalCrusader]

I'm much younger than Rick, but growing up poor made me appreciate art and music more. I still have moments where I just listen to my favourite songs without doing anything else

[@GiovanniAloiArtifact]

Thank you for this very realistic, informative, and lucid diagnosis of the current situation. You are spot on! One thing you could add to your analysis of the "quantity over quality" argument is the expectation factor. Not only we used to work to put aside the money to buy a record, but the release of a lead single was highly anticipated. We waited a month sometimes for it to become available in shops. Then we had to wait another 3 weeks at least for the album to be released. Meanwhile, we had worn that 45 and the 12" remix of that song to death, lusting over the B-side: the only indication of what the rest of the album might sound like. By the time the album came out we were dizzy with excitement and the first listening was always unforgettable. Our emotional investment was substantial. All through the 90s it was still common to talk about music that required multiple listenings to be fully appreciated. It was part of the general understanding that some songs had immediate appeal but that others required more time to reveal the beauty underneath the complexity. Now, as you say, if a song does not grab you right away, it's over... I tell my students much of what you say in this video and at least now I know that I am not just an old ranting fool! Thank you.

[@GlennJackson-t3t]

As a 71 year old life long musician, this made me want to cry. Every point you make here is dead on. I'm glad I was alive and aware when music had value. I don't know if there's any way to get it back. Thank you, Rick, for everything you do. You are a voice crying out in the wilderness, but there are some of us who still hear you.

[@orangefacedbuddah1776]

cry no more,it will return,quality never dies,mozart and beethoven have been dead forever,but there music hasnt died.

[@mow_cat]

​@@orangefacedbuddah1776 as more and more music releases, it gets harder and harder to find the old music which often has higher standards of quality. especially if you don't know that it's out there, and that you should look for it. eventually it will be so hard to find the good old music that everyone will have no choice but to listen to just the new stuff.

[@NBZW]

Every major society in history had the same complaint, as they failed.

[@MrMelonsz]

I promise you there are still great musicians, songs and bands. They’re just harder to find when everyone’s making music.

[@ronaldjones743]

I hear him too it's really sad it's come to this. Reminds of a line in a CW McCall song. "There won't be no country music there won't be no rock and roll because when they take away our country they'll take away our soul"

[@damianpimpinella977]

I’m 23 and when I listen to music, it’s the entire album not a playlist cause it feels like a more cohesive experience. The artist spent so much time on the track listing to make sure it flows well and that gets lost in the Playlist era.

[@Blaatann53]

I’m 20, and I do the same. Also, when I turn on music, it is to experience it intentionally.

[@NickGodwin]

Some progressive bands run one track into another. Spotify or iTunes splits them so you don't get the chance to hear what the band created. E.g. Can - Future Days or Ege Bamyasi

[@shawkorror]

Been saying this for years. Compare Pearl Jam's "Ten" or Alice in Chains "Dirt" to anything from the past 20 years.

[@Century_Road_Official]

You might be in the minority, but you are appreciated! You’re also watching Rick’s channel so you most likely appreciate music more than your average 20 something, but that’s the point. Appreciation for what music is and can be.

[@dennismetzger9287]

I'm 26 and have just recently started just putting whole albums on

[@Gilandune]

This is why I love singing along to my favorite tunes despite being a terrible singer, it helps me connect with that music at a deeper level, relate it to situations in my life past and present. Music is not just background noise to drown my inner voice, its a gift to enhance it

[@kswannie]

Very insightful and well-put!

[@Alfred-c2u]

First time watching one of your videos, brother… I’m speechless. Suddenly a lot of things I’ve been thinking made absolute sense. Thank you very much. And yes, it was fun to brag about who was the best guitarist, vocalist or drummer. I guess that was back when the world celebrated musicians. I feel like a dinosaur but who cares, still play my Hendrix, Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd. Bruce Dickinson has not given up, neither has Scorpions so I’m here till the final act. Blessings!

[@SomeCanine]

We're experiencing this all over society. Abundance has destroyed our sense of value in everything. Even if something is very difficult to do, we don't value it because there are a million things that seem almost equally valuable that take almost no effort.

[@kaasmeester5903]

I don't know if that's right. We certainly have abundance in this day and age, it has never been easier to publish a book, make your opinion known, broadcast a video or release an album. I think that's great in itself. But that also means that the poor quality stuff that got rejected by editors and recording studios is now mixed in with the good stuff, and we have to filter it ourselves. That takes an effort. Worse: in many cases the garbage gets pushed to the top of our recommendations by some algorithm. But is it really destroying our sense of value? Most people might be lazy and listen to whatever hits their recommended list: easy to consume middle of the road stuff. But that's hardly any different than 50 years ago. It'll always only be a relatively small group of people who take the time to find and appreciate quality content. I think it's not abundance, but the "too easy to consume" part that is a greater danger. Music and films used to be something that we cherished, not just the content itself but our personal collections. You had to put down real money for any particular album or DVD, buying one album meant you couldn't listen to the other. Watching a movie meant going to the video store and renting one. Listening was a commitment as well: nowadays you can zap around and skip the songs that don't take your fancy, back then you put on a record or a CD and basically listen to the whole thing, or you'd have to get up all the time. Our "collections" have become more ephemeral as well: my playlists on Spotify frequently develop gaps, when the service can't be bothered to pay the rights holder anymore. Easy come, easy go. I think that is what is eroding our appreciation of music.

[@ColonelSandersLite]

@@kaasmeester5903 "But that's hardly any different than 50 years ago." Yup. Case in point - Disco. It was bad. Real bad. People lapped it up because that's what the 1970s equivalent of the recommended list was pushing. I think the too easy to consume thing is BS too. People still have their favorites. If anything, it's easier than ever to find and connect with some artist that really speaks to your being. The honest truth is - The reason why music is getting worse? You're getting old and you're saying the same crap that old people have always said. And yeah, that applies to me too. I don't care what genre/era/subculture/whatever of music someone cares to bring up, it's always the same story - an incredibly small percentage of it is good enough to endure the test of time.

[@jacksmith-mu3ee]

Music isn't getting worse Japan, China , India , Latin music has beaten English music . Easy

[@jayme3181]

@@kaasmeester5903 "....poor quality stuff that got rejected by editors .....in many cases the garbage gets pushed to the top of our recommendations by some algorithm." You are making a leap of faith there.

[@t-man5196]

@@ColonelSandersLite a cartoonishly simplistic take

[@TheAverageGuy12]

What a brilliant video. Made me cry. Former front man, DJ, worked in music stores. All I can do now is raise a glass, go put on ELO's "A New World Record" and enjoy the night with my wife.❤

[@JohnGarcia-oz8dc]

Was the same way stuck on the past songs. Then stumbled on a band called The Warning in January. They have such energy and amazing songs and an incredible backstory that will be a movie someday. Check out Black Holes live at the Dakota Bar if you are looking for something to move your soul.

[@slapshotLC]

there's nothing more to be said. you articulated every thought i'd been processing over the last 10 years and then some more. this video should be shown everywhere. people need to understand the cost of convenience. our heart and soul.

[@davidstimec2693]

Hmm. Is not that they don't understand. They simply just don't care. The whole damn life has become one big competition but in the end... There are gonna be more losses than winners...

[@anzacman5]

More than that - their identity. We used to listen, because we became alive listening. It was music that woke us up (in a good way). It doesn't do that now. It's become a background hum. We don't need it.

[@davidstimec2693]

@@anzacman5 Even the people seeking people act like buying in a supermarket. Sad generation really. As long as I have my own music boost, I am happy. ;)

[@jbedosky1]

Rick, you are so spot on here. I am 65 years old. As teenagers my friends and I would get together, maybe in twos or threes at someone's house and lie on the floor and listen to albums, talking about what made them great (or not). I bought records individually, with my own money, budgeting so that I could purchase maybe one or two a month. It was exciting going to record store and looking at new releases and going back through old classics I hadn't discovered yet. Always something new and exciting.

[@therealcyberius]

I am 48 years old. When I listen to my vinyl collection THAT is all I am doing. I turn my phone and watch off. I just sit and listen. I have a group of friends that come over and that's all we do. Listen and talk about the music. We outlawed any conversation about anything else. It's all about the music and its fantastic! I think music should be a deliberate decision. It should require effort and purpose. We respect the music and show our appreciation.

[@andrewgrant6612]

My friends and I did this over a weekly zoom call as we all live far away from each other. Each person would present a song and then we would discuss it. Was always super fun

[@L1623VP]

I'm a bit older than you, and I've always said great music needs to be "attended" like you're sitting in a concert hall with no other distractions. To have the full experience, music requires (and deserves) your full attention. I refused to watch music videos growing up because 1.) they were far too weird and almost never had anything to do with the songs themselves, and 2.) they were nothing but distraction from the music itself. I also didn't want anyone telling me what a song meant for me. I wanted it to transport me via my own imagination. It was by listening to songs with no other distractions that I could concentrate closer on them and learn to harmonize vocals and other musical techniques. Music demands respect and shouldn't be relegated to the "background" music of our lives while we're doing other "more important" things.

[@gilbertsoupras5669]

I'm 71, and that's the way we used to do and still do, listening to the composition, and the quality of the sound

[@danielscarbrough4363]

Sounds like us in the 70's...good to hear that certain traditions can overlap decades!

[@keithmoran8004]

Can I stop by too? 😅

[@yingle6027]

That Bonham drum comparison was mind blowing. Now I know why classic rock just sounds sooo good!

[@bnic9471]

I spent part of my first paycheck on _In through the Out Door_ .

[@NatureLover-cc2hf]

I didn’t realize how much better Bonham’s part sounded

[@joycerichardson1810]

Real music has a soul that cannot be replicated.

[@garymilligan4662]

Rick, oh my God you so nailed it. Thank you for this. I am 68 years old. I remember my kid brother and I riding our bikes together when I was like 10 years old in Evanston IL to buy the latest Beatles album (Revolver, Rubber Soul--can't remember which one) from the local record store with allowance money (had to do our chores) we saved up (or begged or stole from our parents). Those albums with the cover art, the feel, the record, stayed with me for many years. Your challenge at the end of your video is pure gold.

[@musicsamples100]

Rick, this is fabulous. Your no B.S. approach to the changes occurring in the industry is what creatives need to hear so that they can change their approach.

[@LostPlanet2024]

You interviewed Eric Johnson and he observed that the ‘function’ of music has changed. We do not BUY music and we have nothing invested in it. He is absolutely correct. When we bought albums with our hard earned money we actually listened to them. Remember devouring an entire album with headphones on while looking at the album cover?

[@Darrylizer1]

I still do it as I still buy albums, vinyl and cds.

[@robster7316]

Agree. Playing a new album was a sensory experience!

[@bobbyfellerd2993]

I checked the replies first, " MUSIC WAS WORTH LISTENING TO BACK THEN " you get a rare 1 out of a thousand today that you may like, (AT LEAST FOR ME) I always say about 1989 good music was coming to an end for my taste

[@bobbyfellerd2993]

And thank you YOU TUBE, I can still find the GOOD music here, Your favorite songs from when music was listenable JUST TYPE THEM IN

[@Wargasm54]

Yup, I remember getting hooked on Rush in the late 70’s. Went and bought all their albums as I could afford them. They were MY band and I felt a personal connection to the music. Then Moving Pictures came out, and they were EVERYONES band 😂. Good times.

[@stevebot]

This is one symptom of mass production, mass merchandising, etc. Drive across the country, every exit to a populated area has the same stores, restaurants, gas stations all in approximately the same relative place to one another. Convenient? Yes. Boring, flavorless and no character? Yes. You are spot on, the digital manipulation to formulaic perfection ruins things.

[@bchristian85]

It wasn't that long ago that it was always fun to go to other cities and hear slightly different pop music or hip-hop on their stations. It's not that way anymore.

[@sobaentertainment6580]

I agree with you 100%

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

Everything we are hurtling towards (the Hive Mind Singularity) is the inevitable result of industrialization, automation, and ultimately computerization and now AI. In many ways, Ted Kaczynski was right.

[@tonedowne]

Yeah, to make anything truly mass market, you have to take out all the things people might not like. So everything ends up bland.

[@richardmurphy3025]

when I was a truckdriver driving thru all the different cities i would forget what city i was in because they all started to look the same lol

[@flddoc2]

Wow. I’m 60. The first LP I bought was Zeppelin Presence in 76. I was twelve working a paper route for the Detroit News. I was so proud of that and listened to every single song several times a day for a very long time. I have been trying to figure why music is so empty and soulless today. You did a great job of presenting a well thought out and presented perspective. I’m thankful I’ve raised my kids on the music I love and they love a lot of it. My grandkids are proving to be difficult in getting them hooked. We keep them off social media, cell phone use is limited to communication only and still, very hard to get them to identify with music.

[@thestalwartlovers7684]

You know, it’s interesting… a lot of my favorite bands were bands that I didn’t like the first time i listened. I needed to acclimate myself to their music and that takes time. People apparently don’t have time anymore.

[@mikaelgballou]

THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT VIDEO ABOUT MUSIC IN GENERAL… I’ve never been that happy about somebody sharing and put words into a feeling I had. And happy that he experienced what was listening music back then. Thank you RICK BEATO

[@jeffoberleguitar]

I like Lemmy's explanation of this. He said back in the 70s and 80s and a bit of the 90s that people who worked in the music industry took more chances on bands that were unknown if they believed in them. And that people who work in the music industry now are all afraid of getting fired and afraid of thier own shadow like every other industry, and nobody will take chances anymore, so all we get is a bunch of generic pop music churned out of an industrial system.

[@W1LDTH1NG]

Absolutely agree. I’m tired of real artists being blamed for not getting ‘anywhere’ in their careers. There’s not really ‘anywhere’ to get to! I’m sure something will happen & things will change for the better

[@kareltracy]

The term "industrial music" seems to mean something along the lines of the heavy metal category. For several years I've thought that the term should be applied to something produced for profit rather than artistic creativity, i.e. a product of the music industry. Auto-tune, boy band and marketability would be relevant terms.

[@grimkahn3775]

​@@kareltracyWell yeah but what else am I supposed to call my medley composed entirely of steam valve hisses and hydraulic press noises?

[@travisvandermeer7436]

​@@kareltracy ha ha. Good point. And where would artists like Author and Punisher fit? Boom! Boom! Boom! "Arm Hammer Music"?

[@Foul_Quince]

Even before that, Frank Zappa said part of the reasons the 60's worked was that the old guys who ran the business had no idea about modern music and their attitude was "put it out. If it sells, we'll do it again. If it didn't sell, it wasn't a total tzores"

[@reaganwhite7807]

Seems like you nailed this one. Once you remove talent as a requirement for art, you remove the creative process. Nothing of value has ever been created without sacrifice and hard work.

[@fontainerouge]

Got a jolt when you went through how we bought our first LP's. Intense memories. Also: it is so important to have to make choices. "What is most important to me?" is key to a healthy life.

[@robertharker]

There is still a lot of great new music being created by young artists. I host house concerts in my backyard featuring younger singer/songwriters (I'm 66) singing their own songs. No samples. No backing tracks. Just a couple of singers playing their guitars. So there is hope. The problem as you alluded to is how do these artists get found. Great video with a lot of great points.

[@VeniceInventors]

The answer may be: Play live in as many places as possible (more exposure than playing the same venue all the time) and put some of the live performances on YT and add some studio recorded songs, interviews, skits, etc. to build a following. The live performances will bring people to YT and the YT videos will bring some people to the live performances.

[@KarenjAtkins]

I agree, Robert! I’m just starting to host and performing house concerts again and am involved with group of people who are working to raise more awareness about them. I know there are some house concert networks out there and would love to connect these groups together. How do you get the word out about your concerts? Just word of mouth locally?

[@dubfitness595]

We also live an age of social media algorithms that spread content based on trending topics and hashtags. That incentivizes creating content that is easy to quickly make (5 uploads or more per day) that tracks existing trends (politics, existing famous people and brands etc.). In other words, it's not even worth peoples time to make "original" crappy autotune music if it doesn't track an existing trend to be picked up by the algorithms.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Yep! I just saw “Joe Purdy” open up a Tedeschi Trucks concert. Had never heard of him and he had the whole venue, singing along. He’s Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie ‘ish. Get out of your home, and go support live music and bands, everyone!

[@dooleve]

​@@EricWmUpdate You hit the nail on the head. Music, and now with the rise of AI, art as a whole, has become monetarily valueless. in our society, that means that there is no logical reason to pursue it. for most of human history, access to creation of art was extremely limited. people spent the majority of their lives working, the 8 hour work day doesn't work when you're subsistence farming. or enslaved. it is only very recently that the means to create art, and the structured time to do it, have become somewhat standard or expected. and still, this is only the case in rich first world countries. the fact is, we are headed in a direction where people will have to devote more and more of their life to working, and the time for humans to create art will dwindle. while AI and big corporations will continue their steady churn of creative slop, while demanding more and more money for the "privilege" (source: spotify raising prices TWICE this year). in fact this effect can be seen in other markets, take a look at what amazon has become. all garbage low quality products, but ooh you get it in 1 day. and don't get me started on video streaming. face it, unless people as a whole stop CHOOSING this life with their money and attention, nothing is going to change and they'll take more and more of our time, money, and souls.

[@kenmccormac548]

Watching you 5 years, and this is perhaps the most important video you have made, you summed up everything I have been trying to tell my kids for years, it’s not just nostalgia, it’s a direct reference to what REAL music, really is.

[@TucsonBillD]

I just realized why I like listening to records again is that with a record you pull it out of the sleeve, clean it, drop the needle and just listen. And it doesn’t matter which style it is… it’s music… it’s magic.

[@woopimagpie]

Playing records is like cooking a meal or making a pot of tea. It's not just about the destination, it's a ritual journey. The entire process brings pleasure, not just the end result. People who love vinyl know this. If you get it, you get it. Like you say, it's magic.

[@chavhinck]

I'm happy that someone put words on m'y feelings. Thx sir.

[@TheKellymiller71]

You NAILED it, Rick. I have been telling my wife this for years. She tells me I am just getting like my parents and stuck on the old, nostalgic music of my youth. Not true.

[@sombra1111]

@@0wen-k1z Wrong

[@evelynn4273]

the easy way to disprove that is by citing all the new music you really like.

[@jamesgillen2339]

Yes, I really am old, and yes, your music really does suck.

[@deker0954]

You can go lots further back.

[@Chimeskinkade]

As a kid living in a rural town. The only thing I had was the radio. Music was everything so much so that I saved every penny , went without lunch at school, collected pop cans ,odd jobs anything I could to buy a guitar. And 40 years later Im still playing and I’m still on my musical journey of pure joy. But this video hit me hard , every thing Rick said is spot on. So much so I found myself tearing up watching it , It’s larger than music becoming worthless. Human creativity is becoming worthless .

[@paulgentile1024]

Only if you let them make it worthless... Keep doing your thing play your instrument , paint your drawings, write your scripts,regardless of your Art as long as it's in your heart it will never be worthless..

[@dafunkmonster]

It's only worthless because artists and consumers choose to make it so. Artists and consumers alike have the power to define how much they value music.

[@MrSilentYYC]

"You get out of music what you put into it" to paraphrase a common quote. I knew a jazz master who grew up in the 40's, and 50's. At the time, sheet music was hard to come by, so if someone got a score for a piece, he would borrow it, and copy it onto staff paper, a phrase at a time. The hours of scribing was really intricately studying all the melodies, base lines, harmonies etc. of the artists of the day. He credited this with being able to jump in and play bass for any band after listening to a few notes.

[@randallkomisarek2875]

And there were fake books that charted chords and melody lines. Any good nightclub piano player coul play any song at the drop of a hat embelishing with chords and arpeggios because they understood music.

[@pirojfmifhghek566]

I know a lot of people look down on musicians who went to school, but man I gotta say it was invaluable that they drilled this stuff into me. In the beginning students always complained about having to write stuff on staff paper when they had laptops and notation software at their disposal, but after a few years of it, it became a lot quicker than using the software. When you're desperately trying to transcribe a new melody or idea before it evaporates from your mind, these skills really matter. Also being able to transpose keys on the fly is a skill that plays directly into how a person performs and writes music once they've used it enough. These are muscles that must be exercised and built up through practice or you just won't have em, even if you know the theory.

[@mtlsl1863]

I would add that modern music playing devices like mp3 players and phone apps have contributed to less appreciation of music. With a cassette tape, or a record, it was a pain to pick out just one song. One tended to listen to the whole side of the tape or record. Now my kids skip around to their favorite songs, and even put them on repeat. "Hey, why'd you skip the next song?" I'll ask. "It's not my favorite" they reply. They don't think in terms of albums at all. Yet some songs I absolutely love had to grow on me over time as I listened to their neighboring songs on an album. My kids have thousands of songs on their mp3 players or Spotify accounts and listen to only a few. As teens, we'd start a cassette tape of A-Ha at bedtime and fall asleep listening to the songs in the same order every time. It was great to anticipate what you knew was coming up next. Good times.

[@sarahsander785]

"You vote with your attention" is possibly the best quote I've ever heard. We need this on T-Shirts and posters everywhere.

[@megandd1797]

Just make sure Trump doesn't have his face on that T

[@pcopeland15]

I agree

[@internetphia]

+@@megandd1797 This is so random haha, why'd you say this?

[@nemanjastankovic4439]

Maybe define attention. Listening to whole album is one thing looking at girl model singing someone else music will draw visual attention even more from both young girls an boys.

[@markuscampos8293]

@@megandd1797 why did you even say this