A student on our school newspaper staff just emailed me this afternoon with an invitation to answer the following questions for an article she is doing. I can't believe she asked little ol' me, but I am thrilled that she did. I figured that sharing the questions with folks on the Webb Board might prompt some interesting comments. Feel free to answer any or all of them yourselves.
Susan

The focus of my editorial is musicians' transition from good music quality to being ridiculously commercialized and mainstreamed. I would really appreciate your input.

How do you feel music has changed in recent years?
What is the biggest disappointment, if any, for you when it comes to modern music? Why or why not?
How would you define mainstream? Why?
Suppose there was a contest between music being played for the sake of music and music being played for commercialization. Which do you think would win? Why?

P.S. She probably came up with the questions all on her own. Really smart kid. She does a music review in every edition of the paper (monthly).

Those must be good questions, they sure make my ol brain hurt. Just like mainstream, commercial, mass-produced, crappy music does.

I'm gonna need to think more about this...

How do you feel music has changed in recent years? New music is stale to me. As a fan of mostly bluegrass and country, most new music and acts are boring.

What is the biggest disappointment, if any, for you when it comes to modern music? Why or why not? It seems that everyone is focusing on singing, and not musicianship and songwriting as well. Shows like "American Idol" and such NEVER showcase bands and have very few true musicians.

How would you define mainstream? Why? Mainstream music is "cookie cutter" music. Nothing exciting.

Suppose there was a contest between music being played for the sake of music and music being played for commercialization. Which do you think would win? Why? The commercialized world always wins because that is where the almighty dollar is.

Good questions all:
1. everyone has to not only sing but have a stage show, dancers and full productions and some are not the greatest in the singing department
2. I agree with Tony on this one, The true musicans are shuffled to the back. Too many drum machines and copycat music scores, not enough original material
3.I avoid mainstream top 40 and country. It is all so processed to death. Computer enhanced, tone corrected, time corrected overdubbed, overdubbed on overdubbed. Some artists are horrible in a live setting it sounds nothing like the cd or now mp3 of them.
4.Of course commercialized would, it's all a neat bundle. But isn't this one of the reasons we love places like the Down Home and Webb we love it for the sake of the music.

Very good questions indeed. Here's my two bits worth:

1. I don't think the creation of music as an "art" has changed at all over the years. Good or bad, humans taking the sounds in their heart and head and displaying it in an auditory mode for others to hear has not changed. What's changed is the methods of music production and the way it is sold to the masses. Anyone with a laptop... !
2.My biggest disappointment with modern music is it's unoriginal. Case in point, we can laugh about '80's pop rock, but truth be told the music was memorable, and few bands sounded the same. Today, nothing is original and few modern bands are worth remembering. There's a few...
3. Mainstream to me is equal to a Fad. Whatever everyone is listening to or talking about listening to, is mainstream.
4. In such a contest, commercialization would always win because of the theory; Commercialization + Major Label Money = Lots 'O Mainstream Fans.

With that said...Ten years ago I flew 300 miles just to see Webb on his very rare trek out West (Spokane). Many have traveled equal distances for Webbfest. That, friends, is the definition of loving music for the Sake of music!

Larry! YOU were the one that was in the audience! Thanks! WW

Susan,maybe you should take this "reporter" and the "staff" to a Webb show..........and about the questions.......The rest would take care of itself.