Music has developed an attention dependency

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by Mark Mulligan

15 Jan 2021

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The attention economy defines and shapes today’s digital world. However, we have long since reached peak in the attention economy with all available free time now addressed.

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Shomee dot life
Good article. But what do you suggest is the way forward? Music labels are in this situation because they didn't "take hold of the wheel" when digital was just emerging. This goes back to mp3s, and even CDs for that matter. They've never led the charge, never innovated the technology, or tried to add value to the user experience, and it's doubtful they ever will. It's really up to the artists themselves to take control. The tools are there for them to do this. All that's missing is support from one major player who's willing to go out on a limb, as Netflix and Amazon have done for the video market. Either that or we resign ourselves to AI manufactured music spun from the data fed by streaming platforms.
Kevin R
"Kill the creator." seems the techbro biz model. They are happy to have AI do the art - in any form. Understandable but self destructive. I am in midsized USA city - music is dead, that happened before covid. Zero money for young performers. The web destroys all value, but time's arrow goes in one direction.
Neil Cartwright
I get the point you're trying to make, Mark. It feels like lowest common denominator is winning out. But it strikes me it isn't borne out by the music I'm hearing every day. There is incredible music being made by a wide range of different artists. Listen to the 2020 top albums listed by NME or the Guardian. Look at the MOBO nominations. Look at kpop, reggaeton, desi hip hop or Nigerian pop. In all countries, in all genres, the boundaries are being pushed and creativity is on a seemingly neverending upwards curve. The problem is, no one can make a living from streaming because the threat of piracy is keeping downward pressure on the amount that can be charged for subscription services