Before the Music Dies (
B4MD) is a 2006
documentary film that criticizes the American
music industry
and the increasing commercialization of the art of music over the past
thirty years. The film features interviews and performances from such
musicians and groups as
Doyle Bramhall II,
Erykah Badu,
Eric Clapton,
Dave Matthews,
Branford Marsalis,
Elvis Costello,
Bonnie Raitt [1] and
My Morning Jacket. It was directed by
Andrew Shapter, produced by
Joel Rasmussen, and co-written by Shapter and Rasmussen. The film premiered on March 12, 2006 at the
South by Southwest film festival in
Austin, Texas.
The film looks at the evolution of American popular music and discusses
the marketing of contemporary pop stars. "The reality is that
superficiality is in," says Marsalis. "And depth and quality is kind of
out."
-Wikipedia
A good friend of mine suggested I see this
documentary. I was initially saddened, but not surprised and after watching,
inspired. In the late 70's, I was an AM Rock radio, Country music, and Soul
Train follower.
As the 80's emerged, I witnessed the slow
decline in the passion and quality of music the mainstream juggernaut was churning
out. No, this phenomenon wasn't new; this
trend began well before I was born.
The beginning of the 80’s was exciting. In 1983, Def Leppard's Pyromania
stormed the airwaves; shot up to number 2 on the Billboard charts, and competed
with Michael Jackson's 1982 album Thriller which had vaulted to number 1. As the decade
continued, I felt a superficial vibe in the music on the radio. It was playing,
it was there, but lacked the passion and inspiration I was accustomed too. I
started to look for music which wasn't playing on mainstream radio. I would stay up
late and listen to the pirate radio station 103.1 WVVX out of Chicago. I sought
out bands and musicians who were hungry to be heard; you could hear and feel it in their music. I had no interest in big
polished record moguls spitting out a record I didn't want to hear, but marketing it as what I should be listening to.
With the advent of the internet, many
musicians have shied away from the record giants, using this new venue to
inspire themselves and their fans. Too bad for the major labels, they haven't
realized, we as fans have moved on, while they stick to their old
business models and blame file sharers for their dipping sales. (Rolling my
eyes) Just another feeble attempt of disinformation to keep their pockets
lined.
Check out Before the Music Dies, you
won't be disappointed^^.
