Rick Beato on why music is getting worse

PeterA said:

I love classic rock from the late 60s early 70s: Cream Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple. Does that make me a sad

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PeterA said:

old man

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PeterA said:

stuck in the past?

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Spotify: droppin' them fake beats​

Spotify is putting out playlists full of AI-generated music without saying it’s AI-generated music (mmm money)​

Tuckers said:

One of Rick Beato's commentary is how streaming music has become completely passive, whereas in the past you needed to buy a record or cassette, or get a copy of a cassette from someone, then decide to put it on, with intention. This disposes you to hear music differently than having Spotify et al decide what your next track will be. Spotify is actively trying to make users be more passive, and make less choices. When a user is not choosing what to listen to Spotify can play tracks where they don't have to pay any royalties. In a way actively chosen music is a loss leader for Spotify.

Spotify: droppin' them fake beats​

Spotify is putting out playlists full of AI-generated music without saying it’s AI-generated music (mmm money)​

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wil said:

My experience could not be more different from what you describe above. It’s all about intention. The media itself should not determine one’s intention in listening to music.

If someone listens passively, then they also have a superficial relationship to music.

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hopkins said:

In his videos about the top Spotify songs, he often complains about their lack of sophistication (few chords, ect...), and he's right, in those cases. But there's more to music than just technique.

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Robh3606 said:

Wonder how the Beatles would have faired?

Rob

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hopkins said:

I watched some other videos by Rick Beato. His interviews are really interesting. He does give a lot of technical comments, which is good, but I do think there is some form of bias. Here's an example. He calls this the greatest solo ever:

It is technically impressive, but I'm not sure I would want to listen to it twice.

In his videos about the top Spotify songs, he often complains about their lack of sophistication (few chords, ect...), and he's right, in those cases. But there's more to music than just technique.

My comments may be irrelevant to the question at hand - thought I would share them anyway.

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Al M. said:

You need to watch more Rick Beato before you pass judgment. He also has a video about the 10 greatest guitar solos, and if I remember correctly, he ranks Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd the highest. Hardly the most technically challenging guitar solos in that song, but I understand why he likes them so much musically.

He also swoons over the singing abilities of Adele, so he's hardly just into the old stuff.

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Al M. said:

You need to watch more Rick Beato before you pass judgment. He also has a video about the 10 greatest guitar solos, and if I remember correctly, he ranks Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd the highest. Hardly the most technically challenging guitar solos in that song, but I understand why he likes them so much musically.

He also swoons over the singing abilities of Adele, so he's hardly just into the old stuff.

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Al M. said:

You need to watch more Rick Beato before you pass judgment. He also has a video about the 10 greatest guitar solos, and if I remember correctly, he ranks Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd the highest. Hardly the most technically challenging guitar solos in that song, but I understand why he likes them so much musically.

He also swoons over the singing abilities of Adele, so he's hardly just into the old stuff.

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marty said:

I love Rick Beato and find his videos almost addictive. I knew very little regarding the technical aspects of what he discusses here and was impressed with his arguments. What do you think?

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hopkins said:

Here's another perspective on Rick Beatos' rants - it's coming from a fan:

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Rt66indierock said:

Rt66indierock said:

I’m not going to listen to another old guy who doesn’t either like the current economics of music or doesn’t understand it. The basics are you need to be out touring.

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You can, of course, do whatever you want and pay attention to or not, whatever you choose. You don’t need mine, nor anyone else’s permission. But if you’re going to post that this is about old guy mentality, and someone else’s lack of understanding from what “young people” seem to so clearly have mastered… You are going to make yourself subject to a retort like mine. What Rick Beato so clearly delineates is the pros and cons of an industry that he has watched and contributed to change over a lifetime. Perhaps, obviously, not all “young people” have that broad a perspective. Not their fault, they simply don’t have the experience. RB is a very talented and competent fella in many aspects of the music industry, and imho deserves some respect for that. So to suggest that he doesn’t know what’s going on is, Ludacris(?) So you suggest that this is now no country for old men? That falls daft on this discussion at best. Try to have a little respect. Again RB juxtaposes much of what is lost/gained by the way music is created, produced, and merchandised today. I believe most will agree this is valid. Now whether we like the sound creations being made or not, and the way that it’s delivered to us, is all a matter of personal taste. But the “art” in particular imitates life and vice versa. The industry on contrast, not unlike this HiFi hobby, winds up different for reasons often based on monetary concerns that have literally nothing to do with artistic preference and can easily show signs of amnesia from whence it came. And that! changes the listening experience AND the creative experience! We create from where we come from, and though electrons do amazing, magical things in a vacuum, often people do not. So RB chooses to be sad about some of the aspects of the music experience in his (our) life that he sees have been lost. I agree too as I feel many of those lost aspects hold value and have enriched our experience. And yet, billions of new creators (including AI) can now infinitely layer (often) sampled riffs, in low fidelity, sometimes mind numbing simplistic in content, all in the bedroom of the parents basement with nothing to collaborate with but a laptop and their desire. But nothing is absolute. Genius has also come from these same places. On the plus side, a creator can be free of most lawyers and business executives who would gladly steal your publishing rights. So could we agree that the tools, the industry, and distribution all have an effect on the artistry, and then in turn has an effect on each other, and the listening experience? That it is all interwoven? And that may ultimately have an effect on whether we like it.

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Al M. said:

Great take, thanks.

I too love Rick Beato. Yet in his limited perspective he reminds me of those grumpy old people who think audiophilia is in decline and people don't care about sound anymore. Dude, wake up, there's tons of headphone oriented young enthusiasts and, yes, audiophiles. They have sites that are as active as WBF or even more so.

Young people do things differently, but that doesn't mean it is of lesser value. It's just that grumpy old farts don't get it.

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DetroitVinylRob said:

Or?…
Old people do things differently, but that doesn't mean it is of lesser value. It's just that grumpy young people don't get it.

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