The Music Industry on its end?

[Steve]

I found this article on http://themoderatevoice.com

Is Michael Jackson – and along with him U2 and Madonna – the last vestige of a music industry in its death throes? For Switzerland’s Nachrichten newspaper, Patrik Etschmayer writes in part:

“Ever since Michael Jackson, King of Pop, extra-terrestrial, and whatever else he was dubbed, shuffled off this mortal coil, commentators around the world have absolutely flipped.

“What’s rarely mentioned is that Jackson, along with the other giants of the 1980s, such as Prince, Madonna and U2, together initiated the downfall of what was known back then as the music industry. Of course, the industry blames file-sharing, particularly bit torrents, for their current woes (which apparently, with the massive sales of Jackson CDs, are bound to be somewhat mitigated). But another reason can be found in the terrible 80s and 90s. … Superstars became megastars with record contracts like Jackson signed in 1991 for a sum of over $65 million. Music was the latest part of our culture to mutate into an industrial product. Although it continued to be produced by artists, it was no longer regarded as art by the people who managed the recording companies.

“It was this madness that broke some artists. Jackson slowly seemed to lose his mind, while his big ‘adversary’ Prince even temporarily gave up his name, because he could no longer cope with his contractual obligations. Meanwhile, Madonna appeared to have her real personality stripped away in an acid-bath of continual self-re-invention.

“It may well be that with Michael Jackson, the last megastar of the music business has died – and along with this talented musician who had been brutally treated in life, much of what ultimately destroyed him will also be laid to rest.”

[Margil]

Yes, the music industry is on it's end. Randy Philliips said that before Michael came, he was about to jump out the boat.

[do ut des]

I found this article on http://themoderatevoice.com

Is Michael Jackson – and along with him U2 and Madonna – the last vestige of a music industry in its death throes? For Switzerland’s Nachrichten newspaper, Patrik Etschmayer writes in part:

“Ever since Michael Jackson, King of Pop, extra-terrestrial, and whatever else he was dubbed, shuffled off this mortal coil, commentators around the world have absolutely flipped.

“What’s rarely mentioned is that Jackson, along with the other giants of the 1980s, such as Prince, Madonna and U2, together initiated the downfall of what was known back then as the music industry. Of course, the industry blames file-sharing, particularly bit torrents, for their current woes (which apparently, with the massive sales of Jackson CDs, are bound to be somewhat mitigated). But another reason can be found in the terrible 80s and 90s. … Superstars became megastars with record contracts like Jackson signed in 1991 for a sum of over $65 million. Music was the latest part of our culture to mutate into an industrial product. Although it continued to be produced by artists, it was no longer regarded as art by the people who managed the recording companies.

“It was this madness that broke some artists. Jackson slowly seemed to lose his mind, while his big ‘adversary’ Prince even temporarily gave up his name, because he could no longer cope with his contractual obligations. Meanwhile, Madonna appeared to have her real personality stripped away in an acid-bath of continual self-re-invention.

“It may well be that with Michael Jackson, the last megastar of the music business has died – and along with this talented musician who had been brutally treated in life, much of what ultimately destroyed him will also be laid to rest.”

Hi Steve! For the last weeks I found out so many "ties" to mobsters/money laundry/casinos/Muslims/corporations as well as sharks, vultures, leeches et al, that all I can say is: NOT only music industry is on its end but CREATIVITY/ART/LIFE whatever... IS definitely on its end, because we are not humans anymore, we are just products that can be manipulated. We have lost not only our faith and creativity but also common-sense, dignity, humor and tolerance. We are prisoners of all-mighty-dollar-euro-gold-whatever-shines and no longer see/feel that best things in LIFE are TOTALLY FREE!
We only believe in having, rather in being. Our culture is money and consumption till the day we literally consume ourselves to death.

[brianpi]

Knee deep in organized crime.......... thats right!