In case you hadn’t noticed, the new edition of the Kosmopolitan is (mostly) online — check it out! Unfortunately, we’ve run into a series of technological snafus in getting certain pieces up, snafus which have led Your Working Boy (sorry, Dreher) to violate every known Blue Law and checkpoints of sanity. This is a long way of saying that today has been unnaturally hectic, and blogging has suffered as a result.
In the meantime, enjoy some random thoughts I’ve had about The Ouroboros of Music Evolution, although I suppose that the last word contradicts the first (perhaps the Ouroborostic Evolution of Music? Sheesh.) Comments and criticism appreciated:
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A “movement,” as it were, starts in the underground, at local dive bars and YMCAs and youth centers. It’s just kids being kids, trying new things out and trying to find their own voice in a world that is increasingly preserving all voices.
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These groups gain popularity for a litany of reasons. Part of it entails the fact that it is different, has a genuine sense of community in a world that is losing it, and is rebellious (thus, teenage support). Also, much of it comes from the fact that the music and/or the lyrics are explicit, revolutionary, and something that their parents would loathe. Finally, sometimes the beats themselves, a different grove, makes them catchy enough to gather a following.
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The fervent devotion, the outrageous behavior of all involved, will lead to police crackdowns, some condemnation from local authorities. Yet this only further emboldens the scene. Notoriety is gained, attracting both media attention and more devotees.
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Because of this notoriety, the scene and its coverage grows. More and more people go to the shows and buy their records, and their overall share of the market grows. Eventually, someone in the music industry will have their interest piqued, and one small label will sign on one of the better groups in the new scene.
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Over a varying period of time, the wider distribution will induce a greater amount of demand from a public who have never heard this kind of music before, and love it. The audience will become more diverse. The controversial aspects of the music will be criticized loudly by various officials and family groups. Yet this only helps, and soon more and more labels are signing on groups from this style of music.
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This mainstreaming also results in more talented individuals trying out the new sounds, as they are enchanted by dreams of rock star fame. The scene will enter a Golden Age that will later be nostalgically looked back on in the years to come. We will also see conflicts emerge between the “Original” scenesters and the new “Bandwagoners.”
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Ultimately, the market will become absolutely dominated by this music; David will have become Goliath.
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Yet this results in a market glut — since everybody is doing it, there comes a tipping point where supply outweighs demand. People are bored, the genre has been explored to its limits. Ultimately, quality goes downhill, and many of the original fans choose to whip out the old LPs instead.
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Finally, cries emerge that, “_____ is dead!” There are calls for a renaissance, and certain artists are singled out as helping to bring the genre “back.” Yet this ultimately never occurs, and the moment has ended.
Consider this your programming update. Since it’s winter break, production output will be irregular — expect outbursts over proliferation, followed by arctic silence.
