The impact of the iPod
Intro
In late 2001, Apple Inc. changed music forever. Never in my life has such a profound impact on music been made. Looking back, and in this authors opinion, other than maybe FM Stereo, it might be the biggest game changer ever. Released about a year or so after Apple let loose iTunes, they set forth to own music. Sure, there were software packages out there that would allow one to rip a CD to MP3. But never was there the ease of portability combined with being able to buy-by-song that could potentially make record stores and FM radio obsolete. Also pushing digital music being the acceptable format in mainstream. Also a lot of other issues too. Not all good.
The Good
As stated above, how awesome is it that almost any artist
can now be published and have their music available to anyone with an internet
connection!?!?!? Not only that, but it
allowed people to download music by the song.
For the price of a soda, someone could get a hit song or maybe take a
chance on a new artist without getting stuck and wanting their $15 back. God knows, in the 1990’s especially, I bought
quite a few CD’s and felt violated 20 minutes later when I got home and
listened to it. $15 was a metric
shit-ton of money to me back then. That
was like flushing a weeks’ worth of Taco Bell in one sitting.
For once, it forced not just Apple but other[TC1] manufacturers to start addressing and bettering music file storage. For the first time ever, one could quickly sort through a thousand records based upon album, artist, and genre, whatever. No more going through stacks of records (or CD’s/Tapes/Whatever). Storage was much easier, no longer taking up large areas of a room to stack records. CD’s, while smaller, were still a pain in the ass, and especially if one wanted to keep the artwork handy. Never mind the massive ease of transfer to vehicles by either burning MP3’s (shudder) or the now awesome USB ports and hard drives. All driven by iPod.
For the artists, while it might have become a double edged sword (thank you Lars Ulrich), it allowed anyone with a microphone, a computer, and ability to get their music “out there”. Digital studios allow for much easier production, less talent is involved, and an immediate avenue to share their talents online with others. We have all seen the video on YouTube of the girl playing guitar or the kid playing the drums, or whatever. It the end of the day, more people are able to get noticed, and that is probably one of the greatest things the iPod accomplished.
For once, it forced not just Apple but other[TC1] manufacturers to start addressing and bettering music file storage. For the first time ever, one could quickly sort through a thousand records based upon album, artist, and genre, whatever. No more going through stacks of records (or CD’s/Tapes/Whatever). Storage was much easier, no longer taking up large areas of a room to stack records. CD’s, while smaller, were still a pain in the ass, and especially if one wanted to keep the artwork handy. Never mind the massive ease of transfer to vehicles by either burning MP3’s (shudder) or the now awesome USB ports and hard drives. All driven by iPod.
For the artists, while it might have become a double edged sword (thank you Lars Ulrich), it allowed anyone with a microphone, a computer, and ability to get their music “out there”. Digital studios allow for much easier production, less talent is involved, and an immediate avenue to share their talents online with others. We have all seen the video on YouTube of the girl playing guitar or the kid playing the drums, or whatever. It the end of the day, more people are able to get noticed, and that is probably one of the greatest things the iPod accomplished.
The Bad
Lars Ulrich. Many
artists were very slow to adapt to the idea of selling digital files or even
having digital files available on the interwebz. Surely most all people remember Napster? The precursor to iPod and really got the “hardcore”
music phreaks sharing music. Well, when
artists see people enjoying their hard work and recognizing that they had not
paid for it, they got pissed off. There
are arguments on both sides of this coin, but in the end it was artists
spending time bitching instead of playing. Because of this, many artists got left behind
in the mix. All people are hesitant to
change. We all get that. But some were just too late to the
ballgame.
There are still lots of sites available to get free music. And I am sure many take advantage of the torrent sites. There are jigga-bytes of records out there that are being shared for free and the artists are not getting one dime. That douchebag Kanye West just released an album, refused to deal with Apple, so record 500,000+ illegally downloaded his album when it was released. At $20 a pop, maybe he could afford a new pair of shoes finally.
There are still lots of sites available to get free music. And I am sure many take advantage of the torrent sites. There are jigga-bytes of records out there that are being shared for free and the artists are not getting one dime. That douchebag Kanye West just released an album, refused to deal with Apple, so record 500,000+ illegally downloaded his album when it was released. At $20 a pop, maybe he could afford a new pair of shoes finally.
The Ugly
MP3 and Apple have literally destroyed the quality of music
that is available in every aspect.
Re-read that first sentence.
Maybe twice. They have created a
mindset that it is ok to have a super-shitty recording, played on a
super-shitty device, through super-shitty headphones and people think that is
great. Really. A lot of people will say
that they do not care. While that may indeed
be true, if they knew how incredibly easy it would be to have quality music to
listen to, it makes the experience all the more enjoyable.
The idea of the MP3 is a good one in theory. Use an algorithm to compress the data, then estimate what is missing and fill it in as it is playing. In practice, it is just that. An estimate. While digital music will never equal a true analog wave form, the lossless varieties are much, much closer and deliver stellar experiences compare to MP3. But even this does not address the recording processes used where they “Brick” the recording level. Cheap electronics, cheap speakers/headphones, cheap music sounds like crap and the perception is that louder makes it better, so they record it as “loud” as possible.
iPod also contributed to the creating of “Beats by Dre”. Sorry, I just freaking puked…. Ok, all cleaned up. Nothing personifies the downward spiral of sound quality of stereo music as much as these ugly-ass headbands that dumbass rappers, sports stars, and high school kids think are cool. Enhanced “one-note” bass response, a muddy midrange, and harsh/ragged highs, they give me a headache just to listen to them. And for the price they go for, any number of fantastic options are out there that would blow a persons mind as to how detailed and accurate they are. Seriously, pick up a pair of $12 JVC Flats and do a side-by-side comparison and it will make you want to punch Dr. Dre in his face.
The electronics industry in general does not get a free pass either. While a competent 2.1 system can indeed sound fantastic, all of these “soundbars” and satellite speakers w/subwoofer crap have ruined music reproduction just as much as “surround sound” has. Later, I am sure there will be a blog devoted to comparing the great stereo systems of the 1970’s in stereo’s heyday to the black plastic crap available today, but it is no different than a poorly implemented autotune albeit missing broad swaths of the frequency spectrum. Physics is a hard bitch to trick, and none of these guys have been successful. It is refreshing, however, that companies like Technics are starting to revive the importance of stereo music as is the Hipster movement of listening to their “vinyls”. One short bitch. “Vinyl” is what one puts on their freaking kitchen floor and is also the plural of vinyl. One plays “records”, not ones kitchen floor.
I know this is a very sophomoric explanation and I foresee articles covering a few of these topics in details, with pictures to describe. But suffice to say the quality of recorded music has suffered tremendously due to the advent of the iPod. If you would ever like a real-world test and are ever in Fort Worth, Texas…hit me up. My passion is replaying quality music. I would be happy to provide a demonstration.
The idea of the MP3 is a good one in theory. Use an algorithm to compress the data, then estimate what is missing and fill it in as it is playing. In practice, it is just that. An estimate. While digital music will never equal a true analog wave form, the lossless varieties are much, much closer and deliver stellar experiences compare to MP3. But even this does not address the recording processes used where they “Brick” the recording level. Cheap electronics, cheap speakers/headphones, cheap music sounds like crap and the perception is that louder makes it better, so they record it as “loud” as possible.
iPod also contributed to the creating of “Beats by Dre”. Sorry, I just freaking puked…. Ok, all cleaned up. Nothing personifies the downward spiral of sound quality of stereo music as much as these ugly-ass headbands that dumbass rappers, sports stars, and high school kids think are cool. Enhanced “one-note” bass response, a muddy midrange, and harsh/ragged highs, they give me a headache just to listen to them. And for the price they go for, any number of fantastic options are out there that would blow a persons mind as to how detailed and accurate they are. Seriously, pick up a pair of $12 JVC Flats and do a side-by-side comparison and it will make you want to punch Dr. Dre in his face.
The electronics industry in general does not get a free pass either. While a competent 2.1 system can indeed sound fantastic, all of these “soundbars” and satellite speakers w/subwoofer crap have ruined music reproduction just as much as “surround sound” has. Later, I am sure there will be a blog devoted to comparing the great stereo systems of the 1970’s in stereo’s heyday to the black plastic crap available today, but it is no different than a poorly implemented autotune albeit missing broad swaths of the frequency spectrum. Physics is a hard bitch to trick, and none of these guys have been successful. It is refreshing, however, that companies like Technics are starting to revive the importance of stereo music as is the Hipster movement of listening to their “vinyls”. One short bitch. “Vinyl” is what one puts on their freaking kitchen floor and is also the plural of vinyl. One plays “records”, not ones kitchen floor.
I know this is a very sophomoric explanation and I foresee articles covering a few of these topics in details, with pictures to describe. But suffice to say the quality of recorded music has suffered tremendously due to the advent of the iPod. If you would ever like a real-world test and are ever in Fort Worth, Texas…hit me up. My passion is replaying quality music. I would be happy to provide a demonstration.
The Unforgiveable
The iPod brought about the demise of the Concept Album and Album Rock. There is a reason why FM radio stations no longer have programs such as “The Seventh Day” where they play full albums on air. While the idea of having a hit single was always a huge driving force within the industry, no more does the Concept Album exist in popular releases. Such legendary releases such as The Who’s “Tommy” and “Quardrophenia”, Pink Floyd’s “The Wall”, Alan Parsons Project “Tales Of Mystery and Imagination”, Queensryche “Operation Mindcrime”, Genesis “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway”, David Bowie “The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust”, The Beatles “Sergeant Peppers…”, Rush “2112”, Electric Light Orchestra “Eldorado”…. In today’s short attention span society, none of these phenomenally classic rock albums would exist. Gone are the days of true artistry in mainstream music, replaced by poorly engineered shit that only looks for one true “hit”. I guess, now that I think about it, Taylor Swift and Justin Beeber have made a respectable living making concept albums about losing boyfriends and being a faggot respectively, but still not the same.
Damn you, iPod, for bringing us three minute blurbs of poorly engineered crap that only relies on a “hook” to keep us entertained. But thank you, iPod, for allowing me easier access to the music that was recorded a long time ago that I can listen to with the click of a button.
