For The Good Times

For the longest time, I tried not to become one of those people who went constantly digging into their stack of old records, or in this case CDs. But, as fate would have it, several years ago, music shifted from being very melodic to being overly rhythmic, and a good song that stayed on my mind could only mostly be found amongst my oldies.

So, what do you do when your favorite band or artist has fallen from the mainstream market place. Brick and mortar, mostly your mom and pop (if there are any left) have always been a good source for new releases from independents and lesser know acts, as well as releases from big name artists whose sound no longer fits into the mainstream.

Of, course the internet has become an almost invaluable resource for finding just about anything that's ever been recorded. In fact, I recently discovered while online, that one of my favorite bands, Earth Wind & Fire released a new single called, Guiding Lights from their soon to be released album "Now, Then, and Forever." The album is a single disc retrospective that features selections by some of the bands more famous fans.

They've been making music for about 40 years and are just one example of what can be found that is no longer considered as "mainstream." There are many artists who release new music from time to time and haven't been on a major label for some time. The question is why. Why can't those artist get the attention of a major label anymore? What is it about the mainstream? Why does it change? Why can't there be a place for everyone with a viable product?

I'm sure I've said this or something like this before, and I could say this till I'm blue in the face, but I think that it's worth repeating. Popular music is marketed to a specific demographic. That demographic is age 14 to 24 years and possibly female. The idea is that this segment of the population has a lot of what is known as disposable cash. This is said to be money that a family has after everything has been taken care of. For the target market demographic, this could be money from their allowances, savings, babysitting or grass cutting jobs, maybe even snow shoveling and/or car washing jobs. Any money that's not needed to take care of necessities. That, I think would also include working part time at McDonald's.

That takes care of the money part. The other part, is appealing to those who are between the ages of 14 to 24. Style and appearance are right at the top, right along with anything that is already a trend. And, if there isn't a trend, then one is created. Sometimes a touch of androgyny is used, not to blur any lines, but to create a subtle or almost subliminal or psychological appeal. People in this demographic, especially at the younger end, are believed to be more impressionable and susceptible to sexually suggestive images.

Add to that the need to appear, or be perceived as hip or cool, and an artist coming on the scene with the right combination of the above, coupled with a lot of major label promotion muscle, and "ta dow," you've got yourself an overnight sensation. If you've noticed, I didn't say very much about the music.

It's just my opinion, but it would seem that music is or has become the last and least important part of the whole equation. Music, in my opinion, has become something that, maybe only someone who is 25 and over would care about. And, after you've fallen from the market demographic, the majors aren't selling to you anymore.

So it would seem, that at some point, the majors stop selling to you, and what you hear on the radio is not what you want to hear. Then, sooner or later, you find yourself digging through that sack of old CDs or Mp3s, trying to find that certain something that the mainstream sound just doesn't seem to offer. But, if that happens to you, don't worry. It doesn't mean that you're getting old or that you're becoming your parents. You're just longing for the good times.