Taylor's Op Ed Piece

On July 7th 2014, the Wall Street Journal featured an opinion piece written by Taylor Swift. In it the self professed optimist claimed that that she didn't understand why people are saying that the music industry is dying when it's "just coming alive."

Many bloggers had at least one negative comment to make about her story. Most of those comments dealt with what they claimed was either a lapse of memory or a hole in her perception. There seemed to be some disagreement with her notions of how the music industry is changing.

Taylor feels that artists need to have a love affair with their fans, and she believes that one day artists will be signed to record deals because they have fans. She believes that social media will create a new way for those who seek to become recording artists to bring their musical vision to the public.

Swift sites the fact that album sales are down, but that it's only because artists are not surprising their fans. That fans are now only willing to pay for albums that touch their heart. And, that piracy is the real cause for the slump in overall music sales that continue to dog the industry.

I found her perspective very interesting. Many of the articles I read were also kind to her, in her observations. Those who disagreed with her were concerned that success has obstructed her view of those who have yet to sell millions. In many instances, streaming is being labeled as the culprit that is sucking the life out of album and singles sales.

I agree with Ms Swift when she says that music should not be free. But I think that what we are talking about is the commodity of recorded and packaged for sale music, that should not be free. I would add that it's only been the total conversion to an all digital format that has left sellers of music at a lost as to how to keep those who would steal music from doing so.

Meanwhile, the reality TV machine continues to destroy the meaning of what it means to be an artist, choosing instead to emphasize the idea of being a star, as the end all be all objective that industry hopefuls should seek. Both audience and contestants continue to be exploited for fun and profit.

Major recording companies are now down to just three. Not much incentive is left to present anything that is truly fresh and/or new with so little competition. A handful of producers produce the performers of all three companies. The result is a sameness that leaves most music consumers flat and unwilling to purchase a product that is so unremarkable.

Whether you consider Taylor Swift to be an artist or a star, she has made her mark. She has been a good soldier, and should her popularity begin to wain, I feel confident that there will be more than a few other opportunities for her to pursue.