Kawabata from Acid Mothers Temple once said something like, if there's anything else you could do in this life other than play music, do that other thing... Which seems harsh at first, but ultimately I think there's some truth in there. It's a crowded room, you know.

Perhaps he meant it in the sense of playing music for a living because there are plenty of musicians who have other careers.

I believe it's a control issue. For example, from what I've read on this forum about punk, it used to be a rebellion sort of deal. Now it has rules, and is a style, and safety-pined shirts are sold at stores for 50$ more then they should be, and the lyrics of certain "punk" bands today reflect that in their pointlessness. So, where exactly did the rebellion go? Wait, where did any of the provocative music on the radio go? Not only is just Bikini Kill not being given access to the majority, with their awful feminist views, but also Nick Cave isn't on the radio- too much talent, too twisted, it's just not fit for the public. Or... is it? Is the public really identifying with, relating to, being inspired by this bubblegum "everyone is happy" Jonas brother crap, or is that just what the media puts out there so kids grow-up thinking that's just how music is. Oh wait, did I say thinking, I meant buying.

Anyway, it isn't that hard of an obstacle to overcome. It's not like some gigantic conspiracy, people just move more towards controlled things in general. But there is another group, MusicBanter, the valiant Savior of all that is controversial! The open-minded forum that will one day fulfill it's destiny and sew the media for massive wide-spread demoralization and general crimes against society.

I think he meant it literally, in the sense of, there's so many people trying to make a living at this who can't really do anything else even remotely productive that if you CAN do something else remotely productive, go do it, and don't make it harder for the rest of us...

This is not specifically my own attitude. But then, you don't see me trying to be a carpenter. I know where my strengths are at.

Going underground is a good way to find effing great music
Zune's pimpin sweet Mix View feature is a prudddy decent way to find music, the Social is nice too

Interesting thread, I have thought about this too.

not necessarily. Lots of artists have proved that you don't have to do what industry wants you to do. Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, for example, felt that Nashville was taking them and molding them into what Nashville wanted at that time, not what they really were. So they said screw you Nashville, and they did what they wanted, they sang what they wanted, they wrote what they sang...ect. AND THEY made it. You know why? Because they had the talent to make it. They didn't need machines and equalizers to make their music sound good. (This is going back to my Taylor Swift post)

Too many people are getting in nowadays that have ZERO talent simply because if you are fair then they figure if they marketed you well enough, and they can tweak your voice to sound good then well through this crap out there and see if people buy into it.....or at least not riot against it. Its all TO MAKE MONEY NOWADAYS.

As opposed to what time period?

yeah, but back in the day they were puttin out music worthy of making money off so it was a win win situation. The people were getting good music and the industry was making their money. Not so nowadays.

I don't know how I feel about sticking to one career, not to mention, sticking to only what I do well. My passions vary from day to day, but I'm most passionate about learning, whether it be about language, music, art, people, medicine, science - I ****ing love it all. I don't ever want to stop learning or get to the cynical age, where I think I know everything. Though making music does pull on my heart strings in a way nothing else can, I still leave myself with the accessibility of finding new passions.

So now days there is no music worthy of making money off?