Documentary: Before the Music Dies

Before the Music Dies (2006)
Director: Andrew Shapter
Writers: Andrew Shapter, Joel Rasmussen

Although this documentary is not directly related to my thesis, it's a great glimpse of how major music industry has changed.

Focused on the mainstream music industry, the industry has dramatically changed. It is from analog to digital, from radio to MTV, and to Internet, and from global record companies to independent companies.

Music is the emotional identity for human beings. In the old days, when radio is the main platform to distribute music, musicians moved us with their throats, their voice, and instruments. It is their experience that we have connection with that moves us. 



In the 1980s, we reach the age of videos when MTV appears. Visuals dominate music. The music industry began to look for young, good looking faces rather than real music talents. As we reached the 1990s, new technology and Internet creates a whole new platform for musicians. Everyone can produce music at home. It’s easier than the old days that new musicians can promote themselves online and gain exposure. They can do everything on their own. But it is also harder to find the target audience, and vise versa because there are so many musicians out there.

From the current situation we have, I came to conclude three problems we have right now:

• Audience lost their imagination in music due to the appearance of MTV and music videos. 
• The connection and interaction between audience and musicians has been changed as new technology approaches. 
• It’s harder but also easier for a new musician to build his musical identity in the age of Internet.