NYC Junta

The Junta has been rolling along, bringing drinks and good conversation to hungry minds. Several people have noted that occasionally we have topics that bring widespread agreement amongst our group. While a few of us have bravely taken it upon themselves to argue the other side, it has been generally agreed upon that Glenn Beck is a raving asshole who is bad for America and the US should generally consider legalizing at least soft drugs.

The next Junta will take on a subject that is sure to scuttle consensus. We are going to meet to discuss changes in the world of music and media being brought upon by technology. Titled the Creative Destruction Junta in a nod to that economic term whereby one industry dies as times change but in its wake comes a new industry with accompanying new jobs. It sounds like it fits together quite nicely, and while it has proven to be a sound economic concept, it doesn’t necessarily speak to the impact of those lost jobs, those changed lifestyles, and what is lost in the process.

The music industry has been the impetus for this discussion. There are a number of musicians in the Junta and this debate has come up already a number of times, in part at the Downtown music scene Junta, many moons ago at a forgotten East Village bar (read the intro and the wrap to that meeting, from Dec 2008). Essentially we have witnessed the drastic hollowing of the music industry machine as technology has lowered the barrier to entry in both recording and marketing. The compact of the past between musicians and industry has been one whereby the music company would take a gamble on a new act, making a large capital investment in studio time (which historically has been very expensive) and in promoting the band. The odds of success were low, but the record company would recoup its investment on the occasionally blockbuster act that made it millions. Most bands made very little off this model, but it was the only way to get heard by a wider audience.

In the 21st Century that has changed. Bands can now record an album with sophisticated programs on their own computers for very little. They can post the album online for free and reach the whole world. The limits are only on ability, marketing savvy and drive. Traditionally, musicians have made money off playing live with the record companies, as mentioned, receiving the lion’s share of the profits. Records are still made with the backing of the industry, but the evolution of online piracy—from file-trading to the blog revolution—has undermined this model. Now an album has become, in many ways, a business card—“come see me when I hit your home town”.

But there is something lost in this. Bands that work hard to record an album, often with the backing of a scrappy label staffed by dedicated music-heads, are often not making enough to scratch out a living. It is also pretty mind-boggling to figure out what to check out for the average listener.

The world of media has also been hugely affected by the technological changes of recent years. Print media has been devastated by the need to establish an online presence and react to the overwhelming feeling of the online community that its content should be free. The partisan echo chamber has been exacerbated with those on all sides now turning to their favorite bloggers or slanted news source to reinforce their beliefs. This has, in many ways, narrowed and infantilized our society. The implications on our society are potentially huge.

Do you download music? How do you justify it? Are you willing to pay to read a news story, even a few cents? We’re looking forward to hearing your thoughts when gather next, on 6/30 (to be confirmed).