“If a composer could say what he had to say in words he would not bother trying to say it in music.”
~ Gustav Mahler
Long ago, in "Free Man in Paris," Joni Mitchell sang about "the star maker machinery behind the popular song." Today that machinery is said to be falling apart. According to the tunerati, digital culture is stealing revenues from popular musicians and choking the profits from the labels behind them. Perhaps so.
But perhaps not. Perhaps digital culture has brought so much to hear from so many parts of the world, music can no longer be contained by a corporation.
As Van Morrison said, “Music is spiritual. The music business is not.” Music came long before the business and will be with us long after it's gone. Musicians will always make it. What else can they do?
“I've never known a musician who regretted being one. Whatever deceptions life may have in store for you, music itself is not going to let you down.”
~ Virgil Thomson
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