Honestly, with opinions like that, I'm extremely anxious to hear what you deem to be "worthwhile" music...please...enlighten us...give us some examples...

Wrong. I dont know why, i just wanted to say it...

There are some very bad independent labels out there, this is true. However, there are also some excellent ones.

I have this "crisis of faith" with music every so often when I'm just desperate for something that doesn't suck, and you have to dig around sometimes in forums like this (although requests for music recommendations can turn into a bit of a pissing contest) but something new appears, I download a track or two and then if I like it, I buy it.

Digressing a bit, if more people used soulseek as they would a listening station in a record store less of the good labels or bands would have folded. The shit ones still would have.

Anyway, back to the point...

The internet has allowed huge numbers of people to get together and create or release music. That's why there's so much shit out there. If you take any give number of people writing music the ratio of crap to not crap stays the same, so the amount of crap will increase...

100 people make music 2 aren't utter crap

10,000,000 make music 200,000 aren't utter crap

This means there are now 9,800,000 more shit musicians out there and this DOES make it difficult to find new stuff.

The ratio of crap to cream gets better once signed but it's still not so good, like maybe 1 in 10 is a fair to good release, 1 in 100 actually good, 1 in 1000 great.

This has decreased since the advent of CD-R labels which sometimes release good stuff but "John Smith" who downloaded fruityloops could make an awful album out of presets and his out of tune acoustic guitar and then sell it on the web.

Case in point: http://www.ryanparrymusic.com/

This just means the filtering system breaks down and the good (even excellent) CD-R labels get lumped with Mr Parry here because "anyone can do it".

Also things like P2P have given record companies the fear and they play it safe which within itself damages sales because there has been pretty much no evolution in the overground music scene for 10 years.

I guess what I'm trying to say (in a really long winded way) is that there is more good music out there than ever but it's buried under an even bigger pile of shit, so give us an idea of what you like or what you want to hear and let's see if we can help you in your quest for music that doesn't suck.

Calm! I said calm!
Listen, angry and dejected people of both brands. All of you have agreed that big record labels are awful. Meanwhile others bicker over the value of independents. But don't you see? This is the system that serves us all!
Why do big record labels sell music you hate? Because the larger portion of the population will buy it. Why will they buy it? It stands to reason, because they want to.
Meanwhile your own personal opinion of what makes for good music is kind of a moot point. And besides, evidently you listen to some music, so that music is being circulated, so why are you complaining? Would you want the world to be buying your favorite kind of music? I should hope not, because that generally causes a band to lose its mind and make horrible music, and besides, you know you'd accuse them of selling out. Are you just mad that it is so difficult for you to find the music you want? Well, then you're just whining. Your music is out there, the internet has made it much easier to find than it would have been earlier in time. Besides, maybe the problem is you. Why DON'T you like popular music? Why can't you listen to it? Why are you so special? Seems to me if a man stands up in a crowd and claims he's the only sane one, the laws of relativity basically reverse that claim. In other words, you're the one with bad taste. So why should anyone help you?
The music that gets produced in this world acts on the same economic principles as everything else that doesn't get subsidized by the government. And as far as I can tell, the system works. The music you like is findable. The majority gets the music they want easier. Could you really imagine it being another way? I can't. So... quit yer bitchin'. We already live in the best of all possible worlds.

It's amazing how many people we lure in here for one post based on these type threads.

Ain't it?

What's even more amazing is, I'm currently unemployed and have too much time on my hands. But just what is your excuse Mr.? It's the middle of a Wednesday! Go work!
I'm just kidding, no need to get all in a huff.

I'm a college student, actually. I have 5 weeks off out of the year, so no, I'm not spending it working.

This thread could go on for years...

Money > Music

Big record companies will finance artists that will sell records that will appeal to the average joe.


There are TONS of great albums amongst all of the garbage. If you haven't found enough, then you don't know what to look for or what you actually like.

There is also a chance that your audio sensory doesn't fulfill what you expect it should. Not everyone was born with a love for music.

Lastly, all music is art. It is all a matter of opinion. If you think that the majority of what you've heard is horrible... then I feel sorry for you. You just don't enjoy music.

There isn't any relevance in the topic of this thread

ach you bastard. I remember when I was a college student... like, 10 months ago. Your life is about to get so sad and depressing. all the same, don't spend your time doing this! I promise you, forums and online journals, they're just addicting nonsense! You'll confusedly walk into walls for years when you finally do get disentangled from this, wondering where your youth went!
Or something like that.