I doubt I'm the only one that has a hard time explaining why very little mainstream music is worthwhile these days. I was not blessed with the gift of gab. This film, particularly the interviews, can help articulate the problems associated with mainstream music. The film focuses on American music and traces through the history of blues, rock, and jazz and how the invention of radio + TV changed everything. Other major topics include: ClearChannel and the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
Although the title of the film is "Before the Music Dies," none of the content actually makes the claim that music is "dying." They obviously selected it for some easy attention. The film illustrates the mainstream music industry's tactics of harvesting musicians for money rather than music.
One missing element of the film is that it doesn't really put any responsibility on the listeners. The film's villain is big business.
In terms of the music in the film, its not up to Radiomute standards of "excellence," but the vast majority of the clips and ambience is far better than anything you'd hear on MTV.
Regardless of whether you agree with the writer's or artist's opinions in the film or not, its interesting to hear what people are saying about music.
P.S. I agree with Reverend Rock that Dave Matthews has talent.
