David Rowell is a veteran music journalist who has worked as an editor and writer at the Washington Post for over 20 years. Stewart Copeland of the Police said "David Rowell is the kind of critic that scares us musicians. He really gets it, maybe even more than we do." 

David is here to talk about his new book The Endless Refrain: Memory, Nostalgia, and the Threat to New Music. In it he expores the popularity of legacy acts and tribute acts and the challenges it creates for new musicians trying to get their music heard. David raises the question "do we even want new music?" We discuss his take on the trajectory of the music industry and what it means for artists like many of us, who create original music, and our culture in general.

Finish-February 3-Day In-Person Workshop at Ableton's Pasadena Headquarters - https://brianfunk.gumroad.com/l/kwhsgv

Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube

Takeaways:

• The abundance of new music can be overwhelming for listeners.
• Investing in music through purchase creates a deeper connection.
• Nostalgic listening experiences shape our relationship with music.
• MTV revolutionized music consumption and artist visibility.
• The desire for new music is declining among audiences.
• Tribute bands reflect a growing preference for familiar music.
• Hologram performances raise ethical questions about music consumption.
• Nostalgia is a powerful marketing tool in the music industry.
• The emotional connection to music is vital for artists and fans.
• Venture capitalists are reshaping music consumption.
• Listeners are increasingly exposed to nostalgic music.
• Streaming services have changed how we discover music.
• Albums today don't linger in cultural impact as before.
• Tribute bands provide a living for many musicians.
• New music discovery requires intentional effort.
• Cultural references in music are becoming less shared.

Links:

• David's Website - https://www.davidrowellauthor.com
• The Endless Refrain: Memory, Nostalgia, and the Threat to New Music - https://amzn.to/4gD4lno
• Wherever the Sound Takes You: Heroics and Heartbreak in Music Making - https://amzn.to/4iCgBq8
• Brian Funk Website - https://brianfunk.com
• Music Production Club - https://brianfunk.com/mpc 
• 5-Minute Music Producer - https://brianfunk.com/book
• Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack - https://brianfunk.com/blog/16-bit
• Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/podcast
• Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at my store with the code: PODCAST - https://brianfunk.com/store
• This episode was edited by Animus Invidious of PerforModule - https://performodule.com/

Thank you for listening. 

Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider!

And don’t forget to visit my site https://BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs.

Brian Funk