Music in the New Media Frontier

    A recurring theme in this year's class that I noticed was the emphasis on the public's need to stay connected to the internet at all times.  The Internet has become a necessity to the lives of billions and serves as a mediator for endless data and entertainment.  I was watching a show on the Fox network where one of the character's had been playing basketball overseas for two years and became completely dis-connnected from anything news-related in the states.  On his return, he was involved in a slew of job interviews but denied a particular position because he lacked knowledge on certain pop culture references that had become popular in his absence.  To remedy the problem, he endures an all-out media blitz through use of the internet to get caught up on two years of missed media.  Though an exaggeration, this example speaks volumes to the perpetual amount of information on the net that is only one click of the mouse away.  However, have we as a generation become spoiled in our need for instant gratification?  In constant search for the next new tidbit, have we become insatiable in our quest to soak in info at any given time?  I think the answer can be partially seen in how the music industry has evolved with the prevalence in use of the net.
   In recent years, the music business has found its footing in profiting off of a business that was dealing with one of the largest piracy scandals ever seen.  With the help of itunes, more frequent touring, and other financial strategies, artists and record labels have seen a substantial increase in profit than in previous years.  However, the music business has used what was once their achilles heel, the internet, as their backbone to newfound success.  The process of initially "leaking" one's album on the internet for free but illegal consumption, has basically become a given tactic in the music business; it's no longer a matter of "if" an artist's new material will leak but simply "when" it will.  Record Labels and Imprints have embraced this accepted format and have launched strategies to work with the inevitable pre-release date leaks.  Record labels have started Facebook pages for their artists and once a priced piece of work is on the way for mass consumption, the label will allow for a free stream of the album as long as you like the page.  Instead of shying away from the thought of free consumption, they are embracing it and allowing for listeners to get previews of albums before they are released.  Embracing free music has become an important component to their success, but has also caused a widespread desire for instant gratification.  This is the new style of successful music artist; release material for free, build a fanbase, and hope that the fanbase will buy a retail album.  The constant availability has caused for a constant need for more music.  Instead of four year hiatuses from successful artist who reap the benefits from highly profitable albums, albums are released more frequently due to leaks and the subsequent lack of sales.  If an artists fails to provide this material more frequently for the fans, then the next one will.