If you were to look at music from this perspective, what would you call the era we're in? we are in the golden age of ... ?​

The golden age of multiplicity/Streaming age.

What common and non-common features does this era have in its productions that many people try to incorporate into their music?​

Less Common: LMM/generative processes, microtonality, and extreme noise elements.
More Common: Musical references to ’90s and Y2K-era sounds, a focus on individualized production (DIY/indie aesthetics), and experimental release formats (alternative ways of presenting media beyond traditional EPs and albums).

What do you think the next era will be called?
​

The 'back-to-our-roots' era.

It’s clear that no other period in human history has seen as much music being made (or had as much access to it) as we do today. It's hard to pinpoint a single dominant theme or defining musical characteristic of our era, mainly because the industry no longer holds the same power it once had in shaping trends and behavior.

That used to be the norm. When we talk about “the ’60s,” for example, we're usually referring to a very specific slice of the musical landscape, shaped by a dominant cultural narrative. But that never represented all of the music being made at the time. Other countries and local scenes had completely different things going on, but those didn’t get much visibility because the industry acted as a filter.

Now, that filter is gone (to some extent). It’s overwhelmingly clear we’re living through multiple golden eras at once. That might feel chaotic or overwhelming to some, but for others, it’s incredibly cool. Naturally, that comes with pros and cons, but it’s undeniably a unique moment in human history. You’d have to be fricking blind not to see it.

 

Last edited: Jun 11, 2025 at 9:33 AM

R2R will take us back to the Golden Age with these wonderful tools

 

"A golden age" is like "the good old days" that my parents lament and long for. I always ask: "Good for whom? And where?" It depends what you mean. It certainly was golden for Jazz (50s), Pop (60s), Rock, Soul and (briefly) Disco (70s), and for studio musicians and owners and engineers. Definitely golden.

However, a lot of Artists got exploited, robbed blind, and ended up in poverty (too many blues and soul musicians to mention, but also white and internationally renowned artists such as Leon Russell). Definitely not golden.

1. If you were to look at music from this perspective, what would you call the era we're in? we are in the golden age of ... ?
   We're in the post-post-post Golden era (yes, three post eras: 90s, 00s,10s).
   
   
2. What common and non-common features does this era have in its productions that many people try to incorporate into their music?
   Not much really - there's Bruno Mars/Mark Ronson, Ricky Reed/Lizzo, and of course Pharrell Williams, who steal from/are inspired by classic soul/disco hits of the "Golden Eras." Everyone else basically samples old hits, or "interpolates" them to 'create.'
   
   
3. What do you think the next era will be called?
   Either the Streaming Billionaires Era, or the TikTok/Arena Tours Era. Music's become a commodity, like coffee, cocoa, bananas. Can't live without it, but also, it's ubiquitous. The only thing golden about it is the social media added value, i.e.,the likes and ego boosts kids get from posting live video from a Taylor Swift, or Beyonce, or Shakira, or Lana del Rey (or some other "Queen") show.
   
   Already we've been seeing labels discard acts (that they signed solely for tax purposes) by the dozens.
   
   Only the pretty or sexy and very easily marketable via Social Media will get the full might of the majors behind them to put them into orbit. And those, and only those, will manage to go and stay into orbit. There may be millions of independent 'artists' worldwide, but they will barely eek out a living while the artists (or "Queens") in orbit will be raking in billions.

 

Try Soothe 2 on Turds!

 

Anyone can operate an entire orchestra at home or even on their mobile device and play all the instruments in the world visually. A DAW makes it possible. That's called progress. If you need a sample, search engines, click the buy button - even without money, you can get almost all the software and samples you need. Of course, it's illegal, but there's also plenty of freeware.

Of course, you have to buy hardware: a computer, LED monitor, MIDI keyboard, USB audio interface, and monitoring monitors. You don't need a record company or label anymore. YouTube is free, other platforms cost a little money. There are also self-created free radio stations. Burn your music and give it away for free.

The key point is whether you want to make money with music or do you even need to make a living from it. Because, as befits smart capitalists, they have everything under control where there are profits to be made.

The difficulty lies in finding what you want to listen to, as the amount of music is vast and unmanageable compared to the pre-internet era. Therefore, intelligent search engines, blogs, and AI are needed to bring order and structure to the mass of data and music.

When they invented the first electric guitar and the matching amplifier, it was only possible thanks to the invention of electricity. A great deal of intelligence and creativity also created the first drum machines and other instruments. Almost everyone on this planet today calls it electricity or energy. This actually means prosperity and progress. People and musicians also need sufficient money to buy the things they need for music.

I wouldn't use the term "Golden Age," but rather the term "inventions" or "progress." The inventions of the millennium are probably electricity, the printing press, chips/CPUs, and the World Wide Web (the Internet).

 

Unfortunately, I feel a sense of fear all over my body. There are so many changes during this period and many things are changing. To be honest, I don't like change and I'm always afraid of it. Why does everything have to change? Why do good things have to change? Change means that you are not happy with something and want something else to replace it. I don't like this. Those who create change are not artists, but technologists. Technologists are changing the face and in some cases, the essence of everything and I really don't know how to stop them. Art is not important to technologists.

PS:
Changes are made in several ways:
1- An incremental method that adds to the value and credibility of something.
2- The reduction method, in which the value and weight of something is reduced.
3- A reproductive method that creates something new that may not be compatible with the generation before it.
4- A method of transformation in which the previous thing completely changes its nature and becomes something completely different.

The changes that have happened are not the first one. Because if they were, we wouldn't be so dissatisfied right now. For changes, numbers 2, 3, and 4 are being mostly used. In these 3 methods, nothing remains of the past. Like a pencil that is sharpened and in the end nothing remains of it.

 

Last edited: Jun 11, 2025 at 11:16 AM

Hello @Trace, if you can't change things or people, you can change your attitude towards people.
You have the opportunity to be less dramatic.

Panta rhei (Everything flows)

The phrase panta rhei (everything flows) is attributed to the Greek philosopher Heraclitus.

"Everything is in the process of becoming, in ceaseless motion."

"Connections: whole and non-whole, converging and diverging, harmony and dissonance, and from all, one, and from one, everything.

 

We'll probably see a brief period of slop pop but after that, who the fuck knows? Or cares. Trends are trends and they too will pass. Purely from a commercial standpoint there's always trends to follow, so that's not going to change and never will.

 

Listening to commerial radio is to me akin to die a death by a thousand cuts...it's quite painful and takes a while to succumb, but that music will surely have it's way in the end.

 

Oh my gosh, it is happening!

Beta16/Radio/Pulsewave is debating Foster/Trace/Whatever!

The prophecy is being fulfilled before our very eyes...

 

I only prefer the first one, and that too gradually and cautiously:

 

When I see a young person, I feel like I'm looking at a wall, because they will accept almost nothing from me and everything I say will come back to myself. They are not willing to listen to even a single word. The younger generation is like the first humans to live on Earth, and they do not believe in using the experience and knowledge of the past, and they view the past generation as something that should be thrown away. I'm afraid that if I tell them anything, they might physically confront me and attack me. What kind of art do you think they can create?

 

EDIT: NBD

 

Last edited: Jun 11, 2025 at 12:23 PM

This is a good example for the current age's art. Playing with letters and letting go of meaning.

 

@Trace, you're missing the point. Young people, or those called adolescents, must, want, and will have their own experiences. They're resistant to others trying to tell them something.

Most things in music have already been invented; virtually every musical style already exists: classical, rock, pop, punk, ska, rock 'n' roll, beat, etc. For the younger generation, the only option is to receive a solid musical education and then continue what others have started. In short, the older musicians are dying out, and today's young talent is expected to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.

A few of these young people will buy specialist books, study at a music college, or train as sound engineers – all over the world, since the global language is English. There will certainly be no shortage of skilled workers.

 

I've had the opposite experience...but then again I never lecture nor talk or punch down to them, but rather treat youth as equals and listen to their perspective and what they have to say no matter the subject matter. I converse with the young that come into my orbit as I wish that I was seen and heard as a child myself so long ago. If you are genuine that will be mirrored back, if you pull a sword expect an equal defense. I've enjoyed spending time with young people...as a hedge against my own rigidity as the years have peeled away my own youthful exuberance.

 

Last edited: Jun 11, 2025 at 3:28 PM

I think a very big mistake many people make is thinking that when they hear the word "new" they should bow down to it. This is a mistake that 99% of people make. The idea that everything new is good and everything old is bad is a very sensitive and challenging mindset. If this idea exists in people's minds, they will be forced into endless changes, and this cycle will never end. If changes are not intelligent, not only will a good age not emerge, but previous ages will also suffer unwanted overthrow.

 

SomePop or TikBop

 

Hello @Reace, we already agree that without values and rules, as well as intelligent and wise decisions and peaceful coexistence, culture will not survive. The rule of law and the preservation of human rights are also the foundation of every society.

Yes, I agree with you about this era; we're in the middle of it, but I believe that the pendulum of good versus evil will also swing back to the other, positive, good direction. If you've taken a wrong turn and lost your way, you should go back to the beginning and look at things differently.

Back to music: the culture that's being sold to young people isn't culture at all, but rather molding and control by the entertainment industry to keep young people from thinking and understanding the meaning of real life. We always see the image of Madonna's sound engineer with many music sellers, which suggests: buy this plugin and if you just work hard, you'll become successful and rich. Strangely enough, it's always the other big players like Spotify, big labels, and broadcasters like MTV who get rich.

Young people aren't told how the system works. With luck and intelligence, some young people figure out how they're being exploited and groomed as consumers, and something new can emerge from that. Start your own radio station, start your own label, set up your own stall at your marketplace, and team up with others in your city, rent practice rooms, and share the rent among many. This isolation in front of the home PC leads to loneliness and powerlessness.

I'm already old, and you and I can pass on our knowledge here; maybe we can save a few more young people.
The worst that can happen is that stupidity continues to spread. We have to learn to think critically and also challenge things. Some will perhaps understand from their parents or their role models/ideals that we have to fight for something. That musical freedom isn't given to us. You have to fight for them anew every day and fight for your rights.

The big music elites up there want your music and your life to make money from it. You get a few dollars, otherwise the game doesn't work. Fight for music and live performances to be part of your culture. And keep it alive. Remember the first techno rave party, where people went out onto the grass with their own sound systems and a diesel generator and danced there. Free entry. Or a small donation to cover the gas costs and the loan payments for the sound system.

Remember that the internet is mostly about self-promotion. Selfie mania and cat photos...

 

Musically, we're in the golden age of lyrical disaster, and inharmonious cacophony.