The Changing World

Have you ever thought about how much the phonograph changed the world, and how much the world has changed since the phonograph? I’ve been thinking about the impact that it’s had on each of us, the music industry and the way we listen to music. Thanks to Thomas Edison, sounds could be recorded, stored, and replayed at will. Audiences and listeners were no longer limited to attending live performances or scheduled radio programming. His genius created the recording industry, which gave listeners direct access to the artists and sounds of their choice whenever they chose. 

The educational impact was immeasurable as well. Recordings allowed for all kinds of styles and genres of music to became readily available. Compositions were preserved forever, with countless performances by various artists and ensembles that enabled side by side evaluation and comparison. It was like magic. I can remember intently listening to the recordings of Horowitz along with a group of my friends. We would often engage in spirited discussions, either critiquing or praising what we heard, or simply relishing the music together.

Today digital technology has significantly altered this landscape. Listeners no longer need to purchase a mechanical device to listen to music, relying on streaming platforms instead. These platforms have amassed hundreds of millions of works from individuals and record labels. This ‘jukebox’ can be accessed with the click of a keypad, and can also offer personalized recommendations based on algorithms and research. While this has made music more accessible than ever, it has also caused artists to lose a great deal of control over their work and fair economic renumeration.

What concerns me most however, is that listening to music has increasingly become a private experience. People can tailor their musical preferences and personalize their programming like never before. With the prevalence of earbuds, I worry that music is losing its value and not being readily shared. I believe music can evoke and inspire mankind’s most powerful and deeply felt emotions, and best when they are shared with others. Perhaps blockchain technology will offer artists the opportunity to own, control, and profit from their work, and allow musical experiences to remain shared by generations to come.