As a tribute to the great Eddie Van Halen, we’re thinking about all things music. We’re thinking about the strum of guitar strings and the rumble of drums. We’re thinking about how flawlessly piano keys seem to float up and down. Your heartbeat falling into rhythm with the bass at your favorite concert. The lights, the people, the music. Your favorite song plays, and you are transported to the backseat of your mom’s car as she sings the chorus of Wide Open Spaces, or the latest Norah Jones radio hit. Music, no matter where or how you are listening, truly makes you feel like you’re on Top of the World.
In light of COVID-19, we’ve had to say goodbye to live music and concerts with friends; a difficult change for the music world and a tough blow for musicians who thrive on live shows. The world of music is an ever-evolving thing though, and extremely resilient. We’ve gone from hearing the scratch of vinyl as the record is played, to the little chime our headphones make when it connects to Bluetooth. We’ve gone from mixtapes to iPod’-s, Rock ‘n Roll to EDM, Neil Young to Lil Yachty. I remember looking through case after case of CD’-s that my dad had collected over the years; album covers from Dolly, Billy Joel, The Stones, Don Henley, CCR, and of course Van Halen. The music industry looks tremendously different than it did even ten years ago, let alone 50. What hasn’t changed, however, is music’s unique power to bring out intense emotions, speak to each person, and to ultimately bring people together. Oh, and giving us the ability to Dance the Night Away.
One of the biggest advancements however, that has forever changed the music industry is the rise of streaming services. Pandora, Spotify, Apple Music, and many other platforms have caused an Eruption to traditional music-listening services. These streaming platforms allow people to access any music they want on their devices. It also allows musicians to reach more people than ever. Instead of hopping in the car and hoping your favorite song happens to come on the radio during your 30-minute commute, you can access any song you want at any time with these streaming options. Pretty incredible if you ask me. I do think that there are The Little Things from earlier music days that it’s a shame we don’t have much of an appreciation for anymore, but the fact that I have a much more expansive, and personalized, opportunity to listen to music has been a game changer.
With more and more people turning to streaming services for music, there is a growing opportunity for advertisers to reach their audiences on these platforms. Streaming services provide more customized content for their users, and advertisers can reach more niche audiences with specific interests. Though radio and tv advertising is still a vital part of the industry, consumers are moving towards more online platforms, and it’s crucial to follow them.
Cassette tapes are now personalized playlists on Spotify, and Bluetooth has taken over the boom box. However, when Push Comes to Shove, regardless of where or how we are listening, music will still bring an undeniable and overwhelming feeling of joy to those from all walks of life.
“Music is for people. The word ‘Pop”-is simply short for popular. It means that people like it. I’m just a normal jerk who happens to make music. As long as my brain and fingers work, I’m cool.”
– Eddie Van Halen
What a wonderful tribute to Music and the passing of an amazing musician.