Beyond Words

This morning, I got up with a song in my mind. I wanted to get it off, just listening to it. A brief connexion on the Internet, and… done. Something which seems as natural as drinking a glass of water.

Internet established the worship of immediacy, especially when it comes to music. If you are craving to listen to a particular song, it is now possible to quench it in a split second. Just connect to one of the many online radios, (Deezer, Jiwa…) and there is no need to download anymore. The streaming music does not only give us the possibility to listen to the whole world’s music but also to do it legally. From this point of view, Internet has freed the music from its economic model and from the actors who (used to) control it. Because music is not a matter of money, at least not always. We don’t have to pay to enjoy cultural goods.


The social networks have had a great impact on online music: they gave a wide visibility to music but also to musicians. From Facebook to My Space, an international musical web has been created on the Internet. If you play on a group,it’s good for you to put your songs on a blog to increase your network and your reputation, more than that : it’s necessary. Actually, if you’re becoming famous and that people don’t find you on Google, it means you’re nobody. On the contrary, people will believe in your potential talent if you write on a blog regularly and you broadcast your music on your Twitter, My Space and Facebook accounts.

To me, it’s necessary to put boundaries to this growing phenomenon. If anyone can expose his art on the web, everyone can become an artist. Here is a paradox: only a small part of the population really deserves the name of artist. If everyone is an artist, then nobody is. What happens next to the people who have real talent? How can they break out? Do they try reality shows on TV? What if they don’t want to humiliate themselves? How will we make the difference between a real musician and a person who just takes advantage of being an Internet expert to become famous? The actually gifted people are the victims of mass talent murder.

Internet has crashed music into its own already existing crisis, and now there is no way to go back. Now, the audience controls everything and becomes the main actor. The Professionals won’t be able to get back in control in this mere anarchy.
The public is the only decision maker in this process. No one can really do anything about it.