i wrote this fo school. so if the beginning sounds corny... As the world slowly becomes more and more about success, which is measured by money alone, the music industry quickly becomes copy after copy, repeating riff after riff, churning out “hit” after “hit” on album after album that are Xerox of their precedents. I want to make a difference in the music industry; I’m tired of the lack luster “famous” bands, it needs to be revolutionized, a simple catchy lyric should not justify a smash single, and a cool video should not earn you millions. Music is a medium of art; let’s be original folks. One of my biggest peeves with the music industry is the hot shot producers trying to make a quick buck that sponsor the three cord, melody, lyric, “bands.” These bands make it big with little or no originality, much less talent. While they may “Almost” have a catchy tune, and that may have flew in “1985,” bands like Dragonforce, whose lyrics portray mythical battlefields and images of riding a Pegasus bear back into the sunset, all set to the tune of techno breakdowns accompanied by double bass pedal blast beats and forceful yet graceful guitar solos, go relatively unnoticed. The fact that record labels mass produce talent-less bands gives the music industry a close tie with the service industry. However since the labels are making money, they’re fine with sitting back while music becomes less and less a medium of art. “Catchy” is riding shotgun while talent teeters on the edge of the backseat driver position, and the major producers are merging onto the freeway. These record labels need to stop worrying about the actual music they’re putting out. Quality bands who perform for the love of music stay together for years while the bands that are in it for the fame break up left and right, simply reiterating the corruption in the industry. Now a days a band is considered quality if it constantly cranks out albums filled with the same ole stuff. All the while, we Idiots of America keep on buying it, and these music machines are living well. However, Fear Before the March of Flames, who have never made two albums with the same sound, have transitioned from traditional hardcore music to a unique yet hard hitting brand of old school metal with a bit of southern rock, and then again into a completely different never before heard sound with their newest album. Seven member bands like The Sound of Animals Fighting, writing modern day symphonies with five minute dueling guitar sections set to enchanting synthesizers, are receiving no love, while “gangstas” who deserve very “lil’” props capture all the glory. The fact that bands like FBTOMF and TSOAF don’t even get fifteen seconds of fame is saddening. It is a sign that creativity is diminishing and the music industry is becoming open to anybody with a guitar and a poem. It’s as if we’re saying originality and talent need not apply Sudden drastic changes are needed if the music industry is to recover.