I have often asked myself what has happened to music this day and age. How can something that was so refined, deteriorate so much in such a small time frame. It seems like new artists are erupting to the scene every minute, and at times it’s difficult to determine whether or not they are making music from the soul, or just collecting an easy check. It might be a matter of personal taste, but anyone can spot this garbage from a mile away. Often times, one cannot determine whether or not it’s the individual’s actual voice or a dubbed one.

“Popular” artists such as Kanye West, TI, Ke$ha, Katy Perry and Drake have all been on record using auto-tune. Unfortunately, in many cases, modern music has only one factor to it; the price tag. The US music industry is inhabited by a money hungry community that focuses more on sell ability, rather than actual vocal talent. This has been a basis as to why music is so stagnant. The music industry has profited in the short term, but there lies a huge problem in their scheme. With their inability to sustain any music acts, and having to constantly come up with new rubbish, the industry is going to have to continue to stir up new talentless groups in order to sustain their earnings.

Total revenue from U.S. music sales and licensing fell to $6.3 billion in 2009, according to Forrester Research. In 1999, that revenue figure topped $14.6 billion. It continues to get more difficult to even turn on the radio without coming across an “artist” talking about gold chains and flaunting their money around. The music industry in emphasizing the sexuality on the screen rather than actual music talent. Record companies wanting to make a quick buck off artists, and ignoring their lack of talent, has declined the musical tastes and standards of older generation fans. No disrespect to the artists who do have the talent and are continuously creating good music.

With the way the media over publicizes and overrates these artists with no talent, it is easy to under view the performers who do put forth the effort with the combination of their natural aptitude. If all a listener knows are songs like “Gangnam Style” (which has been downloaded by ITunes 3 million times (legally), it is time to turn off the radio and put some effort into finding good music. Don’t lump the good contemporary artists with the radio “artists” just because they’re in the same time period. A huge part of the blame goes to the public for endorsing and supporting this new brand or wave of “music.”

The industry has taken the “if it’s not broke don’t fix it” approach, knowing the consumer is responding positive to their music brand and until there is a huge overhaul, the same can be expected in the future.