Very good indeed. Personally, I'm disinclined to consider 50% of what I hear on commercial radio (in the UK anyway) as "Music". Noise isnt Music. The last two sentences in the article say it all for me.
Old Guys Rule.The older I get,the better I was! BB2023 ULTRA, 1013, Win 7 and 10
Good News on the Devaluation of Music!! I have your answer!!!!! I know the cure!!! Read here!!!
1.) Go buy yourself a turntable and a kick.... set of speakers.
2.) Go to the Goodwill or Salvation Army in a chic neighborhood and buy every piece of vinyl they have.
3.) Every morning sit on your couch with a nice cup of Joe in a well lit room and drop that needle. Choose anything you like. If you feel stumped, try Aja by Steely Dan or anything on Deutsche Grammaphon. You are going to start to feel really good.
4.) Next, go to your music room, and open up Band in a Box, look at it, and get down on your hands and knees and Thank God you have it.
5.) Write yourself a kick..... tune and post it on Soundcloud.
6.) If one person writes and says you made their day you have just been anointed. Disregard any and all dooomsday prophets. Stop reading any and all newspapers and magazines. Don't watch anything on t.v. unless it comes on the BBC and even then limit yourself to one hour. If you have a radio in the house smash it to pieces with a sledgehammer. Now.
7.) Go practice your instrument for an hour.
8.) Rinse and repeat.
9.) If you keep doing this you may find that in spite of the doomsday prophets you suddenly have massive soundcloud streams and the people are asking for more.
10. ) You will notice that you feel like you are walking on a cloud and living in Paradise. Yes, it is true. You can find heaven on earth. Some folks call it the Kingdom. No need to pay me. Simpy mail in a check for $100 to your favorite charity and we will call it even.
Peace out!
David Snyder Songwriter/Renaissance Man Studio + Fingers
Good News on the Devaluation of Music!! I have your answer!!!!! I know the cure!!! Read here!!!
1.) Go buy yourself a turntable and a kick.... set of speakers.
2.) Go to the Goodwill or Salvation Army in a chic neighborhood and buy every piece of vinyl they have.
3.) Every morning sit on your couch with a nice cup of Joe in a well lit room and drop that needle. Choose anything you like. If you feel stumped, try Aja by Steely Dan or anything on Deutsche Grammaphon. You are going to start to feel really good.
4.) Next, go to your music room, and open up Band in a Box, look at it, and get down on your hands and knees and Thank God you have it.
5.) Write yourself a kick..... tune and post it on Soundcloud.
6.) If one person writes and says you made their day you have just been anointed. Disregard any and all dooomsday prophets. Stop reading any and all newspapers and magazines. Don't watch anything on t.v. unless it comes on the BBC and even then limit yourself to one hour. If you have a radio in the house smash it to pieces with a sledgehammer. Now.
7.) Go practice your instrument for an hour.
8.) Rinse and repeat.
9.) If you jeep doing this you may find that in spite of the doomsday prophets you suddenly have massive soundcloud streams and the people are asking for more.
10. ) You will notice that you feel like you are walking on a cloud and living in Paradise. Yes, it is true,. You can find heaven on earth. Some folks calls it the Kingdom. No need to pay me. Simpy mail in a check for $100 to your favorite charity and we will call it even.
What a great article, thanks for sharing Blue Attitude
While I disagree with some of the sentiments about modern music being of a lesser quality, I do absolutely agree in the devaluing of musicians and their craft over time. In a day and time when people would rather download an album for free than pay for it, and when people are scalping tickets and selling them at several times the original price - it's absolutely brutal for an artist trying to make a living.
Every morning sit on your couch with a nice cup of Joe in a well lit room and drop that needle.
I listen to a vinyl album or two almost every day (well, I am going through my entire collection to digitize them, because I have always had great difficulty listening to my record albums in the car).
Great perspective, David!
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 2x2TB, 1x4TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 2x1.5TB, 2x2TB, 1x4TB SATA
Great article! The lack of music in the schools and the lack of places to play are two of the most important factors IMHO. Music in schools can expose kids to various genres of music. Playing out is the perfect way to hone your skills.
David, I agree with everything except this statement "If you have a radio in the house smash it to pieces with a sledgehammer. Now." I say take that radio and find some good music on it. We live near a smaller city and I can get a PBS classical station, a PBS jazz station, a jazz/blues station as well as a number of excellent college stations. The first three are my favorites. YMMV.
The fitness trainer asked me, "What kind of a squat are you accustomed to doing?" I said, "Diddly."
64 bit Win 11 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
The article fails to mention one big factor that affects the devaluation of music and that is the sheer quantity of good music that is being made and released. The irony is that wonderful products like BIAB make it easy for some one like me to record and release 10 albums in the last three years. Impossible a few years ago.
On the point of music in schools, I am not in the know on the statistics of people who are now qualified in music as opposed to a few years ago but I would be very interested in some hard stats because even in the back water that is South Africa I am astounded with the number of really good musicians out there. Performing and writing. It seems to be a simple matter of supply and demand.
The article fails to mention one big factor that affects the devaluation of music and that is the sheer quantity of good music that is being made and released.
Great point and not just the sheer quantity of music that is available but the sheer quantity of EVERYTHING that is available! People have many choices for how to spend their free time. Thousands of channels of TV and millions of channels of YouTube and Netflix and Hulu. Millions of songs on Spotify and other services. Plus, every record, cassette, 8-track and CD I ever purchased just sitting there on the shelf waiting to be listened to again.
We have more choices than ever before and I fail to see how that is a bad thing, in fact, I see it as quite the reverse, a Great Thing! To those fans of classical big jazz band whatever songs that don't get made or listened to anymore I'd say just pull out those old 78s and enjoy! Or better yet, create some new/old music yourself and get it out there for the world to listen to. And if no one listens then just enjoy it yourself. That's just fine!
I'll never understand the need to disrespect current music and artists just because your favorite style of music is no longer desired by most people. Your favorite music is no better or worse than anything currently being produced. People using tools to make music and other people being touched by that music is a big win regardless of the genre or era!
Yep...supply and demand. Good old American capitalism at work.
With the tools we have available today, anyone with half a brain can create music in their home that sounds like it was recorded in a multi-million dollar studio in Nashville or LA.
While much of it is just OK, there is a huge number of really good artists and producers who toil away at their DAWs and don't make the first dollar from their efforts. It's all for the love of the music.
Many folks here fit that category.
Musicians themselves shoulder part of the blame for the devaluation of the music. Mainly in the attempt to make a living and get their music heard. "Yeah boys, y'all have a mighty fine band there.... I can let you play Saturday night.... no pay, but just think of the exposure you'll be getting...."... at a club in the middle of Podunk North Dakota.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.
The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
With the tools we have available today, anyone with half a brain can create music in their home that sounds like it was recorded in a multi-million dollar studio in Nashville or LA.
.............
This goes back to another thread about children learning to play an instrument. Lazy, which there appears to be many, and those whom lack the discipline to practice can get a program like BiaB and use loops and RTs to produce a song. Other programs use loops only. Why practice an instrument when in a very short period of time they can be making music on a computer?
Of course the other side of the coin is that a child who plays and instrument can get a lot more out of a program like BiaB then one who doesn't play one.
The fitness trainer asked me, "What kind of a squat are you accustomed to doing?" I said, "Diddly."
64 bit Win 11 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Musicians themselves shoulder part of the blame for the devaluation of the music. Mainly in the attempt to make a living and get their music heard. "Yeah boys, y'all have a mighty fine band there.... I can let you play Saturday night.... no pay, but just think of the exposure you'll be getting...."... at a club in the middle of Podunk North Dakota.
I've played that room!!!!
It's even worse. Bands undercutting each other JUST to get to play in front of their wives and girlfriends... bands don't care as much about product as we used to. How many do you know that book Saturday night down at the corner bar and on Thursday they are calling recruiting who is going to play bass or drums in 2 days? One room near me has a bunch of about 15 people who play in various configurations as about 4-5 different band names. And because of that, they play the same 45 songs, and they play for next to nothing. The bar has "a" band, the friends and families are out to see them play, and the regulars who sit up at the bar end of the place couldn't care less if there is a band there at all, much less if they are polished or not.
Back in the day, there were more clubs than bands, and bands were in demand. Now there are far many more "bands" than rooms. Every group is 3 players and a front singer who assemble that night and call themselves a band, and the cheap club owners are happy to pay the 4 of them $200 hoping they draw some people. Very few of that kind of band have any sort of following, since they aren't really bands. And with no following comes no door traffic, which means an empty room, and those bands are often told to stop after 2 sets and take less money. It's very sad. I was literally within eyesight one night as the drummer and the bass player from the "band" introduced themselves for the FIRST TIME! The guy who starts and stops the songs and sets the tempos and the player he has to lock in with had never met before.
Now of course everybody is going to jump in and tell me about the guys they know who have been together 30 years and all that yada yada, but I am speaking in generalities, not specifics. And yes, good players can make it work. But if a room wants to present a group of players as a band, I expect a polished, professional product, not jam night full of "What do you want to play? I don't know what do YOU what to play? Do you know this one? No I don't. How about this? What key do you do it in? F. That's too high. Can you drop it to D?" This while people in the seats are waiting and can hear this.
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-9 includes 900 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!
Get the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Get Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 19 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
Playable RealTracks Set 4
RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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