Is Rick Beato Right About Modern Music?

I'm really excited to dive into a topic that's very close to my heart: the state of modern music.

Recently, Rick Beato released a viral video discussing why he believes music has declined in quality. His insights seemed to have resonated trigger variety of reposes in the Youtube music bubble and I wanted to explore them further and share my own thoughts. Let's get started!

Rick Beato points out two main reasons why he thinks music has gotten worse:

1. Music is Too Easy to Make

2. Music is Too Easy to Get

These points may seem straightforward, but they carry profound implications for both musicians and listeners.

The Ease of Making Music

In the past, musicians spent years honing their craft. There was something deeply personal and physical about playing an instrument, something that connected musicians to the music on a visceral level. You had to work hard, and this dedication translated into the music itself. The process was challenging but rewarding, demanding skill, patience, and a deep connection to the art.

The Ease of Accessing Music

Today, we live in a world where music is available at our fingertips. While this seems like a positive development, it has its downsides. The sheer abundance of music can lead to a superficial engagement with it. Instead of cherishing and deeply exploring a few albums, we flit from song to song, never fully immersing ourselves in the experience.

The Impact of Unlimited Options

Our society often equates more options with better outcomes. This mindset, driven by a materialistic worldview, extends to music as well. We have countless tracks to choose from, endless genres to explore, and unlimited access to music from around the world. But is this really a good thing?

Rick Beato uses the example of The Beatles, who had limited tracks to record on. This limitation forced them to be creative within constraints, leading to some of the most innovative music ever made. Limitations breed creativity, pushing artists to make the most out of what they have.

Imagine a field where you can plant anything. The potential is infinite. But once you plant something, that spot is taken. There is therefore an inherent tradeoff between potential and actuality. The same applies to music. Constraints force us to make intentional choices that give depth and meaning to our work.

The Spiritual Dimension of Music

Music is not just about sound; it's about connection. It's a spiritual experience that transcends the material world. In other words it is non-propositional and can't be reduced to language or even maths.

Our obsession with more—more songs, more genres, more options—can strip away this deeper connection. We risk reducing music to a commodity, losing its immediacy and depth.

Listening to vinyl records, for example, is a different experience than streaming music. It requires you to engage with the music in a more deliberate way and therefore connecting deeper to the art.

Finding Balance in a Materialistic World

As musicians and listeners, we need to find a balance between convenience and depth. This means recognising the value of limitations and the importance of physical interaction with music. Our perceptions and the fact that we can experience anything at all is predicated on having a body and neglecting it being overly focused up in our 'skull' will long term only cause problems in my opinion.

In future posts, I plan to delve deeper into these philosophical topics, combining them with music to offer new perspectives. I hope to spark a conversation and help others find a more meaningful connection to music.

Thank you for reading!

If you enjoyed this post, please share your thoughts in the comments. Let's keep the conversation going and, as always, keep it funky!