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Video Killed the Live Show
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In 1981 a new medium exploded unto the scene with the launch of MTV and the music video. Suddenly artists were no longer writing and performing songs for the radio; they were planning on the video. Some artists even went as far as to view this new medium as a short movie with extravagant plots and visual effects.
Now over 20 years later young and emerging artists still view the video as the premiere format to reach their fans. While many of these same artists can be seen on tours, their performances are suffering because the artist only knows how to connect via the camera an not in person.
In the days before the music video artists and bands went on tour to meet and entertain their fans. These live shows included variations in the set list from one show to the next, improvisation and solos on some songs, and conversations with the audience. These conversations were designed to do more than give the artists a chance to connect with the audience; they provided a breather for artists to catch their breath and take a quick break between songs. But the artists today are making no connection with their audiences. A hello at the beginning of the show and a thank you between songs does not constitute talking and making a connection with the audience.
By the same token these same artists spend months and even years to create an album full of electronic manipulations to the point that recreating a “live” performance is impossible. As a result these artists lip sync to pre-recorded tracks leaving no room for any variations or improvisations. Other than to say a fan actually attended a show there is little or no reason to attend the concert shelling out hundreds of dollars to hear the exact same things that are found on a $15 or $20 album.
In recent years the music industry has seen a noticeable decline in sales. Record companies are quick to blame downloading music from less than legal sites. There has always been music copied in one form or another ever since music was first recorded. The decline is due to the lack of quality in music but even more it is due to the lack of personable artists who actually respect and appreciate their fans. Along with the decline in sales there has been a return to the older artists who know how to treat their audiences while giving them a genuine show; a show that fans can truly feel entertained once the show is over.
Video may have killed the radio star, but video killed the live show too.
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