The Golden Age of Music: Why the 60s to 80s Artists Dominated and How Technology Has Changed the Game

Introduction to the Golden Era

The world has changed a great deal since the days of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, even progressing through the start of U2's career. In the early 80s, I saw U2 play in a South London pub in the back room for a few pounds. The following year, they were a stadium act. Back then in the UK, music had a reach unrivaled by any other activity or interest except football. With fewer TV channels and the prevalent BBC's Top of the Pops chart show, audiences gravitated to buying records. There were no computers, smartphones, VCRs or DVDs, Netflix, or even games consoles. Entertainment choices were limited, and physical records were the highest fidelity attainable for consumers, their existence primarily learned through radio play.

Key Contributors to Album Sales in the 60s to 80s

Consider a significant contributing factor: the home Hi-Fi during that era, which was the golden age of audio and the pinnacle of analog evolution. Turntables, tape machines, loudspeakers, amplifiers, and record pressing quality all played crucial roles in album sales. The vinyl record, with its unparalleled sound quality, became the must-have item in any collection. For consumers, the best audio fidelity was achievable only through vinyl, and knowledge of its existence came from radio play.

Technology and the Modern Music Industry

In the 21st century, the digital revolution and the internet have revolutionized how music is distributed and consumed. The viral success of videos like Gangnam Style, which has over 3 billion views on YouTube, demonstrates the power of digital media and social platforms. However, do we still see the rise of breakthrough artists like those from the 60s to 80s? The answer lies in the fragmented nature of modern audiences.

Fragmented Audiences and Loss of Mass Exposure

One of the primary reasons we haven't seen a breakthrough artist like those from the 60s to 80s is the fragmented audience. In the 60s to 80s, we all basically heard the same songs because that's just how it was. If you wanted to listen to currently popular music, your choices were 'the radio' or 'listen to albums'. Consequently, the stuff we listened to was mainly the stuff already selling, and the record companies used radio to spoonfeed the audience what they wanted to hear. Music videos started changing this in the early 80s, giving us a third option. More channels, then the internet followed.

Current Challenges and Opportunities

Now, the number of ways to discover new music is staggering: radio, TV, YouTube, Pandora, Pitchfork, and more. All of these platforms are meticulously filtered to cater to your specific tastes, resulting in a lack of mass guaranteed national exposure for new bands. Similarly, the higher-rated TV shows back then were easier to dominate with only three networks compared to the current multitude of channels, making it much harder for new content to stand out.

Conclusion

While the golden age of music in the 60s to 80s had certain advantages, the modern digital era presents its own set of challenges. The key lies in understanding the evolution of the industry and leveraging the opportunities that digital technology offers. Breakthrough artists will emerge, but they may need to adapt to the new landscape, utilizing the vast array of digital platforms and social media to gain visibility.