What Matters More Than Music

A year ago, I was still living in the 20th century. Having spent most of my life anticipating the future where Marty Mcfly cruised around on hoverboards, I had not realized that the world had moved on. And while the music industry supposedly crumbled around me, I  joined everyone else in screaming "we need new business models". Indeed, we do. We need a whole new business. My premise is that we have now moved into the computer age and in the 100 years to come, change will come to all levels of our civilization. The very concept of having a computer is to aid and connect us to each other through a shared culture of information exchange through what we now know of as the internet. The actual experience is no longer restricted to mechanical platforms that used to provide us with what feels like a limited experience to consuming information. In my industry, the idea of having to rewind a track to hear it again is forgotten to some and unheard of to many born post 1990. It more ways than one, the computer has not only replaced individual acts of media consumption, it has created a platform where content can be mixed and remixed. Over the last decade, those of you who like me once had a Friendster account and have now swapped it for Facebook, have become seasoned in this new space where our consciousness is somehow shared to some degree through our personal footprints on the internet.If our social habits have changed then it is safe to say that our consumer behavior has changed. Not only have our habits changed, our perception has changed too. I can only imagine how my life would be now as an adult if I had this blog twenty years back.Music matters. But what matters most is this thing- this new way of life. Music becomes an integrated part of this whole experience. Not to even mention that endless choice of music now available, the birth of the amateur culture has reshaped the standards of an industry that was founded a little after World War II. Gee, that was a long time ago. I can't even remember much of the details of the first Gulf War.Let's not hate the "major labels", the "old guys", the "suits". Most of them aren't there anymore. And the rest who left behind still have to the keep the "business" alive. Is it their fault they still have to adhere to the growing irrelevance of certain copyright laws, is it their fault they have to still stock HMV, is it even HMV's fault that people love what they stand for but now get what they need for sometimes, simply Youtube. No, it's not. And for those who are high up enjoying the corporate perks while the industry falls apart, why not? I would too. Isn't it the same in any industry? Let's find excuses to point fingers for sticking around. You had the choice awhile back to move on. Take for example this site. If all your favorite artists had to set up a page because all of you where in some way forced to come here cause it's the only place their gonna be. And if say, you could buy their music for much cheaper than iTunes or before, at a price where you would be willing to pay, wouldn't that just solve everything. Maybe you could sign up and pay a subscription of say $1 a month to be part of your favorite artist members list where you would immediate be able to follow his life online and have access to all kinds of footages, news, remixes, trivia, etc. If Facebook in Asia linked up with AnD and somehow you could manage certain functions from the home of your social life, wouldn't your music consumption habits change again? Wouldn't you agree the whole thing is beyond the music? it's an integrated experience and from there is where we should start looking at ways of monetizing things so we can create a baby economy where we dictate new rules so ensure it's survival.Of course, some of you might think I'm just rambling. Some of you might think "duh. it's obvious". Well point is, we...need to make that decision to bite the risk and move our careers into this new space. A space where you finally get the creative freedom you complained you didn't. The space where your talent or even the lack of it speaks. And if people like you, you'll be fine. If they don't, then maybe you still have a way to profit from that notoriety.  At some point, you're gonna need to step into the future. Prince told me as a child to party like it's 1999. I did. I got really lucky that night too. But that was a long time ago. Welcome to the next decade. The one where they'll say "2012 came and went. And while the world did not end, the consciousness of mankind moved into a golden age of thought...one where information shared contributed to the rise of humanity into the frontiers of space and into the darkness that once was our universe".My name is terrytyelee and it's a pleasure to meet you again.