3 predictions for the future of music | Michael Spitzer | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Music's future lies in increased instrumentalization, integration with technology, and the exploration of new sensory experiences beyond sound.

Key Insights

• 😑 Music's future is secure due to artists' drive for distinction and the need to express human identity.
• 👂 The instrumentalization of music for emotional disorders may become a reality, where specific sounds are prescribed as treatment.
• 🎼 Technology democratizes music creation and participation, allowing people to create and share music from their homes.
• 👶 Music's integration with technology will continue to evolve, offering new possibilities and expanding creative potential.
• 🎼 The democratization of music creation through technology brings back the participatory nature of music enjoyed in ancient times.
• 🧡 Music may evolve beyond sound, incorporating other sensory experiences such as taste, color, and frequencies beyond our current hearing range.
• 🎼 Technology serves as a tool to extend human capacity in music, just like any traditional musical instrument did in the past.

Transcript

Read and summarize the transcript of this video on Glasp Reader (beta).

Questions & Answers

Q: Will music eventually become homogenized due to its accessibility through the internet?

While the internet has made music widely available, the drive for artists to be distinctive and reflect human identity ensures that homogenization is unlikely. Genres and sub-genres continue to proliferate, and as long as individuals have unique identities, music will reflect their personality.

Q: How will technology further integrate with music in the future?

The COVID pandemic has accelerated the cultural change in music, allowing technology to bring music creation and sharing closer to normal people. Platforms and digital tools enable music creation at home and a return to the participatory nature of music, where everyone can contribute and enjoy.

Q: Can music have more than just an auditory element in the future?

One bold prediction is that music can expand beyond sound, incorporating tastes, colors, and frequencies not currently accessible to our limited spectrum of hearing. Through the amplification and extension of our hearing range, music may engage multiple senses and offer a richer experience.

Q: How does technology enhance music creation?

Technology, such as computer programs like Watson Beat, acts as an extension of our imagination and creativity. It provides sonic possibilities, but it's still up to the human to make decisions, edit, select, and shape the output. The relationship between humans and machines will become more integrated and imaginative.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Music's accessibility through the internet won't lead to homogenization because artists strive to be distinctive and express human identity.

• Predictions for the future of music include its instrumentalization for treating emotional disorders and greater integration with technology.

• Technology allows for the democratization of music creation, bringing back the participatory nature of music enjoyed thousands of years ago.