Since the technology resources class has started, I’m spending more time on computer than I usually do. It is exciting to attain the knowledge on utilizing these technologies related to music and arts. The most attractive part of these technologies is that the files created on PCs can easily be shared with others online. As I am interested in artist development in the classical music field, I see a lot of potential in musicians being internet-savvy.
Observing music graduate student around me, just as other people from my generation, somewhere between 20-30 years old, on the personal level, they use the internet to share music files both of their own recordings and the recordings from others. They use the online services such as You Tube and Facebook whether to recommend the music or artists they like or to make announcements of their upcoming concerts. Effectively using network online has a potential in attracting people who otherwise don’t listen to classical music. I was interested to hear my friends saying after my recital on piano “This was the first time I came to a concert of classical music. I liked the second one you played, the Beethoven’s Sonata. I will download the piece to my iPod when I get home.” Having whatever music she likes on her music list on iPod was her culture and the genre didn’t really matter. This is especially true with young generation born after 2000, whose taste makers are more online with more diversity in music available than ever, unlike the former generation whose taste makers were mass media such as TV and radio. In order to attract interests of wider range of people, search engine on the site for music download and streaming will have various way of defining the genre other than just ‘classical music,’ such as by instrument, by the artists, or by the taste of the music.
When utilizing Social Networking Services, it is also important to unite people through music or the artist; this will lead fans to come to live concerts, where conservatory-trained musicians can fully show their talent and skills. Anime lovers in Japan usually get together and share their favorite anime characters or actors online; it is almost a social problem that if young people get too deep into the world of anime, they spend almost all day online and do not socialize in the real world. However, anime lovers do meet people offline when their favorite writer, actor, or actress holds a live event. What bring these anime lovers to the real world include; the fact that they can meet their super star, the sense of duty that they have to show their support to the star, and the trust that everyone else who is going to be at the venue is also a fan of their favorite. Likewise, if the musician succeeds in attracting people to become a fan, and in providing a community where fans interact each other and enjoy voluntary support the musician, live concert will be attractive for both the artist and the fans as a place to establish even stronger relation.
The internet and related technology, especially mobile phone, provides wider marketing area than before. Developing countries not necessary follow the same development of technology as we did in the U.S. In Africa, mobile phone is an important communication tool in the area without infrastructure of fixed line. Skipping steps in technological development has an impact on culture also. If a musician successfully establish an online community to promote classical music and people in emerging countries had a chance to join the community, the possibility is that they are easier to attract since they don’t have the image of classical music being ‘old fashioned,’ as we still do in the U.S. Well, this will lead me to discuss the globalization and technology, which is one of my biggest interests in studying music… So, I will quit for today and leave the discussion to the future post.
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