Once upon a time when everyone consumed the same media,

When we all watched the same movies, listened to the same music, and read the same articles. There was once a time where songs were available via recording on a wax-cylinder phonograph (shoutout Thomas Edison, that’s 1877). Atop of that, commercial LP records didn’t come in until the 30’s, so if you really think about it, in that early time, people were listening to whatever they’d get their hands on. Back then, we were listening to 'Mary had a little lamb' and the 'Yankee Doodle' (these were some of the first recordings, and look how far they’ve come; I’m talking a mandatory inclusion in every introduction to piano sheet music known to mankind). People must have been chatting about whatever popping Renaissance tunes were grooving prior to this, which was only known through sheet music.

So when recordings were finally available readily to public, it got me thinking about how much variation there was. These days, what you listen to can mean a lot about someone, and it clashes and connects relationships (platonic or not) in a such a unique way. My money's on the fact that it would have all been much of the same - a low selection naturally. After all it has to start somewhere. Then we’ve got the names that go down in history permanently; Louis Armstrong, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, and Bruce Springsteen (Columbia Records). It’s hard to contemplate what comparison we’d make to musicians today. Sure there are the big pop names, but ultimately the way we remember the artists pre 21st century will always be different. It wasn’t about enjoying a certain genre - everybody loved it, and still does. We didn’t live through the period, but it oozes nostalgia. Funny that. We always joke about what music we will play for our kids one day, as if I’m gonna pull out a Playboi Carti CD and say “hey Tommy, this is what mum used to listen too!”. Because I’ll pull out a Pet Shop Boys record (Nightlife) instead. How strange to think my most prized possessions of records and CD’s are almost all pre 21st century. When we talk about music taste today, the amount of preconceived judgement is mental. And how could it not be, when there’s so much to choose from.

Back to (around) the 50’s;

The beauty of being able to play music (specifically sound tracks) was a sensation in itself, and it was the medium that was so intriguing. In a way, visual arts has gone anticlockwise, where nowadays it’s about playing around with the actual material and mixing modes in a way that hasn't been seen. Fabric, images, Photoshop, advertising, it’s not so much about the subject, but more about how it’s conveyed. In comparison, and as I mentioned before, nowadays 84% of the US music revenue comes from paid streaming services (Musical pursuits, 2024). The way music is listened to has streamlined, but the media itself is fighting for the spotlight. There are over 100 million songs available on Spotify from major recording labels, and 400 million + tracks on Soundcloud. I don’t know about you, but I’m a little spooked by these stats.

I’ve always enjoyed scouring the internet for new music - genres, albums, tracks, ideas, all of it - I get to discover new corners to fascinate my mind and ears almost instantly.  Finding people who enjoy a similar niche feels like fate. And no wonder! The amount of media we can consume seems almost disturbing. And it’s much the same for other creative modes - there are so many artists, journalists, writers, directors, stylists, the list goes on. Naturally, the first question for these creators is how to make the work stand out. I’m a little worried (far less than others, I presume) about how exactly this can be viable. Will there be some sort of one-child policy equivalent that can level this all out? One project per person per year, please, I beg. It’s beautiful and it’s scary.

I find it so interesting how groups these days seem to all ingest similar media, even with such a large range of differences available to us. My friends at home all like Everything but the girl, Massive Attack, gingham, and stripes. When I DJ and wear my clothes in another country with different people, they tell me they’ve never even heard of these artists. They don’t wear gingham or stripes, or lace skirts over flared jeans. But I know there’s certainly a cool group of people who do, not far from me now. That doesn’t make the people I’m with right now any less cool, it’s just different. The core value of this new friendship is now different - it isn’t about the music we listen to, the clothes we wear, the books we read, or the pictures we take. None of that even matters, because we’re all nice people who enjoy being around each other. None of them like the music I like, but they’ll listen. Some of the songs they actually quite like. That’s the beauty of meeting new people, and I’m guilty of having prejudice against those I don’t think I’d get along with, simply due to a difference in media consumption and the way we are portrayed. Finding similarities in these things with others is nice, but it doesn’t necessarily make you compatible as people. That’s a mistake I’ve fallen for, and I realise now that like minded people will attract such, the same way that well intended people with find just the same. I know some people who like Portishead and Aphex Twin, and just because we consume and enjoy the same media doesn’t mean we have to be best buds. Sometimes we can appreciate the same media and find we have nothing else in common. And sometimes we find they are actually not like us at all.

I think it’s something that is so prominent, especially in today’s day and age, with media personas and such. Some places more prevalent than others, but I’ve seen the way people look down on others just because they don’t dress the same, or have a similar ‘non-chalant’ social media profile, or listen to Taylor Swift. I don’t like Taylor Swift, and it’s satisfying to find others who also don’t like her so much. What a silly guilty pleasure to have. Apart from this though, I really think we need to stop looking so much into what others like or don’t like. Because only around 200 years ago I doubt they were worrying about who wore Burberry best and who didn’t. People probably liked people a lot more, I think. I could say we need to go back to basics with media consumption, but having the opportunity to present such an array of creative works so easily online helps us learn and appreciate every single day.

Hm, it’s a strange one, I’m not sure what the answer is, how to calm the ever-growing importance of knowledge through media. A foundational starting ground would be to eliminate judgment on others' personal preferences, such as the “oh my goodness, you haven’t heard of xyz? You haven’t watched xyd?! You haven’t seen that meme? What’s wrong with you ?”. See, it sounds lame, and I doubt our predecessors or damn right those homosapiens from that T shirt were worrying about that. Enjoy what you enjoy, and don’t make assumptions of others just because they enjoy something else.

Auds