And he├óΓé¼Γäós right…kind of. But some of the accusations he makes in a recent interview are extremely near-sighted.
├óΓé¼┼ôI think the Internet is the most dangerous thing invented since the atomic bomb. It’s destroyed the music business. It’s going to destroy the movie business,├óΓé¼┬¥ says John Mellencamp. He claims that the rise in online music sales, decline in CD sales, and the increase in internet piracy will crush the music industry.
Really? An atomic bomb? While Mellencamp is a great musician, he’s also getting old. And like many old people, he doesn’t understand the potential for the web.
Why not think of it this way: the Internet is revolutionizing the music industry. And like in any revolution, old institutions (bloated record companies) must be torn down before new ones can be built. Just because we’re not certain what the future model for music will be doesn’t make it inherently evil.
Can ya dig that, Mellencamp?
Without the Internet, would OK Go be the sensation that it is? Probably not. Would Justin Bieber├óΓé¼Γäós music be so popular? Well, yes. But that├óΓé¼Γäós because who doesn├óΓé¼Γäót love Justin Bieber? The Internet gives an opportunity for ANY band to have their music heard, not just the ones picked by the “industry.”
We hope Mellencamp changes his tune, and stops being an old guy scared of change.
[Image via WENN.]
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