I click on the unimpressive green icon on my phone screen, and the monologue begins.

“What shall I listen to today? Not this - Maybe that…"

“Okay, definitely not that, what about a playlist?”

“Well, no, this is just annoying “

“Then a safe album, one of the favourites…”

“I need some new sounds, oh my God, never mind.”

A first-hand example of a first-world problem. One must learn to value silence.

A neighbourhood’s first radio adapter used to be celebrated like a statue. People gathered around the tiny box, breaking a sweat to hear some fuzzy humming, occasionally interrupted by the unexpected sharpness of the speaker’s voice. They would witness and contribute to one of humanity’s greatest technological miracles. For a few minutes, all ears would hear the same song.

This kind of reverence is rare to come across today. You may open your Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Soundcloud, YouTube Music, whatever, and have your subscription renewed three taps later. The library of sounds is at your fingertips.

Listening is at an all-time high, and record sales are at an all-time low. A stream on Spotify supposedly pays around 0.004$. This would mean that a thousand streams are worth a lousy 4$. On top of that, the “new music industry” is said to be shrinking: the 200 most popular songs now constitute only 5% of total streams, compared to 10% from a few years ago. And yet, it is easier to make music now than ever before. In 2023 alone there were 120 thousand tracks added to streaming services daily. It is more music than was produced in the whole of 1989.

There seems to be a whole universe of songs that could become my favourites. Potential that I am unable (too lazy?) to tap into. I am one of, perhaps many, listeners not eager–enough to help save fresh talent. With deep regret, I contribute to artists fading into oblivion, punishment for their sin of remaining undiscovered.

Though beyond grateful that I do not have to buy a compact to hear a new single, I am afraid the overwhelming availability of music everywhere all the time has made me appreciate it less. The effort is often indicative of the reward. There is a need to either retrain this gratification pattern or restructure the listening one.

Effort is to be scrutinized on the maker’s side as well. I started appreciating Madonna more having heard of her humble beginnings. The Beatles grew on me when I found out Ringo Starr never had access to an indoor bathroom or W.C. in his childhood home. Should musicians be measured by their suffering? The effort is often indicative of the reward. I would like to believe they would be just as good artists had they been born with a silver spoon. Yet I always saw art as an expression of the within - is it not better when it springs from a range of experiences, from truly heartbreaking hardship to glory? On the other hand, I enjoyed Bruno Mars’ music more back when he wasn’t in debt.

“The Beatles in 1967” - Photographers: Mark and Colleen Hayward

The 70s and 80s are often described as the golden era of music: rock’n’roll in full bloom, anticipation for hip hop and grunge of the 90s. The revolution of a genre is born through its coloring outside the lines of what is already defined. Looking at recent musical breakthroughs, we are nearing the edge of the paper. What is the possibility of a new chord combination being struck for the first time ever again? Lyrics sung, rhythms established, plagiarism claims filed. The new genres won’t break so many grounds, because they will have to incorporate so much of those grounds themselves. No longer digging for treasure, musicians must build atop where it was once found. This feels bittersweet, for we are masking the foundation, but heading upwards.

A resolution of mine is to listen to music more intently. I should note the hypocrisy, presently wearing earphones, oh well. On a serious note, music cannot stay in the background! One should bring it to the front, lead role, full focus, and everything. Seconding The Doobie Brothers, I say: listen to the music! Focus on the lyrics to hear every word, watch out for the back vocals, rewind to hear the guitar solo once, twice more, become so invested and transfixed, find songs that get you addicted, albums that excite you. Read about your artists, learn the genesis of your favourite sounds. Talk about music, and argue over it with your friends. Criticise for the sake of improvement. Passion breeds passion. An active listener is worth a hundred passive ones. Well, maybe not for Spotify, but go with it.

Listen to the Music