Music downloading creates listener apathy: research

[HanafiH]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060110/tc ... N1YmNhdA--

Tue Jan 10, 4:07 PM ET

LONDON (AFP) - Internet downloading and MP3 players are creating a generation of people who do not seriously appreciate songs or musical performances, British researchers said.

"The accessibility of music has meant that it is taken for granted and does not require a deep emotional commitment once associated with music appreciation," said music psychologist Adrian North.

North led a team from the University of Leicester, central England, that monitored 346 people over two weeks to evaluate how they related to music.

They concluded that because of greater accessibility through mass media, music was nowadays seen more as a commodity that is produced, distributed and consumed like any other.

[james0tucson]

The apathy factor goes MUCH further than just music.

[shamann]

What a load of ass. All of their findings are based on unfounded assumptions, things like music used to be appreciated more. Prove it! You can't just poll 346 people then match your findings against the lore of yore.

[respirator]

What shamann said. My bare behind... On a more serious note: For nearly all of humanity music was as far as we know a natural part of life and rites. Then it became for a few centuries some arty stuff of kings and cultural elites. Music as a part of every day life prevailed. Then business took over for a few decades and music became commoditized and disappeared from everyday life. Now - if we're lucky - music again becomes part of life. The download generation will hopefully be the last consumers music will see. The next generation (and we're of course the forerunners) will become music creators, users, sharers etc. Or something.

[Reverse Engineer]

I'd have to pipe in (pun not intended) and say it was arse too. Anyone with half a brain would know why it's arse, so i'll refrain from even attempting to explain.

[emdot_ambient]

I don't think they've made anything like a scientific analysis of this. However, it's a sound hypothesis: When anything becomes a commodity like music has, and there is an over abundance of that commodity, the law of Supply & Demand will devalue the commodity.

But, like any hypothesis, it has to then be proven through rigorous scientific methods. Which it doesn't look like they've done.

Would be interesting to see a real study done on the subject, though. My gut tells me that they may be right. But my gut also tells me that the reason I tend to believe them might be that I'm an old fnuck who hasn't heard any world-altering music for several decades.

[speccyteccy]

Since I started listening to MP3's of my CD's on my phone on my way to work, I'd say I'm defintely appreciating them more.

But I can see their argument - isn't like all the warez kids that have all the hosts and synths but can't / don't use them?

[Barnadine]

Yes, this is excellent science. Having access to music prevents a deep emotional commitment to music.

Coming up next: why eating ruins your digestion.

[pHz]

theyre missing the obvious point surely ...

... having access to loads of crap music that you have to have because youre told by its sellers (whether or not you buy it or grab it for free) that you have to have it DOES prevent a deep emotional response to music ...

... availability and commoditisation ( real word ??? ) arent the same thing ...

slainte rob

[Blank_Frank]

Try replacing the words "Internet downloading" and "MP3 players" with "TV reality talent shows" and "desperate music marketing techniques". Then it makes more sense.

I'm fully prepared to believe that people may not appreciate songs and performances as much (although I can't see how the hell you could measure that) but why should it be because of modern technology? Isn't it more likely that it's because the music's more disposable, and it's increasingly difficult to get hold of anything that may have more staying power.

Just playing D:evil:'s Advocate.

[drinelli]

It is my feeling, that getting music as downloads, make me feel uncaring for the music it self, it makes me loose track of it in total disorder. Before trying downloading albums, I thought this would be a great thing. Atleast Magnatune will let you download proper wave files, so one can get it solid and mint. But what I really would like the download companies to do, was a box consisting of a cd burner/dvd-audio burner, with inbuilt printing of cover, and cd surface in color. Why would people stick to their old 78 records if not because: if the music just consist of bits and bytes in a computer, without accompanying cover and biography. It is just a ghost from the past.

[drinelli]

I dunno if i am making any sense at all.

[drinelli]

Please let me elaborate on this. I have the thought that.... well I will make the equation, having a cd is like having a sweatheart, up close and personal, owning a download, is like having a penpal over the web, nice but at a distance, not really satisfying at all. And you really do not know where she is most of the time.

[drinelli]

Think if the world really was not there, when you sleep.

Think if your cd collection really was not there when you turn off your computer. With downloads thats a fact, in some regard.

[Reverse Engineer]

I couldn't respect a single person who says they love an album but the only "copy" they have is downloaded/borrowed or bought from (Sh)iTunes. You don't PAY for a f**king 128kbps music file at the same price of a CD just like you don't pay $30,000,000 for a PRINT of a van goth painting. Your ears, eyes and other senses would have to be so f**king borked to accept that.

I also consider the Artwork and case even to be a necessity, not a bonus. Lossless is great for distributing live shows etc, but to release and collect music using intangible formats alone, you must be kidding.