THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT?

The winners of the Emmy Awards were announced yesterday, and apart from Flight Of The Conchords walking away empty handed after their 5 nominations, and most of the same US shows predictably winning the same awards all over again, the overall air of the show and it’s future seemed to be one of impending doom. Many presenters and award recipients seemed to remark upon the declining ratings that television in the US were getting, and the subsequent economic downturn’s impact on the types of shows that are being funded and making it to screens not only in the USA, but also the rest of the world.

So sure, that’s tv, what’s that got to do with music? Funnily enough this week Lily Allen also talks on her myspace blog about the decline in sales in the music industry, and it resulting in the types of artists signed, the money spent on recording and promotion, and in the end how not only the industry, but the artists and in turn the audience, end up suffering. It seems according to Lily, we’re destined for a future that is ruled by Simon Cowell and the packaged pop cheese that TV reality shows do so well.

The common theme? The changing landscape of media in the digital age. It’s inevitable with the accessibility of any kind of digital media, there will be those that pay for it – and those who don’t. It’s certainly not a new problem, but seems to have come to a very slow solution. One theoretical solution in response to Lily’s blog – from Matt Bellamy, lead singer of Muse – is that perhaps it’s time for the ISP’s to take some responsibility for the new broadcast platform the internet has become. Radio, TV and anyone else who broadcasts music publicly has to pay for the rights to use music – why not the ISP’s for broadcasting it? Certainly something to think about!

If you want to read more about Lily’s point of view on the situation and how she see’s it affecting the industry, take a look at www.myspace.com/lilyallen .

posted by The In Sound From Way Out