The Real Reason Why Music Is Getting Worse

Summary

Rick Beato argues that music is being devalued through two related changes: it has become easier to produce and easier to consume.

Act I: Music Is Too Easy to Make

Beato traces changes in recording, from live vocal performances with an orchestra to multitrack recording, punch-ins, digital audio workstations, and tools such as Auto-Tune.

He argues that editing and quantizing drum performances can remove their natural timing and feel. As an example, he compares John Bonham’s shuffled drumming on “Fool in the Rain” with a quantized version.

Beato says modern production tools—including drum samples, amp modelers, preset sounds, and MIDI packs—make polished production more accessible. However, he argues that relying on the same tools and presets can make music sound generic and formulaic.

He connects this shift to the music industry’s move away from resource-intensive rock-band production toward artists who can create music with a laptop and microphone. He also raises a quality-versus-quantity concern: faster production contributes to a greater volume of releases, making exceptional work harder to find.

On AI-generated music, Beato discusses concerns about models being trained on copyrighted songs. He reports that Universal Music Group, Sony Music, and Warner Music were suing AI music companies Suno and Udio. He also alleges that record labels may seek to use AI versions of artists they control. Beato notes that his own voice was modeled using ElevenLabs.

His broader concern is that dependence on technology may reduce innovation and diversity, though he acknowledges that technology could also help people innovate.

Act II: Music Is Too Easy to Consume

Beato compares streaming to an always-open tap: listeners can access enormous catalogs instantly and skip songs without much commitment. He cites a figure of 100,000 new songs uploaded to streaming platforms per day in 2023.

By contrast, he recalls buying records, working to afford them, listening repeatedly, and sharing them with friends. He argues that this effort helped make music part of people’s collections, identities, and social lives.

Beato says that access to vast catalogs for a monthly subscription—he gives $10.99 as an example—can make individual songs feel less valuable. He also argues that listeners’ attention, rather than their stated preferences, ultimately determines what succeeds.

Practical Suggestion

Beato recommends setting aside time to listen to a few songs without looking at a phone or using social media, and paying attention to the lyrics, melody, and overall experience.

Examples and References

• Technical demonstration: Quantized versus human-played John Bonham drums on “Fool in the Rain.”
• Recording example: Beato describes the microphones and room mics used to record a drum kit.
• AI-related references: ElevenLabs, Suno, Udio, and SoundLab. Beato also critiques AI-generated content that he says was written by ChatGPT.
• Other source discussed: A clip from Ted Gioia about Spotify and AI-generated music.

Main speaker/source: Rick Beato Other source referenced: Ted Gioia