Draft:Influence of Technology on 21st Music

Influence of Technology on 21st Music
The 21st century is now divided into numerous different genres and styles especially as different areas around the world have begun to immerse their unique cultures into beats and rhythms, and many believe that much of this musicla development would not be possible without technological devices or social media. Some of these music styles include Latin music, East Asian music, Bollywood music, Electronic music, and Jazz music, and more. In this article, we will discuss the differences, nuances, and similarities in each of these genres, various sub-genres of some of these more umbrella genres, and finally in the conclusion I will illustrate why many believe that these genres would not be where they are today without technology.

Electronic music

Electronic music. is known by many analysts to be a music genre that has been technologically developed that is known to try and produce sounds from musical instruments electronically through a great a deal circuit-based technology and software. They will often cite this music is known to rely on synthetic instruments for its melody/appeal, and can even be split further into sub genres based on slightly varying tones and energies. Such can even include dubstep vs club/house/techno vs melodic vs pop dance vs experimental.

The original pioneer behind this genre is noted to be Edgar Varese by many, who is reported to have recognized how electronic media could be used for sound, and thus, music production. With new instruments and electronic resources, researchers claim that he began composing pieces like Arcana, Hyperism, and Nocturnal. Such critical albums even earned him the nickname of “The Stratsopheric Colossus of Sound” by Henry Miller.

Electronic music is theorized by many to have leaked into many other genres, and creating sub-genres like EDM (Electronic Dance Music) as well, which has a great deal of mainstream pop dance music elements in it. Lots of pop has elements of electronic music. Even more, a great deal of electronic music is cited to appear in video games as well, such K/DA in league of legends. Many who follow this genre tend to follow this genre because of its diverse sound range that can evoke relaxation and releasing stress, or even allowing some to tune outside noise when doing important tasks.

Jazz Music

Jazz music is noted for its blue scales, complex chords, diverse set of rhythms which intake continuous improvisation by many. Many believeing this genre traces roots back to European harmony and African rhythmic rituals; this genre is thought by many enthusiasts to have emerged in New Orleans. Unlike many other contemporary forms of music, Jazz music is noted to have remained relatively unchanged and only grown in diverse synchronization of chords, melodies, and harmonies, since its audience for almost a hundred years is noted to have adored its melodious beats to be as much musically instrument derived as possible. Even now, there are numerous Jazz clubs where audiences love to gather, such as the Mad monkfish in Boston.

Originating during the Harlem Renaissance, Jazz music is noted to have allowed people from diverse backgrounds to come together to understand the idea of “music theory”– the study of the practices and possibilities of music– and using this as a source for communication and common ground as well. Fast forward, to the early 21st century, with newer and more mainstream technology offered at these musicians fingertips, recording technology is believed to have allowed jazz to be captured and reproduced on records, cassettes, and much more. Enabling jazz to be shared beyond just on singular live performance, many believe such technology thus pushed forward the introduction of a much broader and larger audience has come about, truly pushing jazz music into a new era.

Another theorized great effect of the usage of music technology with Jazz music was permitting to continually be an exceptionally influential music genre in more recently formed genres as well. Some of these include R&B and Hip-hop. Music analytics will claim that the sway tunes and swing time of jazz music has greatly influenced the development  of R & B music, and the overall style of jazz music greatly influenced the style of original hip hop music

Bollywood Music

Typically coined as Indian film music, Bollywood music usually comes from Indian films. The first set of Bollywood songs is thought by many to come from the first Indian sound film, Alam Ara directed by Ardeshir Irani. Since then, many will claim that using the combination of Indian classical music and some western music styles, bollywood music has emerged into what it is now today. Unfortunately, many also hold the belief that while there are a multitude of artists only a few are known to most such as Arijit Singh, Honey Singh, Pritam, and Shreya Ghosal. Additionally, many findings report that, with the aid of technology, Bollywood songs are able to electronically apply thee sounds of native South Asian musical instruments, including sitars and tablas, which many fans feel make Bollymood classics ever more authentic and culturally deep.

As many of these songs were once in movies, Bollywood music, like many other music genres, has been reported by researchers to have emerged into a diverse array of melodies with romantic songs, grieving songs, motivational masterpieces, and much more. A lot of the songs based on the artist and the movie depiction can also reflect the state of the region which being discussed as India is a region of various languages and cultures according to numerous findings. Many can agree that much of Indian culture revolves around Bollywood movies or songs. This being said, while many look to Bollywood cinema and songs to understand social norms, which many minorities–  such as queer individuals– frequently discontent and find these songs unrelatable or even mocking their identity. Likewise, many findings have also stated that many women also feel that a great deal of Bollywood music revolves around being overly critical of their bodies, skin color and other traits that are often beyond their control. However, many experts will say that due to social media with technology in India, a lot of social conservative values are changing, and will point to movies such as Badhaai Do, Gangubai, Maja Ma, and Tera Kya Hoga Lovely. Such movies are believed to be allowing for more and more individuals to feel represented in Bollywood music, only widening its appeal on the public.

Overall, like many other cultures, with South Asians, Bollywood songs are believed by researchers to represent pop, jazz, rock, and classical music all in one genre, bringing about different emotions with different songs, all encompassing representing many of their identities. With the addition of technology and Bollywood songs being featured on listening softwares like spotify, many find their religious songs more predominantly available in various forms, which many economists believe would not have been possible without the mainstream nature of contemporary Bollywood.

Latin Music

Latin music can be noted to have been traced back its roots to the Spanish and Portuguese colonizers, when the European settlers brought their music from overseas, created as a combination of their languages with the addition of some Arabic musical styles, and European musical instruments. Over the past 70 years, there are beleived by many seven main styles of Latin music: Bossa Nova, Salsa, Merengue, Rancheras, Cumbia, Tango, Reggeaton. Each of these are also believed to have come from different countries and have different rhythmic patterns that make them al distinct and unique. For example, while Mergengue is cited many to be very festive and upbeat from the Dominican Republic, it was also cited by many for awhile to be the “musical embodiment of pride and resistance”. On the other hand, Rancheras, which originated in Mexico, is cited by many to evoke “love for country and honor”. Moreover, both of these styles are also observed by many to be starkly differ from Salsa, which can trace its style and melodic beats back to African and Indigenous cultures and their musical styles according to many.

Nonetheless, this genre entirely is noted by many to have not taken off as a mainstream platform until the 1940’s when notable pioneers in this industry such as Xavier Cugat and Tito Puente emerged. Due to the absence of Latin America in World War II, this genre is noted to have gained immense adoration and fascination at the time and has since ever more expanded. Today, many can agree that with the aid of technology and social media, contemporary Latin music has soared into one of the most popular genres worldwide.

Like many other contemporary music forms, many can agree that contemporary Latin music revolves around pop idols and artists like Bad Bunny and Shakira. Many music analytics will claim that because of their widely established presence in music, a lot of western English speaking pop artists such Cardi B and Drake will collaborate with them, bringing more revenue and attention to these songs and the genre as whole. Some findings can report that these fanbases of the artists, especially Bad Bunny's, will make him an icon and role model. Many will attribute this due to his dedication to his language and culture. Many experts will report that through the word of Bad Bunny on social media and other forms of technology, Bad Bunny has become the #2 in most streamed artists on Spotify globally, right after Taylor Swift. Moreover, this finding reports even two more artists on this list are Latin American– Peso Pluma and Feid, which many will use to illustrate how widespread Latin music is today.

See image using the attached URL for most streamed artists globally to see how widespread Latin Music is 

East Asian Music

East Asian pop music is usually cited by most analysts broken down into different sub-genres based on country and, henceforth, language of their songs, K-pop, C-pop, J-pop, V-pop, and T-pop. Many will as such believe this contemporary East Asian music began with the introduction of J-pop idols in the early 1980s, and this soon enough sponsored the development of Korean pop music. With this, Korean pop music became rebranded as K-pop, and many researchers will cite that this sparked the development of several Korean entertainment houses, including SM Entertainment (hereafter SM) were soon built. Many will claim that these idols and bands are known as “first generation” K-pop artists and debuted as Seo Taiji and Boys in 1992 on MBC’s Talent Show, and findings will find that it is their combination of western pop with Korean elements and diction earned them the adoration of many localities and internationals. Following in K-pop and J-pop steads, it is reported that T-pop and V-pop also emerged closer to the late 1990s, and only continually been on the rise since. Moreover, many music enthusiasts will report that due to Seo Taiji and Boys laying the groundwork for other bands to follow, K-pop is continually only rising in popularity on their sixth generation now, with numerous boy and girl bands such as BTS, Stray Kids, Ateez, Red Velvet, Twice, and Blackpink, each also sometimes specializing in different tones and moods. For example, Stray Kids main hits consist of more “darker” and “somber” music, meanwhile BTS is known for performing very “uplighting” and “cheerful” music.

With such a diverse "sixth generation" East Asian pop music set, many fans feel that K-pop, and East Asian music as a whole, contains a wide variety of songs and sub-genres, allowing fans to revel all it has to offer, which many report to only be increasing in popularity due to the East Asian online presence. . This is not surprising for most, since they believe that these genres are known for their visually appealing music videos, synchronized choreography, and the formation of groups, which brings about a strong online fan culture. Moreover, many will cite that social media platforms have allowed fans on a global level to form an online community, sharing their mutual love for their idols, and the music agencies are also able actively engage with fans through social media, hosting live streams, Q&A sessions, and fan events, adding to the East Asian music fame

Conclusion

Many researchers will argue that the addition of technology has not led to many of these more worldly and traditional music genres have begun incorporating Western cultural practices and languages, primarily English, into their music. Nonetheless, many other researchers will cite that a great deal of this is due to the mainstream nature of modern social media, where music is at the center of platforms like TikTok, and the role that technology plays in many people’s lives, and this “globalization of music” through technology has led to global superstars– such as BTS, Arjiit Singh, and Bad Bunny– from numerous nationalities and regions around the world. Moreover, experts will also confidently argue that with the effect of technology, fans can now be invested in imparting the embodied values and beliefs of their favorite artists which allows a much greater diversity in all regions, expressing similarities in many regions, but also maintaining important differences as many of these artists still attract their fanbases through creating or expressing cultural texts that are specific to their local culture. All in all, this goes to show for many observers and analysts how the integration and combination of technology and music has led to a great deal of globalization. Through this, many cultures have become westernized and influenced from early 20th century genres as well, but also maintaining their cultural uniqueness and identity.