Reformations in Music
A topic which was of great interest to me was the idea of music being a changing industry. Our textbook, Media & Culture: Mass Communication in a Digital Age, provides us with a chapter entitled “Sound Recording and Popular Music.” This chapter provides insight into the reformations in popular music which involved the British invasion, Motown music, folk and psychedelic music, punk, grunge and alternative music, and hip hop and pop music. I chose this topic because music is such an important form of art, and since the 1960s, different types of music have brought about change politically, socially, and in the way music is made.

            The British invasion began when bands such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones came to America and changed the face of music. Rock was officially formed and as Campbell states, “On the one hand, the Rolling Stones would influence generations of musicians emphasizing gritty, chord-driven, high-volume rock, including bands in the glam rock, hard rock, punk, heavy metal, and grunge genres. On the other hand, the Beatles would influence countless artists interested in a more accessible, melodic, and softer sound, in genres such as pop-rock, power-pop, new wave, and alternative rock” (133). The British invasion, which began in the 1960s, set the standard for future musicians.

From: http://www.thechangeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/reinventing-yourself.jpg
This is a picture of the British band, the Beatles. The Beatles were part of the British invasion and they greatly contributed to changing the face of rock.

            Motown music, also known as “Motor City Music”, was of particular interest to me because when my family and I went to Detroit, we were able to see the Motown recording studio where the Motown songs were recorded. Motown, as Campbell states, was “The most prominent independent label that nourished soul and black popular music…” (136). I remember from my visit to the Motown museum that the Motown music scene increased the strides towards racial equality. All people began to realize that they shared a love for good music and as Campbell tells us, “…black singers like James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Ike and Tina Turner, and Wilson Pickett found large and diverse audiences” (136).

From: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.northernsoultrain.webspace.virginmedia.com%2Fartists%25201%2Fbrenda%2520holloway.html&h=0&w=0&tbnid=o9wx9TxescEetM&zoom=1&tbnh=194&tbnw=259&docid=n7EKPKZY-HHKpM&tbm=isch&ei=E3M-VILhHIPt8AGY4YDQCA&ved=0CAQQsCUoAA
A picture of the studio in Detroit where Motown music was made.

From: http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_400/MI0003/554/MI0003554780.jpg?partner=allrovi.com
This is a picture of one of the Motown groups, The Four Tops.

            Folk and psychedelic music represented the turbulent times which came along with the 1960s. Many of the songs which were popular during this time brought attention to the cry for peace and social justice. Many songs expressed people’s disdain toward the Vietnam War. Folk music inspired protests which were in response to what was going on politically. Bob Dylan is considered to be the most influential and well known folk performer. The psychedelic aspect of music included the heavy use of drugs, especially LSD. Many bands such as the Doors and the Grateful Dead claimed “artistic expression could be enhanced by mind-altering drugs” (138). This related to social change because the idea of wanting free speech was prevalent during this time period and the use of drugs was viewed by many people (not just bands but also people who listened to psychedelic bands) as a way to express oneself. Another example of social change resulting from psychedelic music came from the negative events which happened when psychedelic music was at its prime. One of these events included the killings done by the Manson “family”. As Campbell states, these killings “cast a negative light on hippies, drug use, and psychedelic culture” (139).

From: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/Doors_electra_publicity_photo.JPG
The Doors, a popular psychedelic band.

From:http://vietnamawbb.weebly.com/uploads/5/7/2/0/5720494/858846228.jpg?417
Many psychedelic and folk songs inspired protest against the war in Vietnam.

            In the 1970s, punk rock came along and challenged the mainstream, commercial songs with a sense of rebelliousness. Although punk music was not a commercial success in America, it brought about social change because it allowed women like Joan Jett and Patti Smith to be cast into the spotlight. Grunge music emerged in the 1990s with the primary grunge band being Nirvana. Unlike punk music, grunge was able to reach commercial success. Campbell states, “In some critical circles, both punk and grunge are considered subcategories or fringe movements of alternative rock. This vague label describes many types of experimental rock music that offered a departure from the theatrics and staged extravaganzas of 1970s glam rock…” (140). The alternative scene allowed for a shift to be made in music.

From: http://promfih.com/data_images/main/joan-jett/joan-jett-02.jpg
A picture of Joan Jett, a popular female punk rocker.

From: http://assets.rollingstone.com/assets/images/list/d712af824fd4a08958194370346bc8fc4601dc22.jpg
A picture of one of Green Day's albums. Green Day is a grunge band that followed in the steps of the band Nirvana.

            Hip hop (a type of music which involves rapping) brought about social change through the emergence of black artists. Campbell states, “Similar to punk’s opposition to commercial rock, hip-hop music stood in direct opposition to the polished, professional, and often less political world of soul” (140). Hip hop music used its rap lyrics to make political opinions heard. Additionally, on the negative side, some hip hop music allowed for offensive statements to be made about women and homosexuals and the increase in gang activity in 1996 was blamed on gangster rap. This has led the form of hip hop being produced today to be a more danceable kind of music that has strayed away from gangster rap. Today, after first going through a significant decline in popularity, pop music has reemerged with help from iTunes and is now what generally sells the most.

From: http://i5.tagstat.com/p1/p/3QGquGsvV5uoygVct81r-uE6tVNcSQD4oR6F1MyYOoo=.jpg
This picture represents the fact that rap music can carry lyrics which are trying to convey a message.

From: http://www.celebzz.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/katy-perry-performing-at-prism-iheartradio-theatre_6.jpg
A picture of Katy Perry, one of today's most popular and successful pop artists.

            This section of chapter 4 has helped me to observe the reformations which have occurred in music. Different types of music have brought about political and social change. Additionally, the style of music is constantly changing and it is interesting to question what new style will emerge next.