Hello everyone!
The #afritunes community told us to write about we think music has changed in this digital age.
Honestly, a lot has changed when it comes to music before and now. If we compare music today with how it was before the digital age, it almost feels like we’re talking about two different things.
First of all, the way we access music has completely transformed. Back in the day, if you wanted to listen to your favourite song, you had to either wait for it to play on the radio or probably get a Cd or even cassettes from a local shop. I could remember back when i was young we literally had to buy a lot of CDs from the local shops before we could listen to songs by Wizkid, ayefele and the likes, and that alone required time, money, and effort. But now? Things are totally different.
Today, anyone with a smartphone and an internet connection can listen to any song they want, at any time and from anywhere in the world. There are different platforms like the spotify that have made music incredibly accessible to the audience.
Another major change is in how musicians connect with their audience. In the past, artists relied heavily on radio stations, TV interviews, and live shows to get noticed. It was much harder to break into the industry unless you had the right connections or a record label backing you. But now, with social media platforms like TikTok, everything has changed. I have seen several people go from doing random freestyles in their room to trending globally just because one of their videos went viral. A single 30-second clip can be all it takes to blow up—and from there, opportunities come knocking at their door.
I actually believe it's easier for an artiste to become famous in this digital era than it was before. You don’t necessarily need a big budget or studio time to get started. Some artists are literally recording hits from the comfort of their homes, and after some time, they literally become popular. In all of this, i think social media has been the most important factor because It literally allows these musicians to build a fanbase, engage with their listeners, and even earn money directly from their followers. This kind of exposure and direct access to fans wasn’t a thing that was available in the past.
Now, let's not forget about music production too. The instruments and tools used now are very different from those used years ago before the digital age. These days, we have instruments like electronic drums and auto-tune software that can enhance or manipulate sound in incredible ways. Producers can actually make beats , mix sounds, and create unique music from scratch using just a laptop. Also, musicians can enhance their voice with this instrument to make them sound even better, which is not something that was common in the past.
Music has definitely evolved, and honestly, I think it’s beautiful to see how far it has come.
Thanks for reading.