Since the initial outbreak of COVID-19, our world as we know it has undergone a fundamental change. During these times, people naturally gravitate toward sources that bring them comfort. For many, that source has been music. But how has pop music itself functioned during the pandemic? What kind of new music should we expect as the months go on? To find out more about the future of pop music in a post-pandemic world, we invite you to read this article.
Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.theguardian.com
Listening to music is a daily activity in many people’s lives, and that’s perhaps the one thing that has not changed amidst this pandemic. If anything, music has been a major source of comfort, as it offers small windows of escape as we remain in our homes, or even grants us a little comic relief, as at the onset of quarantine, there was an uptick of songs like “Please Don’t Stand So Close to Me” by The Police and “Toxic” by Britney Spears. Although listener behavior has pretty much stayed the same, music critics are beginning to ponder what’s in store for the future of pop music, as inklings of a shift begin to emerge.
Before the pandemic, pop music had turned towards a lot of vulnerable, honest, and intimate songwriting – Billie Eilish and Frank Ocean being the chart toppers that come to mind. But given the collective grief of the pandemic, with many people’s lives being negatively affected, critics predict that if pop music continues in this vein, it would be like rubbing salt in an old wound. Instead, they predict the future of pop music to gravitate towards escapism rather than dwelling, with overtones of extravagance and the fantastical. Some artists themselves have already discussed this sentiment, like Frank Ocean, who recently said to W Magazine: “In order for me to satisfy expectations, there needs to be an outpouring of my heart or my experiences in a very truthful, vulnerable way. I’m more interested in lies than that. Like, give me a full motion-picture fantasy.”
On the other hand, critics predict rap music to follow a different trajectory than its pop counterpart. Whereas the future of pop music will lean towards escapism and fantasy, critics believe rap will become the opposite. As many stereotypical mainstream rap lyrics tend to involve activities that have been virtually wiped out because of the pandemic, like clubbing and partying, it seems rappers will be left to turn to rapping about something else. Critics believe that this might allow for rap to become more introverted, with now more momentum to write more personal, self-reflective raps. We can already see this through the current rise of “emo-rap,” which discusses emotional issues like depression, anxiety, and nihilism. Emo rappers like Machine Gun Kelly and the late Juice WRLD seem to be the future of pop music in the rap genre, as they continue to gain mainstream popularity.
All in all, critics believe popular music will emerge in better shape than other genres, with fresh new directions for listeners to expect. It will also remain lucrative, despite the fact that live concerts and festivals will be nixed until late 2021. Since many music-lovers have become accustomed to their favorite artists livestreaming, which is inevitably less polished than studio-releases, polished tracks will surely be met with high demand.
For more in depth predictions of the future of pop music, visit the source content at The Guardian website.
No matter where the music industry is headed, musicians and artists should always continue to practice and hone in their craft. Canyon Entertainment Academy offers lessons, coaching, and instruction in all aspects of the performing arts, whether that be through mastering your instrument, your voice, or other relevant industry skills. For more information, please visit www.canyonentertainmentgroup.com or contact us at info(at)canyonentertainmentgroup.com
