I'm riding a bummer after hearing of Steven Job's death. It is a grief not unlike the ones I experienced after John Lennon and Stevie Ray Vaughn died so tragically. What is it with innovators leaving the earthly plane before their creative arcs are complete? Only 56, lost to pancreatic cancer, the most formidable of its many forms, Job's was a game-changer. What didn't his contributions touch? From computer technology and how it would define the internet, to mobile smart devices and this is the one of mixed feelings-iTunes, and how it has redefined the music industry, the artists, and the enthusiasts. I'm glad it has weakened the traditional corporate strangle-hold on artists' creative control and diminished its power to decide what music is culturally relevant and marketable. It has put ownership back into independent musical efforts and made its offerings globally accessible, for $.99 at that! But in another way, it has brought about a sea change in the way musicians are rewarded and intensified the more difficult aspects of making a living at it. I expect that it will all smooth out eventually. Still, iTunes has made it possible to open yourself to the musical universe and hear new things in the time it takes to click your mouse. But all of this irons out, right? We'll see. In the meantime, I'm sad about Steve Jobs. Another rock star has died all-too-young, and we'll be hard-pressed to imagine the things that were in-store for us from this true visionary. CommentsLeave a Reply | Vince Adáme | Bass & Drums
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