so folk culture has become the performance aspect these days as the cd or recorded aspect has become so accessible and disposable. Folk culture is the steering away from the pressures of commercialism. Keeping artistic integrity is the important part. not ’selling out’ is the ideolgy of folk culture. Recorded music is now the mainstream and considered coporate so performance is what holds the most value to the audience. 

Authenticity seems to be one of the most important values of pop music (from my experience this is certainly the case with rock) and this notion has been lost in terms of recorded music or music as an object. The live performance is now the aspect that creates the myth of authenticity for an artist and his audience. Because any ‘regular joe’ can make music and record it, the authentic moments are for example when Prince plays the halftime show at the superbowl in front of billions (?) with what was seen by some viewers as a very phallic shaped guitar. Only someone of his statue, a true legendary performer could achieve this. So giving away his latest record is irrelevant to him and his audience.

On the other hand he is also selling out by playing at such a big sponsored, money making event as the superbowl.

I think the recorded part of music is now, such a big part of peoples everyday lives. theres ringtones available, its on in shops and bars so like you said, the emphasise is now on the live event. So myspace, the internet and people that monetise digital music, although both provide accessibilty and choice which is surely a good thing, dont hold any value or meaning in terms of what is considered authentic. But what is authentic if not the recorded object or the live performance by Prince in a football stadium? Former stone roses singer, now solo artist Ian Brown recently said this recently in The Guardian;

I think music is the nearest thing to achieving Christian ends. It unifies people and sustains them. It uplifts them and makes them closer to love. You get a great gig at Wembley or somewhere and that is modern Christianity in action.”

http://music.guardian.co.uk/rock/story/0,,2169340,00.html

with this idea in mind, it becomes more apparent that live music gives this unified communal experience. Putting on a cd in my bedroom or in a car doesnt provoke the same emotions as it would at a live show. So recorded music and live music are both very different for so many reasons.

more to come.