OurStage asked our community of artists to give their insights into the future of the industry. Some were here hopeful, others frustrated but all had a lot to say on the topic. Here’s a selection of their opinions. Enjoy!

Tokyo Rosenthal

My prediction and hope is that one of the majors will put out cheap CDs at $5 or less, and this will over ride the desire to download. Listeners still want something to hold and look at while listening to music that shows the artist, the lyrics, the liner notes, etc. And they also want CD stores with knowledgeable “music nerds” behind the counter to rap to and take suggestions from. iTunes, Napster, etc. just don’t make it.  Someone will pick up this ball and run with it. There’s a void and it must and will be filled.

- Tokyo Rosenthal

Who can predict the future of music? If some one had told me when I first heard a rap record in 1979, that this would be a new form of music for the 21st century, I probably would have laughed. Who knew that country (though today’s country is more like rockabilly to me) would reach zenith proportions in sales. When I first heard Jean Michael Jarre and Tangerine Dreams music in 1977, I thought that this would be the music of the 21st century. I eventually started to create my own electronic music. Yet most of those electonic pioneers are forgotten, as is electronic music.An occasional electronic flourish or enhancement appears on a pop record, but don’t expect Carrie Underwood to do an electonic record. Actually, to her credit, Madonna has done a lot of synth type records, and has been one of the most successfull artists to bring standard singing and electronics together. But this is not the music I expected to hear in the 21st century. Perhaps people like to step back into older music forms, then modernize them.(ie todays country) Will we see pop polkas by 2020 or retro waltzs by 2016?

- Larry Smiley, Smiling EYE

Adero Neely

I think it is a new day and a new way and all former things will come to pass. I am 15-years old and the world belongs to us. I am a technological kid growing up in the space age. I communicate with my friends on social network websites, through e-mails, texting and other forms of high tech media. Music is moving quickly toward the cyberspace age. Music videos will soon be presented in virtual reality and my fans can all plug into my concerts without ever having to leave their homes. Because of this impersonal but convenient form of entertainment, I promise to always maintain a personal relationship with my fans.

-  Adero Neely

I-Rich

In the future, music will be completely online based and stores like FYE, Sam Goody, Virgin, etc. will cease to exist because of the convenience of the internet.  In terms of what we hear on the radio, the music will never change.  Music has been the same for the past five years, and we have been used to listening to the same style of music on major radio stations.  There’s always going to be a few artists out there who we feel shouldn’t even be on the radio, and other artists who have the golden voice or sound that should deserve to be played on the radio, but radio stations fail to play their music.  Will the style of music change in the future? Not for a while.  Will the industry change? It already has and will slope downward until we’re stuck with artists who fail to release music due to greediness.

- Ivan Richard, I-Rich

As a manager, it seems that it is inevitable that we get back to music with substance, and release our addiction to good pimping punchlines. Of course everyone doesn’t want to be taught, making it hard for conscious rappers to ever really make a living.  But the industry needs to be overtaken by artists who can balance their talents and give you substance, originality and versatility.  Albums will be no more.  Artist will have to rely on the “One Hit Wonder” formula and make sure their music is submitted to every popular site across the globe.

- Jeff Browne, Jthoro Rainwater Entertainment