A machine that foresees chart success is here… Cue applause..?
While I may have in the past speculated about a machine capable of churning out music, it always seemed more from an Orwellian-like disenchantment with the industry, too ready to turn art into cash, than a genuine expectation. But an enterprising software developer, Mike McCready, has created a program (Platinum Blue) that, by looking at the underlying mathematical aspects of a track, can tell Mr. Record Exec. what he needs to do to that track to see chart success. I am troubled somewhat by the prospect of unwittingly hearing music cross examined by algorithms – GM music. I also wonder if Aphex Twin’s Windowlicker, or Zeppelin’s Black Dog would have passed this test, ultimately built on trend and correlation toward previous success, but then, this is the media environment we now lend ourselves to. Whether it’s a spell or grammar check in a written document, or admiration of the fractal imagery generated by my computer, technology is applicable to and, more to the point, incomparably good at taking human traits further.
I do however think it is a blessing that the unsigned artist doesn’t yet have access to this commodity. Fortunately I can still listen to my stash on amazingtunes in complete trust that here are tunes as fertile and organic as my mums vegetables (and long may this lack of access for the unsigned population continue). As testament to the virtues of untainted music that has both rock and soul in its most purest, un-Platinum-Blued form I’m going to recommend you listen to Rock and Soul by The Blend (It also happens to be one of my favourite tunes on amazingtunes…) so go check it out.
On a final note, since i went and brought my mother’s vegetables in to the equation, i will leave you with Mr T’s views on mothers=.
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