as many of the most popular musical acts of the past 15 years don't really "write songs", play any instruments or have any musical chops but more or less pre-sequence, trigger and program their music with the aid of electronics and a digial audio workstation.

i personally think we should reserve terms like "musician", "songwriter", "producer" or maybe even just abandon them altogether if hardly anyone is ad-hereing to the standards that used to define what those terms used to mean.

these terms aren't holy, by any means...

i mean imo skrillex is not a "musician",
but that doesn't imply that what he does doesn't require talent (i know some may object to this example).
and likewise for so many other acts... rap, edm, house, etc.

it's too gray nowadays.
i think "music programmer", "music programming" makes sense and pretty much defies any boundaries as far as electronic "genres" are concerned because at it's core it's all just mixing, effects and programming.

i.e. "whoa listen to the programming on this track, have you ever heard anything like this?"

do you think adopting this term would add some discernment in discourse about what is actually being produced rather than bending antiquated pre-existing definitions that don't really even apply anymore?

---
“Change is inevitable. Progress is optional.” – Tony Robbins

the term producer should still apply to anybody making original compositions, with or without samples

are you referring to producers who mainly loop?

what about quincy and puff, who are producers in a more traditional sense, but do none of the technical work?

_____________
http://24kblk.com

"They used to call me Baby Luke....but now? The whole damn 2 Liiiive Crew."

Traditionally, it meant the person who oversees a project and direct/guides the musicians throughout the project. Today, the term "producer" is used to label the beat maker/music programmer. I never liked the modern use of the term. I prefer music programmer. Youre not a musician, and you're not a producer, your a programmer.

when prince or shuggie Otis program drums are they being musicians or programmers?

a daw is an instrument
an mpc is an instrument

I understand (but disagree) with those you say sample based guys ain't musicians.

but now drum machine programmers and midi sequencers ain't instruments played by musicians? wow

http://howardlloyd.bandcamp.com

>when prince or shuggie Otis program drums are they being
>musicians or programmers?

didn't you just answer yourself within your own question?

>a daw is an instrument
>an mpc is an instrument

i mean technically.
they both used primarily for the creation of songs.
which are programmed.
like saying a control board is an instrument or something...

---
“Change is inevitable. Progress is optional.” – Tony Robbins

>>when prince or shuggie Otis program drums are they being
>>musicians or programmers?
>
>didn't you just answer yourself within your own question?

no i actually didnt...i'm pointing out when eVERYBODY was programming drums and using midi in the 80s no one said they werent being musicians anymore

>>a daw is an instrument
>>an mpc is an instrument
>
>i mean technically.
>they both used primarily for the creation of songs.
>which are programmed.
>like saying a control board is an instrument or something...

no...a daw and an mpc create sound. a control board makes no sound.

maybe you dont understand how songs are created

http://howardlloyd.bandcamp.com

Why can't the term musician be as vast as the term artist?

like...you can be a sculptor, painter, make collages, mosaics but it all falls under artist

do you think it's better to minimize what a musician is or maximize? Personally, I'd rather maximize. spread it out, let the influences bleed into each other

like Karriem Riggins is a DOPE drummer, but he also makes DOPE beats on the MPC. Does it mean that he is not a musician when he is on a sampler vs. when he is on a kit?

I consider Skrillex a musician because he makes music. That's really my only criteria for who is and isn't a musician. Do they make music?

Some may look at that logic and think "well then anyone can be a musician". my response is, that's the point. It's not a exclusive club, it's just a way to express your feelings. If you do that with music, then I consider you a musician...no alternate name to it


http://revivalist.okayplayer.com/
www.jdillafoundation.org
www.twitter.com/Raydarellis

"Never go full Raytard."-Anfernee