A music in film spotlight: Before the Music Dies

Bob Dylan's long-winded, socially critical compositions would not fit the modern recording industry's model for a successful pop artist, and yet, he is revered among musicians and fans for his brilliant storytelling and ability to capture an era with his music. But what if he had never been given the shot? How would the history of American music and Rock & Roll been affected?

The history of the music industry would not be the same without transformative artists such as Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, among a multitude others.

Director Andrew Shapter and Producer Joel Rasmussen explore the disenfranchisement of the modern musical artists in the shadow of million-dollar pop entertainers funded and created by music recording and entertainment giants in the documentary Before the Music Dies, released in 2007.

This one-hour and 28-minute film features interviews with legendary musicians from a variety of genres and decades including Eric Clapton, Dave Matthews, Elvis Costello, Erykah Badu, Bonnie Raitt; Pop Music Critic for USA Today Edna Gundersen; CBS News Sunday Morning Contributor Nancy Giles; Secrets of the Pros, Inc. Founder Ken Walden; an anonymous Clear Channel executive; other recording industry professionals; and, of course, music fans from across the country.

Shapter and Rasmussen conduct an experiment to demonstrate how pop stars, American culture's prized celebrities, are created and hyped up with a formula that is evermore evident in today's entertainment industry.

The issues addressed in this documentary filmed five years ago still fester in the undercurrent of the growing indie music circuit.

With the advent of the internet and home recording software, musicians across the U.S. and around the globe have the power to write, record, produce and promote their own music records without the backing of recording industry conglomerates. However, the business motivation of titans like Clear Channel, among other entertainment corporations, affect how fans hear and discover music and musicians' ability to be exposed to the masses.


Watch the film on Hulu and share your thoughts about where today's music industry is heading in this article's comment box.