As of January, 2017, the new public domain laws regarding music take effect. Public domain is intended to benefit mankind by allowing anyone to use material that has been previously protected by copyright, with out any responsibilities to the creators. The control and tyranny of recorded music by the “music business” has now been counter balanced by allowing the public access to music beyond copyright ownership. Simply put, after 75 years, the creators’ contributions, formerly protected by copyright, have been transferred to public ownership.
The stifling practices of an industry driven by profit and the bottom line has left a wake of under- and over appreciated music creators and consequently their creations are either over or under exposed. The profit motive and competition has changed an art form to conform to current broadcast technologies, like radio and television, for example.
The new public domain laws make this control of music more difficult. The public domain laws in music have opened the door for alternative listening. The lean forward music enthusiast will have access to many recordings previously neglected as not as profitable as popular music. We must remember music is a language and an art that has been appreciated by mankind for all ages. This universal language has been constantly evolving.
With the growth of recorded music, people have the technology to enjoy music more easily than at any time in history. Throughout the ages there were lots of different technologies necessary to communicate using music. The technologies to make instruments and record them are much older than today’s very prevalent digital technologies. We also have made great advances in the way to listen to music. This beautiful language made in the past by talented musicians on the cutting edge of the new recording technologies (Recordings) and the cutting edge of a new musical school of expression (Jazz/Blues.) I’ve spent some time filtering and trying to make this early music accessible to the modern listening breakthroughs. Starting in 2017, I intend to offer a listening opportunity to some of the music that has stood the test of time, that I feel is essential to having an appreciation of the art that is music. I’ve benefitted from many music lovers who have ripped cylinders and 78s to mp3. I’ve decided to further enhance the process by mastering for streaming the digital files that have been preserved from wax. I’ve created two sites to offer music lovers a chance to listen to this worthy music for free: PublicDomain4u.com and HumanMusicIntelligence.com. I must confess at first I was horrified by the concept of music being creating by artificial intelligence, but now I only want some of the “out of the box” songs I’ve posted to be considered by this new approach to creation. My hope is to expose the qualities of human music creation to the changing world. This music has been discovered and rediscovered, I hope you’ll enjoy this music as much as i do.
For your edification please listen to “The Early Roots of Jazz” and “Love the Blues” @humanmusicintelligence.com.
