Today's Sound Recording's Similarity to the Music During the New and Old System of Art

The Work
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The Work
In several ways, today’s sound recordings are treated similarly to how music was understood before 1800, or what is referred to as the “Old System of Art”. One of the biggest parallels between how we treat sound recordings today and how music was understood before 1800 is the lack of emphasis on originality. Like the composers of the past, today’s musicians borrow from each other freely. In popular music, it is not uncommon for an artist to present a revival of another artist’s song. This practice is commonly referred to as cover version and denotes the reworking of a sound recording by someone except its original composer. Some musicians make a living from recreating the music of others. For instance, Iron Maidens, Led Zepagain, and Australian Pink Floyd are examples of bands devoted to recreating the music of Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd. The enduring popularity of some sound recordings has created a market for cover songs among music lovers who love the familiarity of hit songs. Most copyright laws allow musicians to record a version of someone else’s sound recordings and licenses are often negotiated between the copyright holder and the interpreting artist.
Another way today’s sound recordings are treated similarly to music during the “Old System of Art” is in the matter of compensation. The internet has created ingenious ways artists can receive support for their work. One such way is “crowd patronage” where loyal fans donate money for the production of a sound recording. This arrangement allows musicians to concentrate on the creative process and not worry about how to support themselves. Many artists live with the incessant pressure of supporting their work. “Crowd patronage” allows them to access the support and funding they need to concentrate on creating music. There are numerous online platforms that connect musicians directly with patrons. These platforms provide new and direct sources of funding thereby facilitating the production of works that would have otherwise been held up due to lack of funding.
In other ways, today’s sound recordings are treated in the same manner as how music was understood according to the “New System of Art”, the mo...