How The Music Will Sound 100 Years From Now?
Taking An Educated Look At The Potential Scenarios Of The Sonic Landscape In 100 Years
It’s hard to imagine that the modernist classic era of music began almost 125 years ago. Looking at our progress and the way music has changed, I wonder how music would sound 100 years from now.
For example, here is what one of the most popular songs of 1924 sounded like:
George Gershwin — Rhapsody in Blue
Coming back to 2024, here are some examples of songs that are quite popular right now:
Charli XCX — Guess (Remix)
Taylor Swift — Fortnight (feat. Post Malone)
Huge change, right?
In the early 20th century, we witnessed a significant shift in the music landscape with the emergence of jazz, which took center stage. Later, in the middle of the 20th century, we were immersed in the explosive and vibrant world of rock and roll aesthetics, with a huge hip-hop spark in the latter part of the decade.
In the current age, I think the biggest trend is the mix of genres alongside a straightforward evolution of technological equipment.
However, with the sudden entrance of AI, what should we expect from music in 100 years?
Would we even be able to enjoy it, or would it be simply a noise for us?
In this article, we will try to make an educated guess regarding how music will sound and what I think it will look like.
So, with no further ado, let’s start:
The first thing I think about music in 100 years is that we probably won’t like the way it sounds, as it would be too far-fetched or simply off-putting for us.
Often, I catch my dad glancing at me while he occasionally browses through my playlist. The look of shock on his face is unmistakable as he wonders how I can enjoy such a terrible mix of noises. Realistically, I believe the same will happen to me.
The music of the future will allow such high manipulation of sound, with new timbres and layers giving a complex structure that would be simply out of reach for our current society.
Only in the past 100 years have we moved from orchestral or acoustic instruments to heavily electric and abstract sounds. The reasons for that are the evolution of sound and the increasingly postmodernist approach to art.
People do not feel such constraints as they did 50 years ago. In a century, we’ll witness a transition flooded with free access to samples, ideas, and directions, bringing fresh sounds to the world.
Second, we have to acknowledge the existence of AI.
Some artists are already exploring and using AI to incorporate it into music. Although I don’t feel that it could completely replace this art, AI would surely become one of the co-working instruments in the music studio.
With the help of AI, artists would delve into extremely decentralized ideas and sounds that offer diversity and a wide range of opportunities. In 100 years, AI will be so advanced that it can rival individuals who don’t use AI to explore various types of music.
Certain things will always be beyond our capabilities, so AI could be a new consultant for directing songs.
In terms of commercial aspects, the AI could listen to all the popular songs of one artist, find a similar pattern, and repeat the formula not once, not twice, but as many times as you want.
It is incredible that we are witnessing such a big shift in our progress and that only in three years have we seen the rise of such a powerful tool that we must be aware of, or else we will be outdated.
Customization is the third and final aspect of what will differentiate the music from the current wave.
Hypothetically, what stops you from creating the song with the lyrics you want, the sound you feel, and the emotions it conveys?
Nothing. I am sure that AI or other technologies could completely do that.
However, if we take a step aside from AI, we can even look at the algorithms that we have on YouTube, TikTok, and Spotify. All of those apps are looking for a pattern or trend that you, as an individual, favor.
We already see how Apple Music and Spotify both try to tailor content based on recommendations. However, I don’t think it still works on the same level as it potentially could.
For example, you yearn for an explosive and dynamic track, and you specify all of this in the digital service app, right?
In the next song, you would be exposed to a similar, if not the exact pattern that you liked before.
Isn’t this amazing and terrifying at the same time?
I believe that we are much closer to this utopian future than we have ever been. Of course, remember that all those statements are pure predictions, but there is always a possibility in the world of opportunities.
If you liked the way I delved into the topic of AI in music, let me know. I intend to do it again in the next article with a future exploration of how we will experience music in the same 100 years, so stay tuned.
Until then,
Take care.
