**Detailed Summary of "Ongoing History of New Music"
Episode: The 100 Greatest Rock Moments of the Millennium So Far - Part 2: (90-81)
Release Date: January 29, 2025
Host: Alan Cross
Podcast: Ongoing History of New Music by Curiouscast
Introduction
In the second installment of the ten-part series exploring the 100 Greatest Rock Moments of the Millennium So Far, host Alan Cross delves into moments 90 through 81. This episode continues to chronicle pivotal events, technological advancements, and influential figures that have shaped the landscape of rock music in the first quarter-century of the 21st century. Cross provides insightful analysis, blending historical context with personal anecdotes to highlight the significance of each moment.
Moment 90: Microsoft's Doomed Attempt to Take on the iPod with the Zune
Timestamp: [00:39] – [06:20]
Alan Cross begins with Moment 90, discussing Microsoft's ambitious yet unsuccessful venture into the digital music player market with the Zune. Launched on November 14, 2006, the Zune boasted features like a 30GB hard drive, a 3-inch LCD screen, Wi-Fi connectivity, and an FM radio. Cross highlights the Zune's innovative aspects, such as wireless song sharing, but underscores its shortcomings compared to Apple's iPod.
Key Points:
- Zune's Features: Touch-sensitive navigation, Zune Marketplace, and integration with Xbox.
- Market Reception: Bulky design, limited color options (e.g., the unpopular brown Zunes), and confusing point-based music purchases hindered adoption.
- Competition with iPod: The iPod's superior market share, app support, and integration with the iPhone led consumers to favor Apple's ecosystem.
- Final Decline: Despite iterations like the Zune 2.0 and Zune HD, the device failed to gain traction, leading to its discontinuation in 2011.
Notable Quote:
"The Zune was seen as a bad imitation of the iPod."
— Alan Cross [04:20]
Cross concludes that the Zune remains a cultural touchstone representing Microsoft's unsuccessful challenge to Apple's dominance in digital music players.
Moment 89: The Tragic Death of Amy Winehouse
Timestamp: [06:20] – [08:24]
Moment 89 addresses the death of Amy Winehouse, a prodigious talent whose life and career were cut short at the age of 27. Cross reflects on her profound impact on music, blending commercial success with critical acclaim.
Key Points:
- Amy's Achievements: Released two critically acclaimed albums, amassed a fortune of approximately £10 million, and became one of Britain's wealthiest individuals under 30.
- Personal Struggles: Battled with alcohol addiction, drug use, anorexia, bulimia, emphysema, and mental health issues, which were perpetuated by relentless paparazzi attention.
- Circumstances of Death: Found dead in her London flat on July 23, 2011, with a blood alcohol content of 0.416, leading to alcohol poisoning.
Notable Quote:
"Amy was too weak and everything gave out."
— Alan Cross [07:45]
Cross ponders the potential of Amy's career had she survived, emphasizing her unique place in the music world.
Moment 88: The Final Breakup of R.E.M.
Timestamp: [08:27] – [13:01]
In Moment 88, Cross explores the breakup of R.E.M., a seminal band that originated in Athens, Georgia, in 1980. After 31 years together, the band officially disbanded on September 21, 2011.
Key Points:
- Band Evolution: Transitioned from an indie alternative band to a major label act without compromising their artistic integrity.
- Contractual Obligations: Fulfilled their commitments with Warner Bros., allowing them to pursue independent projects, which ultimately led to their decision to disband.
- Legacy: Pioneered the alternative rock genre, influencing bands like Nirvana and Sonic Youth by demonstrating that major label success could coexist with artistic authenticity.
- Reunion Rejections: Members have consistently declined reunion offers, with bassist Mike Mills humorously stating it would take "an impending destruction of Earth by a comet" to reunite.
Notable Quote:
"R.E.M. was never the same as a three-piece once Bill Barry left."
— Alan Cross [10:15]
Cross underscores the band's lasting influence and the bittersweet nature of their dissolution.
Moment 87: Radio's Resilience in the Digital Age
Timestamp: [13:01] – [18:42]
Moment 87 focuses on the enduring presence of radio amidst the digital revolution. Cross defends radio's adaptability despite numerous predictions of its demise.
Key Points:
- Adaptation to Technology: Transitioned to online streaming, podcasts, and integration with digital platforms.
- Global Reach: Continues to maintain over 80% listenership across various populations worldwide.
- Challenges: Faces competition from streaming services and digital media but remains the primary in-car listening medium.
- Future Prospects: Emphasizes confidence in the radio industry's ability to innovate and sustain profitability.
Notable Quote:
"Radio is the cockroach of all media."
— Alan Cross [14:30]
Cross applauds the radio industry's resilience and its capacity to evolve with changing listener habits.
Moment 86: The Explosion of New Genres
Timestamp: [18:42] – [31:32]
In Moment 86, Cross examines the proliferation of musical genres over the past 25 years, driven largely by technological advancements and streaming algorithms.
Key Points:
- Genre Segmentation: From broad categories like rock and pop, music has fragmented into thousands of subgenres (e.g., Pop Gaze, Arab Trap).
- Technological Influence: Synthesizers, drum machines, samplers, and digital recording have expanded creative possibilities.
- Streaming Algorithms: Platforms like Spotify utilize extensive genre tags (over 2,500), enabling personalized recommendations but also contributing to the overwhelming diversity.
- Cultural Impact: The vast array of genres reflects and shapes the eclectic tastes of modern listeners, making traditional genre boundaries increasingly fluid.
Notable Quote:
"The very last REM album was released on March 7, 2011. It was called Collapse Into Now."
— Alan Cross [25:50]
Cross highlights how the explosion of genres has both enriched and complicated the musical landscape, offering endless variety yet sometimes overwhelming listeners.
Moment 85: The Cycle of Music Revivals
Timestamp: [31:32] – [36:50]
Moment 85 explores the recurring revival of musical genres, typically occurring every 12 to 15 years. Cross identifies several key revival periods in the 21st century.
Key Points:
- Early 2000s: Indie rock revival with bands like The Strokes, The Hives, and Franz Ferdinand, echoing late '80s alternative and '70s punk influences.
- Mid-2010s: Return of punk, emo, shoegaze, and the emergence of synth-based music reminiscent of '80s techno pop.
- Underlying Pattern: Genres cycle through phases of popularity, decline, and resurgence, driven by cultural nostalgia and artistic innovation.
Notable Quote:
"Has this explosion in genre classifications something larger about the need to recycle songs and styles in rock?"
— Alan Cross [34:10]
Cross suggests that these revivals indicate a deeper need within the music industry to revisit and reinvent past styles for contemporary audiences.
Moment 84: The Death of the 24-Hour Music Video Channel
Timestamp: [36:50] – [42:30]
Moment 84 marks the decline of dedicated music video channels like MTV and MuchMusic. Cross chronicles their transition from music-centric platforms to broader entertainment networks.
Key Points:
- Historical Dominance: MTV's launch in 1981 revolutionized music promotion through music videos, becoming a staple of the music industry.
- Shift in Programming: Beginning in the early '90s, MTV transitioned to reality and lifestyle programming (e.g., The Real World) to attract wider audiences and increase ad revenue.
- Impact of the Internet: The rise of YouTube and streaming services rendered televised music video channels less relevant, leading to their eventual obsolescence.
- Legacy: While channels like MTV no longer focus on music videos, the visual aspect remains integral to music promotion through online platforms.
Notable Quote:
"By the early 2010s, MTV was pretty much out of the business of showing music videos in rotation."
— Alan Cross [40:15]
Cross reflects on how the abandonment of music videos on television marked a significant shift in music consumption habits.
Moment 83: The Evolution of Music Videos
Timestamp: [42:30] – [48:00]
Following the decline of music video channels, Moment 83 discusses the evolution of music videos as a vital component of the music ecosystem, now predominantly consumed online.
Key Points:
- Modern Platforms: Music videos have migrated to YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and other digital platforms, allowing for on-demand viewing and sharing.
- Monetization: Unlike the past where videos were free content for channels, today's artists and labels can monetize through ad revenue and partnerships.
- Artistic Expression: Music videos continue to serve as a medium for storytelling, performance, and visual artistry, adapting to contemporary trends and technologies.
- Awards and Recognition: Institutions like MTV's Video Music Awards and Canada's Prism Prize continue to celebrate excellence in music video production.
Notable Quote:
"Music videos remain crucial for promoting new songs and albums, just not necessarily on TVs anymore."
— Alan Cross [45:50]
Cross emphasizes that while the distribution method has changed, the importance of music videos in marketing and artistic expression persists.
Moment 82: The Sony Rootkit Controversy
Timestamp: [48:00] – [55:15]
In Moment 82, Cross recounts the Sony BMG rootkit scandal, a significant breach of consumer trust and privacy within the music industry.
Key Points:
- Background: Amid rampant music piracy in 2005, Sony BMG introduced CDs with extended copy protection (XCP) software intended to prevent digital ripping.
- Technical Malfeasance: The XCP software installed a rootkit on users' computers without consent, creating security vulnerabilities.
- Public Outcry: Discovered by security researcher Mark Russinovich, the scandal led to lawsuits, governmental inquiries, and damaged Sony BMG's reputation.
- Consequences: Sony BMG faced multiple class-action lawsuits, resulting in hefty fines and a lasting loss of consumer trust.
Notable Quote:
"This was the unauthorized installation of malicious code on private computers."
— Alan Cross [50:30]
Cross highlights the scandal as a pivotal moment illustrating the ethical and legal ramifications of corporate actions in the digital age.
Moment 81: U2's Unwanted Album Release on iTunes
Timestamp: [55:15] – [07:20]
Moment 81 examines the misstep by U2 and Apple in distributing the "Songs of Innocence" album to iTunes users without consent, sparking debates on privacy and digital autonomy.
Key Points:
- Partnership Intent: In 2014, U2 partnered with Apple to launch the iPhone 6 and Apple Watch, agreeing to gift their new album to all iTunes users.
- Mass Distribution: A surprise release sent 500 million copies of "Songs of Innocence" to users' devices without an opt-out option.
- Public Backlash: Users perceived the move as an invasion of privacy, leading to frustration over unwanted additions and difficulties in removing the album.
- Aftermath: Apple released a tool to delete the album, but the incident resulted in negative publicity and forced apologies from both Apple and U2.
Notable Quote:
"Apple and U2 had to apologize for misjudging their act of generosity."
— Alan Cross [07:00]
Cross underscores the incident as a cautionary tale about respecting user autonomy and the pitfalls of overreaching digital marketing strategies.
Conclusion
In this episode, Alan Cross skillfully navigates through ten transformative moments that have shaped rock music from 2000 to 2025. From technological failures like Microsoft's Zune to cultural tragedies such as Amy Winehouse's untimely death, each moment offers valuable insights into the evolving dynamics of the music industry. Cross not only recounts events but also analyzes their broader implications, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the forces driving change in rock music.
Upcoming in Part 3:
The series will continue with moments 80 through 71, exploring topics like the rise in copyright infringement cases, the struggling concept of the album, memorable live performances, and more.
Additional Resources:
- Website: ajournalofmusicalthings.com
- Newsletter: Free daily updates available on the website.
- Social Media: Alan Cross is active across major platforms for engagement and updates.
- Other Podcasts: "Crime and Mayhem in the Music Industry" for those interested in the intersection of true crime and music.
Technical Production by Rob Johnston.