Summary: Drop by Drop Podcast: Music Industry vs. Pop Culture The music industry is always changing and evolving. Invariably, new trends will come out and new genres will emerge. Some people think that music and pop culture are one in the same, but this is not necessarily true. On this episode of Drop by Drop Podcast, we spoke to Mary and Craig Brandwynne, owners of Center Sound Records in Raleigh, NC. Center Sound Records specializes in audio production for film and television, in addition to producing musical artists as an independent record label. After working in the music industry for many years as musicians, they decided to take it to the next level and established the company in 2007. Mary and Craig gave us an inside look into what it's like working behind the scenes in the music industry. When they produce an artist, their primary focus is on preserving the integrity of the music by establishing a personal connection with the musician or singer they're working with. It's about building a level of trust, so the true personality will shine through in the music. The goal is to create something with feeling, that really resonates with the artist, and of course has good production quality. They also touched on the topic of "Pop Culture", which is basically current trends that are being marketed and consumed by the general public. Many large record labels sign artists and shift their sound and look towards these trends. This can make the music seem less genuine because it doesn't represent the organic style of the artist. The image sometimes becomes the biggest selling point, while the music fades into the background, which is exactly what they try to avoid at Center Sound. Mary shared her personal accounts of working in the industry as a musician, and the pressure she felt as a woman to change her image. Much of the pop culture trends today are leaning in the direction of a sexual image, and that just doesn't work for every artist. Some people are performers and some people are simply musicians trying to communicate a message through music. Listen to the interview and tell us what you think! Please give us a rating on itunes and leave us a comment on our website, facebook or twitter. Sign up for the newsletter to get monthly podcast updates. Thanks for listening!
