An Explanation of Mashup

"Mashup" is a relatively new music form that is usually created by the combination of an a cappella vocal from one song and the musical track of another song. Technology has made the combining of the two songs quick, easy and affordable. And, with many of the tracks available to the mashup artist on the internet, mashup music is an art form that is here to stay. The mashup artists are using software programs to create new songs. The artists often combine less favored pop songs with alternative rhythm tracks, creating a contemporary sound that appears to be more appealing to quite a few listeners.

The computer is the instrument the mashup artists employ to produce their music. Since the mid 1990’s, audio software companies have been producing recording tools that are the fodder for the mashup artist. Some of the tools they use are music sequencing, recording, pre-made loops, effects and virtual instruments. With all the technology available to the mashup artists, one notable mashup artist, Osymyso, can complete a “blended” song in less than five hours. Mashup music is currently expanding into a music genre called found sound. Found sound has the same basic concept as regular mashup music but the found sound music artists will add any sound to the track. For example, some of the sounds could be birds chirping, hammers hitting and any other type of sound the artist finds adds to the songs production as the artist sees fit.

The corporate music industry does not understand the attraction of mashup music. One of Universal Music marketing directors explained the music was ok for clubs but since everyone can do it, it is not one of a kind. This may be one more trend in the music industry that technology helped create and, once again, the music business is slow to understand and embrace it.

The Technology of Mashup Music

Since mashup music is all processed and reproduced from other music, the genre of mashup music could not exist without the continued lowering cost of the personal computer and the advent of the internet and related software that supplies music and music production tools so easily and cheaply. But the question could be posed, is mashup really music at all?

The Ethics of Mashup Music

In 2004, David Bowie challenged the mashup musicians to a contest. Whichever one of the mashup artists could best combine two of his songs would win a sports car from David Bowie, himself. Since David Bowie owns his publishing, this is a legal form of mashup. But most mashup songs are created with songs where the publisher has not licensed the mashup artist to use the song. Once again we are dealing with the illegal use of a song. But in this context the song is being used, not for personal listening, but for revenue generation for someone other than the original artist, songwriter and publisher.

One further interesting fact about mashup is this; what started as a primarily pirated music genre is now producing revenue for the original owners of the songs. Mashup cover bands are now beginning to perform the mashup music in clubs. It appears mashup is taking pirating full circle pointing directly back to legitimacy.

References

Posting by Staff. (2007, August 10). "The Infectious Spread of Mashup Music and Video. The World Time News Report." Retrieved January 27, 2007 from http://www.wtnrradio.com/news/story.php?story=246

BettyJo Wolf has been the Vice President of Finance for Southeastern Telecom, Inc. for the last eleven years. Southeastern Telecom is the sixth largest telecom equipment and business communication provider in the country and is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Prior to joining Southeastern Telecom, BettyJo was the controller at Juiceman, Inc. located in Seattle, Washington. BettyJo is currently studying for her Master in Accounting at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.