When did music become so competitive? How can art be competitive?
Two days have passed since the Grammy awards and I can't stop asking these questions. I live in Nashville. Music City. Most of the country's most popular music is recorded here. Underneath the artistic surface, though, is an extreme sense of competition. Everyone is always looking for the next best gig. Everyone goes to shows and stands in the back with their arms crossed saying "I can do that better." I'm guilty of it. I used to play music for free in church bands and local rock clubs because I loved it. It was so fun. But since I've entered into a professional music realm, I've noticed the competitive nature in me slowly creep up and begin to snuff out some of that raw energy and passion that consumed me early on in my musical life. Does it come with age? Does it come with money?
I haven't been able to stop asking myself...why do we make music so competitive?
Money is very, very powerful. That's why the Bible talks so much about it, and why we are warned that we can't love money and, well, anything else, including the Creator of the Universe. Put money (and things) in their place, and joy comes blazing back to the surface in so many places :)
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