The year listening expanded

It's been seven years since 2016, and even though time flies, the experiences and connections we made that year are still fresh in our minds. Let's be real; 2016 is a year that's ingrained in our memories forever.

It's a fact that's widely acknowledged, but why is that? What makes it tough to move on from this year? This curiosity prompted me to delve deeper, and what better way than to examine the year through its musical lens?

If you zoom out for a broader view, you'll see 2016 as a year of significant changes. Presidential campaigns became reality TV. The use of recreational marijuana became more socially accepted. Meanwhile, the climate crisis established itself as a considerable challenge facing society. And that only scratches the surface. 

Musically speaking, a few characteristics made 2016 a year of interest to me:

1) Bold openness and honest lyricism 

The music scene of 2016 can be marked by a notable emphasis on boldness and honesty in lyrics. During that period, several albums broadened the scope of 'vulnerability,' including Beyonce's sixth studio album, "Lemonade." It demonstrated that there's space for both strength and humility. The impact of Beyonce's album was particularly notable because she chose to explore themes of infidelity and betrayal despite her reputation for being private and cautious. This opened the door for other artists, like Frank Ocean and Chance the Rapper, to follow suit and create equally raw and unfiltered music with their albums Blonde and Coloring Book, respectively. 

We also saw the lives of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile taken by the hands of police - an occurrence that we are all too familiar with. And from those tragic events, artists like Solange channeled their anger and grief into their music. 'A Seat at the Table' illustrated the complexities of Black Americanhood - our beauty, rage, love, and grief. And it did so "with such richness, generosity, and truth." (Pitchfork)

2) Streaming became the 'it' girl.

In 2016, something big happened in the world of streaming music. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced that, for the first time ever, streaming music services generated more than 50% of all music industry revenue in the U.S. (Variety)

What does this mean? First, it means that people were no longer buying CDs or downloading music as much as they used to. And second, it means that services like Spotify and Apple Music experienced unprecedented growth, with their subscription numbers almost doubling.

It's as if our access to music grew substantially overnight. While this was exciting from a consumer's standpoint, I'm curious whether people fully grasped the implications of this seismic shift. Although we were promised unlimited access, the reality is that our access could be taken away at a moment's notice since we don't actually own the music we listen to. 

"While streaming was meant to make music more accessible and convenient, it's now creating a series of walled gardens — beautiful houses for rare and important art. (The Verge)."

Plus, the fight for exclusivity among the "big three" on-demand streaming services often meant that we, as music fans, had to wait longer than we'd like for our favorite artists' new releases to become available (or if you're like me, you created various email accounts and profiles). This was the case with some high-profile albums like Beyonce's 'Lemonade,' 'The Life of Pablo' by Kanye West, which was only available on Tidal, and Drake's 'Views,' which was exclusive to Apple Music. 

The switch to streaming also impacted artists. Ultimately, they had less control over how and when their songs were listened to, and to top it off, this new mode of listening often resulted in less money going into their pockets. 

There’s a lot to unpack when it comes to the impact of streaming platforms on music fans and artists. But one thing we can definitely say is that streaming platforms have opened up a whole new world of possibilities - introducing listeners to new sounds, challenging artists to get more creative with their music releases, and revealing just how far they are willing to go to control what's meant to be shared.

3) Artists break down musical barriers through experimentation 

Here’s a hot take: The experimentation that was happening in the underground music scene reached its climax in 2016. A lot of it was thanks to Soundcloud, which played a considerable role in democratizing the art form and acting as a playground for music lovers. 

Suddenly, we saw "an emerging class of artists reacting to a changing music industry... releasing their own music on SoundCloud, [and] succeeding at a pace that the traditional music industry couldn't keep up with." (pitchfork). 

When I reflect on the pre-Soundcloud music industry, I can't help but recall a scene from the movie Brown Sugar starring Sanaa Lathan and Taye Diggs. There's a part where Dre (played by Taye Diggs) goes to the radio station every day at a specific time to have the music execs listen to a track - only to be met with indifference. It depicted how far artists had to go to be heard and the industry's power over them. But, because of Soundcloud, we saw the birth of new sounds, artists, and musical preferences. For instance, Kaytranada emerged as the "king of edits" and released "unauthorized" music. He revived songs like Janet Jackson's 'If' and Jamie Woon's 'Sharpness' by injecting new energy into them. Through his experimentation, he introduced a new generation to the art of sampling while creating a unique sound. 

Although Kaytranada's influence predates 2016, it's worth noting that his first studio album, 99.9%, was released in May 2016. Alongside Kaytra, there were other notable releases from Blood Orange "Freetown Sound," Dedekind Cut "$uccesor (ded004)", and serpentwithfeet "Blisters" released that year. These albums were lauded for their originality, as they drew inspiration from various genres and soundscapes, resulting in bodies of work that are both dynamic and compelling. I would argue that many of the projects we see today can be traced back to the groundbreaking efforts and bold experimentation displayed by artists in 2016.

So, what makes 2016 a year we can always remember? It's simple, really. It's the year our listening expanded. 

Our music consumption underwent a significant expansion. This was made possible by technological advancements, specifically platforms like Spotify and Soundcloud, which gave us unprecedented access to a broader range of sounds and genres that ignited our curiosity. As a result, we stumbled upon songs that offered a fresh perspective on the world, crafted in raw and honest ways that defied conventions. This novel listening experience pushed us out of our comfort zones and transformed our worldview, leaving an imprint on our memories.