not sure if its fits here, but why are so many edm tracks 2:30?

[gregorio]

I think Mozart's operas were the popular music of the 18th century. Opera in general is the "popular music wing" of classical music.

If anything it’s the opposite, opera is the most elitist musical wing of classical music. However in the C18th a sub-genre of opera was developed, called Opera Buffa, which is a sort of light or comic opera. Unlike typical operas, they dealt with current issues, were in the vernacular of the day and were intended for public performance in playhouses and vaudeville theatres rather than opera houses and some were very popular.

Here's a book on pop music on 78s. http://www.zoism.co.uk/the-great-78s-pop-music-of-the-50s/

I don’t own that book. However, Wikipedia has a decent article on Pop Music and Wiki’s article on the Phonograph Record is also pertinent.

Which is around the same time people were buying televisions.

There’s no doubt TV had an influence on pop music, the invention of music videos of course and it influenced sales but the jukebox in the 1950’s and then radio had a much bigger influence until later decades (1980’s).

G

 

[Ryokan]

There’s no doubt TV had an influence on pop music, the invention of music videos of course and it influenced sales but the jukebox in the 1950’s and then radio had a much bigger influence until later decades (1980’s).

Yes family told me how they used to gather round their valve radio before most people had a television, especially to hear the Everly Brothers.
Groups used to perform on tv in the 60's.

 

[bigshot]

Opera in the 19th century wasn't so stiff. In France Wagner didn't like the way that a large group of rowdy, heavy drinking opera fans would show up late so they would be just in time for the ballet and not have to sit through the beginning of the opera. So he put the ballet in Tannhauser during the overture.

 

[gregorio]

Groups used to perform on tv in the 60's.

Yes, typically there was a dedicated weekly TV show or bands would appear on chat shows in the 60’s (and 70’s) and this certainly had an impact. “Top of the Pops” was highly influential in the UK and often the first chance at seeing a band for the first time. However, it didn’t have nearly as much impact on sales that being played several times a day, every day on radio had and during the 60’s transistor radios became common so you could listen to them on your own, in your room or outside with friends, rather than only in your sitting room with your parents, who’d likely ruin the experience by complaining about the music! By the 1980’s many households had several TVs and new channels emerged (particularly MTV) which greatly increased the influence of TV relative to radio.

G

 

[bigshot]

There were programs like that is the 30s and 40s too. Your Hit Parade was the biggest.

 

[71 dB]

The topic is why EDM tracks are only 2:30 long and the discussion is about the elitism of opera and the history of 78's.
We have done such a good job!

 

[csch92]

for half of the thread i didnt know what on earth they where talking about. i couldnt know how to respond on this

 

[bigshot]

We usually find something interesting to talk about, regardless of the thin pickings of the original topic.

 

[Ryokan]

Short songs get played more times than longer ones, more streams, more money.
Plus many prefer short songs as they tend to get bored quickly? especially now with so much available.

 

[71 dB]

Short songs get played more times than longer ones, more streams, more money.
Plus many prefer short songs as they tend to get bored quickly? especially now with so much available.

This post deserves an on-topic-award!

 

[mudnut]

Perhaps it's because those shorter duration "EDM"s are not made with 'dance' in mind, but for listening at a desk or in a comfy chair. I remember house, progressive, trance, etc. from the early 90s and they were easily 5-8 minutes or even longer. In fact, they were so long that many had to be cut short (e.g. radio edit) so the radio stations would play them.

 

[Ryokan]

Usually these type of songs are longer bordering repetitive to be almost hypnotic so people can get into the mood and let themselves go?

This post deserves an on-topic-award!

 

[Steve999]

Ah, something interesting! I believe that some folks trace pop music as we experience it back to Iradier’s La Paloma and Bizet’s Carmen (an opera comique rather than opera seria) in the 1870s, with the popularization of the habanera beat and the advent of audio recordings during the same time frame helping to spread the music of that time like greased lightning. That’s a narrative and perspective that I find very interesting and illuminating.

 

[gregorio]

The topic is why EDM tracks are only 2:30 long and the discussion is about the elitism of opera and the history of 78's.
We have done such a good job!

The question can be answered simply/briefly or it can be answered in a more comprehensive/detailed way. We tend to go for the latter when there’s not much going on in other threads and/or when someone responds with a point/s that are debatable or misinformed.

In this case, “only 2:30 long” is the question, which is relative to the long established 3:30 or so for pop music tracks. In other words, why was ~3:30 the standard for so long (that makes 2:30 seem short in comparison) and why are some tracks now breaking that standard by being shorter? The answer in both cases is “market forces”: The distribution format for “Pop Music” was 7” 45rpm vinyl, which gave a minimum and maximum duration and this was narrowed down to the ~3:30 standard by market research informed “radio slots”. Market forces have changed: Radio is no longer the almost completely dominant marketing platform, 7” vinyl obviously isn’t the distribution format and the popular consumption habits of the young generation have/are changing, which unlike with traditional popular music was the main/only target demographic of “Pop Music”.

Consumption is now mainly streaming, the young generation are preferring numerous different, relatively very short videos/content rather than fewer/longer content. Additionally, revenue for content creators is much lower, unrelated to duration beyond a few seconds and production costs are obviously significantly lower for very short content than longer content. It’s unsurprising that these trends/market forces are influencing music content creation.

G

 

[bigshot]

The question can be answered simply/briefly or it can be answered in a more comprehensive/detailed way.

I vote for simply/briefly.