An Open Letter To The Music Industry
Dear Music Industry,
When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Do you recognize yourself? Is your soul still present? Is your heart still fueled by love? You look and feel different these days, but I believe it is. It’s almost inaudible, but your heart beat is still there. Even after decades of trying to shed your true identity as healer & magician and masquerading as a non-stop party and investment opportunity, your true self is still there. I know because I am part of that true self and if I’m alive, so are you. But, there are some issues we need to discuss. You play a critical role in humanity’s existence, evolution and longevity. I’m not sure you remember just how sacred you are, so let me remind you.
The universe is made of two things: sound and light. You are half of what the entire universe is made up of – you are sound. The universe is not made up of fashion, cars or financial institutions. It’s not made up of universities, fast food restaurants or pharmaceuticals. It’s made up of light and sound. Your entire existence is composed of and reliant on sound – a holy and sacred energy. Sound conveys. Sound heals. Sound moves. Sound is one of the only things we accept as magic in a culture that rejects most anything it cannot prove, touch or see. Throughout history, sound and music have been harnessed by both the light and the dark. It’s been used to rally armies into battle, to organize marches for revolution, to torture the enemy and to illuminate the dark, but it feels as though you’ve leaned into the dark lately.
Since you are indeed an almighty force of nature, one of the most powerful on Earth, it is disturbing to witness the way you’ve been using your power lately. It makes me question whether you remember who you really are. You know the saying, “With great power comes great responsibility?” Are you following such wisdom? I don’t believe you are. You are letting your ego and pride in your ability to manifest material wealth cloud the ethereal purpose you were developed to fulfill.
You were created to broadcast sound to the masses for the benefit and uplifting of all. Not to hypnotize the masses for the financial benefit of a small few. You were industrialized to spread thoughts and ideas of all kinds; philosophy, consciousness, community and healing. Not to spread materialistic and banality, nefarious agendas, distracting entertainment, or partying and sex. You were built as a safe haven for humanity in times of need and crisis. Not as background noise for 10 second videos that keep humanity in a state of complacency and culture in a state of stagnation.
Do you remember that? Who you really are? You are God energy. You are the energy that moves mountains and creates worlds. When people listen to you, they are literally changed; they are transformed, but all you do with that power now is placate, distract, extract and dilute. All you do is line your pockets with the essence of historic visionaries while promoting dancing monkeys as cultural leaders, only propelling those willing to play your game for fame and a fraction of the profit.
You think you have it all worked out, but your thread is unraveling. The people you’ve tied yourself to and built yourself upon are breaking down. Their true agendas are coming to light. Your addiction to indulgence and mucking around in the dark is being challenged. Your reign of ubiquitous mediocrity and replication will soon be balanced out with the roar of authentic individualism. Nothing lasts forever, not even late-stage capitalistic enterprises pushing hyper-commodified, over-sexualized, demonized, sterilized, enshittified, unglorified and numb-ified music.
Open your eyes. Look at the blight you’ve wrought. Face the truth: your facade is crumbling. The longer you cling to the mask the harder it will be to remember and return to who you are. I urge you to look in the mirror; peer through the mask and be honest with yourself.
Do you see light or a shadow? Do you see true love or fear and hate? Are you using your power to aid humanity or squelch and disempower it? Are you doing the right thing whenever you can or are you covering your tracks because you’re breaking your promises? Are you accounting for and taking stock of the power that you hold and the actions you take with it or are you casting crippling blows without a second thought? Are you seeing fans and listeners as people with feelings, lives and needs or are you dehumanizing and extracting from them all you can?
Are you aware and conscious of the way people look at you? Your reputation is on the line. They don’t trust you. They want you out. They are giving up on you, and when that happens, everyone loses. Humanity needs music, but we don’t need you in the way you are now. You are doing more harm than good. The rot is deep, thick, reeks of decay and is trending towards irreversible.
Even so, I still see, feel and believe in your true essence. Beneath all the hate, shame, divisiveness, shallowness, regret, fear, greed, misogyny, abuse, oppression, control, back rooms, secret pacts, mass manipulation and disgraceful behavior, I see the child in you. I see the innocence of a brighter time. A time from our past and what I believe is a time in our not-too-distant future. I see the strength of the power you wield being used for good; for the betterment of a mankind united.
I implore you to take stock of who you’ve become. Is this who you really want to be? I don’t think so, and I know you can change that. There are thousands, if not millions of us who still see your light. We will rise up and support you if you want to change. When you change for the better, the world will change with you.
“When things are too dangerous to say, sing.”
With love, sincerity and hope,
Chad Rising
