Open letter to Neil Young: Why there are no protest songs

I will state plainly why there are not protest songs: the music business is much more of a business now than it was 40 years ago. By business, I mean it has consolidated itself into a coherent machine. There isn't the same chaos there was in the 60s when Atlantic and Motown could work as independents. Now there is just four "big" labels and the RIAA who must protect their interests at all costs.

That means not promoting anything that might upset the status quo. Music must be predictable and tailored to an audience that will consistently buy product. If you lose out on that 10% that might stop buying music, you have lost 10% of your product. In an age where the RIAA will do anything to protect its assets, that 10% is a lot.

Of course, one might ask why the RIAA still sues its customers. The RIAA only sues those customers that upset its business model. Music companies are too incompetent and too lazy to come up with a new business -- so they jealously guard their current one at all costs.

This is why there are no protest songs.

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