In today's creative industries, such as music and film, power is often concentrated in the hands of a few key players. These entities, primarily motivated by short-term monetary gains, not only dictate narratives but also control access to resources and audiences. This concentration of power has cultivated a culture where most content is tailored to mass market demands, often sacrificing diversity, innovation, and quality.
This dynamic has fostered an environment where imitation and passing trends prevail, perpetuating mediocrity and limiting opportunities for more authentic and creative endeavors. As a result, a cycle has been created that favors the mass production of generic content, sacrificing originality and genuine artistic expression in pursuit of immediate economic benefits.
Despite technological advancements and changes in consumer awareness, the corporate 'hamster wheel'—a cycle of relentless production driven by profit—continues to dominate the creative industry. In the music sector, for example, major record labels and management teams maintain near-total control over artists' careers. The benefits of creative labor, instead of being equitably distributed, are concentrated in the hands of these large entities, which maximize their profits at the expense of the creators.
A clear example of this phenomenon is the ability of certain record labels to continue thriving despite controversies or public dissatisfaction. This reflects a troubling reality: even though consumers are increasingly aware of inequities within the system, real change seems out of reach due to the industry's very structure.
If we consider these trends, the statistical distribution of content quality follows a pattern similar to this:
In the present state, corporate interests mean mediocre productions.
There's a strong incentive for media companies to avoid the extremes of quality or originality, as this could limit their audience reach. This also affects quality, relegating masterpiece creation to a marginal activity, often undertaken only by independent filmmakers.
In the present state not many good films or masterpieces.
In the present state, masterpieces are a tiny fraction of the total production.
However, if we eliminate these incentives and democratize access for all creators, the curve flattens. This will lead to an increase in both high-quality productions and, initially, more low-quality ones, as more newcomers and studios with limited resources enter the scene.
Over time, newcomers will hone their skills, and those with greater potential will improve. Moreover, the competitive effect of higher-quality material no longer vying for a broad audience will increase content diversity and quality. It's a win-win!
Decentralized platforms have the potential to counteract the "fast-food" culture in content consumption. Today, many large corporations focus on producing low-quality content designed to reach the broadest audience with the least effort possible. This fast-food approach is made possible by the vast infrastructure these companies control, allowing them to broadcast homogenized content on a large scale. The result is a cultural landscape saturated with mediocrity.