The Philly Music Scene

According to PhillyMag, Philadelphia is the best music city in the country. There are many musical institutions that develop the learning and experience of young artists. From orchestras to musicals to live bands, there are a number of options when looking for musical entertainment in the Philadelphia area. The Academy of Music, established in 1857, is the longest continually used opera house in the US. Along with older venues like this one, there have been many additions to the Philly Music Scene. In terms of newer venues, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts opened in 2001 and is mostly used for orchestras. Aside from more traditional forms of music entertainment, there are many venues around the city that cater towards more modern music styles like rock and pop music.

There are hundreds of bars and cafés around the city that provide amazing live experiences for bands and solo artists alike. Some of the most popular venues include World Cafe Live, The Theater of Living Arts, and the Electric Factory. World Cafe Live was established in 2004 in Philadelphia and has been home to many professional artists like Adele as well as local artists. WCL is often a venue that hosts shows for up and coming artists from around the world. Hard Rock Cafe in Philadelphia is also a staple venue for artists in the area. Serving as a restaurant, bar, and concert venue, Hard Rock Cafe is a thriving establishment. There are hundreds of Hard Rock locations around the world. Many artists enjoy playing live venues as well as working with recording technicians. Recording studios are also prominent throughout the city as many artists seek professional opinions and help on selling their music to the public. You can say that the Philly music scene has existed since the city itself has been around. Throughout history, the development and communication throughout the scene has certainly evolved.

Time has been a key factor in the way that musicians have been able to spread the news of their latest shows. Years ago, musicians had a very close-knit circuit of venues. Most artists were able to spread their music throughout this circuit and those who stemmed from it. The way musicians used to connect is something that is irreplaceable. There was nothing stopping them from it.

In more recent years, musicians all over the world, not just in the Philly area, have changed the way they put themselves on display. Instead of putting up posters and using word of mouth to spread information about a show or a venue, social media has taken the stage. It is now possible for anyone to record a video of themselves singing or playing an instrument and send it out to thousands of people to view. With this comes great things, as well as some setbacks. Those musicians that have lived before the times of social media through until today have certainly seen the difference in how musicians have been viewed. The older, more experienced musicians seem to wish that social media was not so prominent. It sort of takes away from the closeness and personality behind music. In another sense, it does bring about a way to spread more ideas and styles.

“It’s great because anybody that wants to put themselves out there has the ability to,” states Joey DiTullio, a relatively new member of the Philly Music Scene. “It’s amazing because of the sharing of knowledge and music and shows and being able to connect.” That is exactly what most people in the music scene are attempting to do now. Connections are crucial and it has become so much easier to form them via social media. However, this can be seen as an artificial connection. Many view this as a setback and a distraction from true talent.

Along with the accessibility of spreading music through the internet and social media, there are many options for musicians looking to record. In order to spread music through the internet, the music must be recorded. Before the spread of social media and technology, people who were looking to record their music would go to recording studios and work with a professional. Mariano Mattei, a professional recording technician of over 30 years, shares some insight on they way recording and producing music has changed in the more recent years. “The recording industry is a dying breed. So much can be done now on a computer in your bedroom. Philly Sound Studios differs as we are positioned as a cutting room. We’re the big studio when you need one model. Back in the day you would have to use the producer and the studio. But now we have many producers working out of the one room. You can cut it at Philly Sound Studios and mix it in your home studio.”

With the spread of social media comes some difficulties for aspiring musicians. A typical problem that has been arising in the Philly Music Scene is that of pure talent. There are many musicians who use their talent as a hobby and an outlet in their own personal lives. Along with that, many musicians are aspiring to become professional and enter the music industry as a career. With Instagram and YouTube videos at everyone’s fingertips, the internet has become a tool for nearly anyone to put themselves out there. Before social media, the only way to get “noticed” was through playing a live show and being discovered by an agent. Now, nearly anyone can put their music out there, live or edited. Although this is viewed as a great way to share art and happiness, it does create issues for aspiring professionals. There has been a lot of buzz about the separation of music as a hobby and music as a career.

“The perception of what it means to be a professional is changing now,” added Joey DiTullio. “There is no talent filter on social media.” This is an ongoing issue in the Philly music scene. Local musicians don’t seem to mind as much as they have the ability to share their love for music without much competition. However, when the stakes are raised to develop a career in this field, it can become frustrating for professionals. Though it has gotten more difficult to maintain a place in the music scene, the huge community helps musicians and bands continue their journey.

“Being a booking agent is very challenging, but also incredibly rewarding.” Rob Sankey, a booking agent in the Philadelphia/South Jersey area shared what it’s like scouting out musicians for shows. Rob has been booking bands and musicians for over four years in the Philadelphia area. Throughout this time, he has learned a lot about different audiences and what they are looking for in terms of entertainment. “Unfortunately, the main determining factor in booking a band is evaluating that bands local draw, how many people will come out and see this band and create a successful scenario for the venue.” Rob added that the band’s talent, skill level, and professionalism are also important when deciding whether the band should be booked. It is important to evaluate each venue and the crowds surrounding these venues.

As one could imagine, it is difficult to choose a band or a musician as a booking agent. There are so many factors and loopholes that can influence the actual live show. Musicians can be booked without ever being seen at a live show. This is convenient and saves time for booking agents and those who are putting on the show at the venues, but sometimes audiences are left unhappy. There is always the chance that the musician will not be what they appear to be on social media. As with anything in today’s society, people “hide behind the screen.” Before social media, it was much simpler to scout out pure talent because you were right there seeing it. Now, people have editing programs to make themselves appear better than they really are. Many musicians do not utilize these programs and do portray themselves in a raw and live state. These are the musicians that deserve to be booked. These are the musicians that an audience wants to see.

Understanding the basis of what audiences are looking for is key to putting on a great show. Bands and musicians are always looking for venues to play at. Spreading the word of shows is also easily done with the help of booking agents. “Social media has been very helpful in spreading the word and getting people out to shows,” Sankey added. “When I want to go see a show I check Facebook and Instagram and ultimately that ‘social media buzz’ gives me an idea of where I want to go and spend my night.”

Music venues around the city have grown and developed to help all genres of music expand. The most popular genre in Philly currently is rock and there are many musicians that take part in this strong, close-knit community. Social media and the internet have played a huge role in how people view the Philadelphia music scene. The musicians I had the privilege of interviewing had pros and cons to the development of the scene through social media, but all came to the consensus that the community in the music scene is so strong that nothing but good can come from any advances in technology.

The Philadelphia music scene has been around for nearly the entire existence of the city itself. At the start of the Philly scene, most shows were geared toward audiences who enjoyed jazz and classical music performed by orchestras. The development of music styles and technology have changed the way the Philly music scene is viewed.