Beatles Everlasting Influence

The Beatles—an Everlasting Influence

Robyn Williams
Mr. Jeffery
History 20, Block 6
April 5, 2012
Word Count: 1, 217 The media is always a topic of controversy but despite any discussion, music is something that society can generally agree upon. Nevertheless, music is a value that needs to be globally accommodated, thus, it is an art that is constantly changing. Musical trends and preferences are incessantly fluctuating and long-lasting prevalence is rare. Therefore, it is quite seldom that an artist can make a permanent impact on popular music culture. However, many people as well as critics believe that The Beatles have had such an impact on musical culture that even forty years after being
In fact, before The Beatles’ recording innovations, recording an album simply meant taping an in-studio performance (Morin). Along with manager George Martin, the band introduced double track recording methods to overdub vocal tracks onto instrumental tracks. Despite this being a new luxury to the industry, this method still was not enough and The Beatles continued to develop their recording technology. Eventually, they invented a multiple track recording method in which each sound and instrument were recorded separately to combine into one single format and create a flawless track (WebRing, Inc.). This high track recording method is one that is still used today. Apart from technology itself, The Beatles also changed how recording studios were used. Prior to The Beatles, artists always recorded exactly where their record labels dictated, as the labels owned all their own studios (Anderson). As The Beatles gained fame throughout the world, the demand for their music obviously rose simultaneously. This demand called for recording sessions that, while on tour, could not always be held in specific studios. By the end of their career, The Beatles had broken the hold that record labels had and were able to record wherever they wanted. Today, most artists enjoy this freedom and
The band created the world’s first ever music videos, which presented people with a brand new means of entertainment through music (WebRing, Inc.). Along with new found popularity, The Beatles received more demand for concerts and eventually they became the first band to hold a large stadium concert in which over 50,000 fans attended (Quattrone). Before The Beatles, no British group had been popular in America. Eventually, with their chart-topping songs and their innovative ideas, The Beatles became the first British rock group to receive worldwide prominence, and became the first band to travel on a world music tour (Price). On February 7, 1964, with their newly distinguished notoriety, The Beatles headed to New York and initiated the British Invasion (Thomas). The British Invasion refers to the large amount of British bands that came to America for stardom between 1964 and 1967 (Thomas). A critic stated: “I think The Beatles allowed the British Invasion to happen. I don’t think any of those other groups would have paved the way” (Leopold). Without the British Invasion, bands like the Rolling Stones, and The Who may never have achieved the fame they are known for today. In fact, without The Beatles and their profound changes to how music would be seen, the music industry may be entirely different