Evolutionary music

Pandora just played Rock and Roll is Here to Stay for me. Which got me thinking about the future of music and what will succeed Rock and Roll. Of course, you could say that Rock and Roll has already been succeeded. But it has not been succeeded by anything I like better yet. And while it may be that I will never like any music better than that I grew up with and danced my first slow songs to, I think there is a future for music that will generate music that is better liked --after all, how many of the songs you hear on your average radio do you really like?

In the past, music has been the product of one or a few minds, mostly generated over a relatively short period of time. Yet persistence coupled with a good selection method can only improve any piece. The digital distribution revolution epitomized by websites such as YouTube have sown the seeds for change. Several future improvements will greatly facilitate the improvement of music pieces after their original release:

1. Release of original files with separate tracks. This will greatly facilitate the modification of songs.
2. Evolutionary distribution systems that easily allow listeners to get the version of a song with the best ratings by its listeners.
3. Lastly, automated music modification.

When you think that 99% of the music we listen to has 4/4 or 3/4 rhythms, for example, you realize that only a small fraction of the music space has been explored to date. Great tunes ahead!