Music has a heartbeat; for some, it is their heartbeat.

I was raised by two people attended school in pursuit of a music degree: my mom went to sing, and my dad went to play the trumpet. My parents would often pull out their old records, trademarks of their past, and say: “When this album first came out…” and “I wasn’t allowed to listen to The Beatles so I snuck over to my friends to…” The love of music transcends generations.

I began piano lessons at the early age of 4, was involved in choir from middle to high school, took voice lessons, and taught myself guitar. Music has always been a prevalent entity in my life and in the lives of many.

In high school I experienced the loss of many friends to suicide. My closest friends struggled with depression and bipolar disorder. I struggled with high anxiety and the need to be perfect. We all had one thing in common: the music kept us going. We sang, we played instruments, we exchanged CDs, and we went to shows.

One night I was at my brother’s band concert when my friend’s dad got up on stage. He began choking up saying how he had been worried he would lose his little girl for a while, but music had saved her. Tears bursting out of my eye sockets, I remember being so happy. I am so thankful for my best friend. The effects of music truly consume all people.

So if you are out there whining about how music is dead, the radio killed it, and the Grammy Awards suck, I have something to say to you.

First off, I have worked in radio for almost two years now. I have seen the ins and outs of the business behind it.

The reason why you always hear the same thing on the radio is because it’s all about the money. The music industry has a target market that they try to reach. So while it is unfortunate that we cannot tune in to hear original music, there is still hope.

As far as the Grammy Awards go, how do you think millions of viewers worldwide watch this event every single year? The event showcases big-name artists as a marketing ploy.

The Grammys and the Broadcasting Industry are driven by money. Otherwise, their presence would diminish or disappear altogether.

If you still think music is dead, then I feel bad for you. You are not interested in searching out beautiful gems of underground bands or taking the time to dig through old records at the local thrift store. Musical treasures hide around every corner, and I find them every single day.

Music is not dead. Music is life, has saved lives, and will continue to.

If you are going to complain about mainstream music, switch it up and make an effort to find the hidden treasures. Check out small house shows, underground radio stations such as KZUU or KEXP (Seattle), and social media such as SoundCloud and 8tracks. That is where originality shines through.

If you say good music doesn’t exist, that just means you aren’t listening.