NIC HARALAMBOUS

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Is Timbaland the "Web 2.0" of the music industry

What I mean by the headline is this: Is Timbaland the shiny gleaning, gloss covering the logo's, brands and sounds of today's musicians?I think so. I think the trend of web 2.0 is strong online as the trend of Timbaland's sound is in music. And you know what? It's pissing my off. Have a look here for a YouTube list of Timbaland stuff.Madonna is the latest victim:Let's have a look and listen to some other artists who have fallen prey to the sights and sounds of Timbaland (and his accomplice Justin Timberlake):Nelly Furtado:Omarion:Visit this link - embedding disabled.The Pussycat Dols:Timbaland himself:And another:50 Cent:Now it may appear that I am berating this trend. I'm not. I'm saying that Timbaland is the pervasive artist/producer that everyone wants to get their hands on, understand, duplicate and be a part of. Just like web 2.0.Hell, for someone of Madonna's stature to work with Timbaland and JT must mean something is being done right. Or it means that Madonna can't innovate anymore and she needs Timbaland to reproduce his innovation for her.Much like web 2.0. People innovated and other followed suit with reproductions, Facebook took the MySpace model and made it better for some, there is Bebo, Linkedin and many, many, many others. Much like Timbaland in fact. You have him and his sound and then you have many other producers trying to duplicate his sound and vibe.Britney Spears is the perfect example. Not sure who produced this song, but it's got a Timbaland feel about it:So in a nutshell what I am saying is... where is Timbaland 3.0? I am over Mr 2.0, let's bring on the new vibes, the hip trends, the music innovation. Timbaland did a great job, but everything he does sounds the same and now every mimic is sounding like Timbaland and doing an average job of it.