One topic to discuss and write about that often interests me is the differences between my generation and my parents. Whether that be socially with the issues that we believe in, physically and how medication has changed the way teens grow up these days, or even spiritually and how coming from a Christian school background has affected who I am -- we're different.

Of the many that peak my curiosity, the topic I'd like to discuss today though is how music is different between our parents and us. One thing that's noteworthy of our generation (the millennials) is that we don't have any icons to establish our time musically. There is no one like Madonna who created waves by what she wore and the subject matter of her songs. There is no Michael Jackson who's dance moves influence the way we move to the beat. There is no ACDC or Beatles or Aerosmith that will cause parents to yell through bedroom doors to, "Turn that ruckus down!" We are, in my opinion, the lost generation of the music industry and here is why.

First is the most repeated factor of this generation's differentiating characteristic--technology. Between things as simple as radio, television and the Internet, we have created a culture that, much like catchy pop songs, only lasts about three minutes. It's often noted that the millennial generation is impatient or needs instant satisfaction. This is reflected in the music industry. Unlike my mom and dad who would listen to the radio for hours on end before their favorite song was played, I can simply go to the music app on my phone or turn on the radio and hear today's top 50. Whereas they would listen to an eight-track or to the record playing one song for months on end, the latest Adele song becomes easily overplayed within its first week of air time. You learn the lyrics in the first three days and then they subsequently haunt your dreams for years to come. I still remember (and without shame, belt) every word to the "High School Musical" movies and "Hannah Montana" episodes because the lyrics and tune are drilled into our heads at an alarming rate and frequency at such a young age. Due to its repetitiveness, a song's popularity doesn't last very long. Therefore, artists need to produce more and more music at a higher frequency. You would never have caught The Who or Cheap Trick producing a 15 song album every 12 months with only one song making the charts.

That brings me to my next point. Music used to be made in its purest form. It was made by the artist and for the artist alone, not for anyone else's delight. The fact that it was popular was just coincidence. Today, music producers and artists simply want to please the masses. They make tracks and beats that are looped over and over each other that sound basically the same in every song that we hear. We're conditioned to like one style of music because that's all the music industry wants to produce these days. This "technopop" or "dub step" music is so popular because producers found one or two successful songs that could be replicated by a myriad of artists for success and fame. They are simply fabricating easy-to-make tracks so that their song or their artist can make the top 10 on the charts. It's not about the music anymore; it's all about the money. It's all about the fame.

So what can we do to change that? It's not like all of us can simply pick up a guitar or go down to the local record store and produce a show-stopping tune that will touch the hearts and ears of millions. But the power really is in our hands. If we begin listening to music that we truly enjoy, that has lyrics and messages that speak to our hearts, we can make a difference and show these producers that we won't play their games anymore.

Our generation likes to have our fate and our own hands which is another reason that music apps are so popular. Music sharing apps and websites such as Spotify, SoundCloud and Pandora allow the listener to choose what they want to listen to instead of disc jockeys who get paid per track. These sites and apps are crucial for the enhancement of our generation. I highly suggest downloading one for yourself and finding the music that inspires you. Look deeper for some no-name artists that are probably still playing in their garage. Discover an artist's first album before their songs hit the radio waves. Although the top 40 is catchy and easy to bob your head to in 6 o'clock traffic, it's nothing special.

In 20 years, Taylor Swift and Nick Jonas won't be played in the ear buds of our children. Their lyrics won't be tattooed on bodies for inspiration and hope. So maybe our generation are the "lost boys" of music history, but we can change that. As Prince once serenaded, "And if the elevator tries to bring you down -- go crazy, punch a higher floor." So, millennials, let's punch a higher floor and change our "lost" future.