News media has covered the deaths of artists such as Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson and the recent death of Prince, signifying the coming end of a musical era. Fans mourn them, and stores jump at the chance to release or re-release the musician’s memorabilia. Death, however, occurs every day and afflicts many people of different stature. Does the media sensationalize these celebrity deaths for higher ratings?

With the explosion of the Internet, one can find celebrities from a variety of platforms such as YouTube, Vine and other social media. Celebrity status in the current day and age does not pride itself upon the exclusivity it once possessed. Celebrities from the seventies, eighties and nineties, however, defined the idea of an overnight sensation. As the Internet took off, so did the celebrity careers. If one had earned fame in the previous generation, they worked hard for it; many struggled to achieve it. These pioneer celebrities worked tirelessly for their fame, and the immense media coverage of their deaths reflects this.

Do individuals overdramatize these deaths, or mourn the loss in an almost unhealthy manner? Some individuals join in with memorial tweets or contribute to the generally upset atmosphere simply to feel part of the majority. If they are not seen commemorating the passing, society will supposedly persecute them. If one truly wishes to remember a deceased artist after his or her passing, one can invest into purchasing a CD or a song from a digital music store, and appreciating the hard work such artists left behind.

For individuals who grew up listening to these artists, however, the death manifests on a more personal level. People growing up during the sixties through the nineties especially grieve the news. Musicians such as Michael Jackson, Prince and The Beatles inspired the previous generation in a rebellious phase of life. People of this generation grew up listening to these artists, as adolescents refused to listen to the music of their parents in this time. Older mourners watched the deceased celebrity in his or her prime. The musician feels like a close relative, as many consider music a huge influence on life.

Parents of today’s youth may find it unsettling to watch these celebrities pass from age or disease, as the “rock and roll lifestyle” of living fast and dying young often took the lives of these musicians. When celebrities die from unnatural causes or excesses, however, fans often overlook it, as one never knows the circumstances or hidden struggle experienced by these celebrities. Society chooses to remember these deceased musicians for their influential tunes and pay respect to the voices of an aging generation.