Picture of Ed Sheeran Performing Live with a Loop Pedal (Chalk, 2017)
The loop pedal has vastly developed over time and has altered music in various ways, audibly and economically. The concept of the loop pedal originated in the form of a one man band and today has become a piece of customizable technology that allows artists to save money per performance, while also creating a visually appealing show that highlights improvisation. The loop pedal removes some of the perfected aspects of popular music seen in dance routines or performance visuals and allows artists to take creative control of the entirety of the performance. The loop pedal technology has changed over time, most significantly in regards to the technology itself, the size of the piece, and its ability to control, record, and playback. The loop pedal has become customizable per artist request, as seen with Sheeran, and in the future, it is likely that more artists will develop their own loop pedals that will be able cater to their performance needs. The technological development of the loop pedal has allowed artists to incorporate further instrumentation and create complex and thick textured music. This technology will continue to further develop, whether this means through touch screen advancement, adding more pedals for more instruments to become looped, or creating different kinds of looping techniques. Further than this, due to the use and new popularity of the loop pedal by Ed Sheeran, more artists will continue to use it to create new and unique pop music that is highly technologized, yet is true to both the artists musical voice and instrumentation.