The ''fade'' in popular songs: a useful technique, or lazy?

[Peremensoe]

@CJJ

I think what bugs many folks about the fade is that it is nigh-on impossible to have a “live” fade-out (marching bands excepted). So if you perform a song live and have to come up with some kind of ending anyway, why not just have it on the record?

For some bands, and many electronic producers, there are few live song ‘endings’–most segue into other pieces by jamming or beat-mixing.