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Around in the fifties, though really exploding onto the scene in the Sixties, there have always been ‘Bubble-Gum’ pop groups.
Though the template for the manufactured group is often attributed to ‘the Monkeys’ with their infamous ‘Looking for 4 Crazy Guys’ newspaper ad. There had, for a long time prior to the first appearance of those musical apes been many, many groups whose music, image, action, had been conceived and controlled by a music companies producer.
These two aspects (Bubble Gum Groups and Hard-Marketing) are often singled out as the two greatest evils in the current state of music. Masterminded, over-seen and controlled by the all consuming evil of the Multinationals of the Music Industry… Fabrication trends, making (and breaking) groups, almost abusive and brainwashing marketing techniques, all in the name of capitalism…
Then again…
Through these hard marketing techniques, pop music has become a standard entity within our everyday lives, our culture. The British and Northern American cultures especially…. Its near-constant presence is noticeably absent in many of the worlds other nations, even throughout our neighborouring cousins in Europe.
This situation can be further illustrated by the dominating presence of the majority of the music industry being based in the US and the UK.
It also allows for an almost impossibly wide range of fabricated pop groups to consistently sell themselves, their brand name soft drink, clothes, crisps, pretty much anything, and everything. With over sexed teenage girls, and clean-cut a-sexual males bestriding our screens with cheesy dance routines, miming to either re-hashed pop favourites, of badly written new tunes. So similar are these groups, that should an interchange of members occur, probably no one would notice, not least they’re young teen and pre-teen following.
Although, there is a reason for me typing this (other than slagging off the music industry, which is always fun)
It is exactly because of the enormity of the industry, fuelled though it is by the popular music of today, that other styles of music are able to flourish.
Now, I’m talking about pretty much every other form of music here, although there are some exceptions.
Though, I am purposely ignoring the currently trendy ‘alternative’ music (I think Nu-Metal fits in here) which is, itself, though a lesser evil than standard/’pure’ pop, is just as driven by marketing, controlled just as much by industry execs, and is more dangerous in that fans often consider themselves to have a better taste in music, to be more of a connoisseur… NOT listening to POP… which makes them much easier targets (none so blind and all)
I am talking about pretty much all music, I’m going to refer, primarily to that music which has ‘cult’ following, which is small enough to be unknown to the Pepsi Chart watchers, but big enough to be known by people in Glasgow, and London. Including that American band no one else has heard of but are fantastic and have their own sound. Exactly the music buffs like to talk about… the music people who complain about pop music revere… This music is around ONLY because of pop music, only because Britney Spears, Hear Say and Spice Girls sell well…
Where I’m coming fro, is that the size, of the music industry is so large that an enormous variety of tastes can be accounted for. That band in America that no-one else has heard of, only found its way over here, through a friend, who read a mag, or picked it up on his visit to the states last year, is only known because of the scale of the industry, its intention to make money from anything is the only reason you could pick up their album in the local record shop franchise.
For a small band to be able to tour, and known by a select few from lands end to John’o’Groats, can do this only because of the popularity of music to the populous, and its ever present snappy jingle based sound which we are subjected to from before our birth.
It’s because of the all-encompassing music industry, which creates a demand for music by the masses, a desire for others to create music.
If the industry wasn’t around, a far fewer number of artists could afford to present themselves on a level greater than locally or Countywide. Only the mass popularity music could afford to be heard across the UK. With only THE (read Britney, N’Sync) most popular bands being able to be big on both sides of the Atlantic.
There would be FAR fewer bands, even fewer that had influence by musicians who sold few albums, but affected many.
Anyone disagree?
Though the template for the manufactured group is often attributed to ‘the Monkeys’ with their infamous ‘Looking for 4 Crazy Guys’ newspaper ad. There had, for a long time prior to the first appearance of those musical apes been many, many groups whose music, image, action, had been conceived and controlled by a music companies producer.
These two aspects (Bubble Gum Groups and Hard-Marketing) are often singled out as the two greatest evils in the current state of music. Masterminded, over-seen and controlled by the all consuming evil of the Multinationals of the Music Industry… Fabrication trends, making (and breaking) groups, almost abusive and brainwashing marketing techniques, all in the name of capitalism…
Then again…
Through these hard marketing techniques, pop music has become a standard entity within our everyday lives, our culture. The British and Northern American cultures especially…. Its near-constant presence is noticeably absent in many of the worlds other nations, even throughout our neighborouring cousins in Europe.
This situation can be further illustrated by the dominating presence of the majority of the music industry being based in the US and the UK.
It also allows for an almost impossibly wide range of fabricated pop groups to consistently sell themselves, their brand name soft drink, clothes, crisps, pretty much anything, and everything. With over sexed teenage girls, and clean-cut a-sexual males bestriding our screens with cheesy dance routines, miming to either re-hashed pop favourites, of badly written new tunes. So similar are these groups, that should an interchange of members occur, probably no one would notice, not least they’re young teen and pre-teen following.
Although, there is a reason for me typing this (other than slagging off the music industry, which is always fun)
It is exactly because of the enormity of the industry, fuelled though it is by the popular music of today, that other styles of music are able to flourish.
Now, I’m talking about pretty much every other form of music here, although there are some exceptions.
Though, I am purposely ignoring the currently trendy ‘alternative’ music (I think Nu-Metal fits in here) which is, itself, though a lesser evil than standard/’pure’ pop, is just as driven by marketing, controlled just as much by industry execs, and is more dangerous in that fans often consider themselves to have a better taste in music, to be more of a connoisseur… NOT listening to POP… which makes them much easier targets (none so blind and all)
I am talking about pretty much all music, I’m going to refer, primarily to that music which has ‘cult’ following, which is small enough to be unknown to the Pepsi Chart watchers, but big enough to be known by people in Glasgow, and London. Including that American band no one else has heard of but are fantastic and have their own sound. Exactly the music buffs like to talk about… the music people who complain about pop music revere… This music is around ONLY because of pop music, only because Britney Spears, Hear Say and Spice Girls sell well…
Where I’m coming fro, is that the size, of the music industry is so large that an enormous variety of tastes can be accounted for. That band in America that no-one else has heard of, only found its way over here, through a friend, who read a mag, or picked it up on his visit to the states last year, is only known because of the scale of the industry, its intention to make money from anything is the only reason you could pick up their album in the local record shop franchise.
For a small band to be able to tour, and known by a select few from lands end to John’o’Groats, can do this only because of the popularity of music to the populous, and its ever present snappy jingle based sound which we are subjected to from before our birth.
It’s because of the all-encompassing music industry, which creates a demand for music by the masses, a desire for others to create music.
If the industry wasn’t around, a far fewer number of artists could afford to present themselves on a level greater than locally or Countywide. Only the mass popularity music could afford to be heard across the UK. With only THE (read Britney, N’Sync) most popular bands being able to be big on both sides of the Atlantic.
There would be FAR fewer bands, even fewer that had influence by musicians who sold few albums, but affected many.
Anyone disagree?
Page:
Around in the fifties, though really exploding onto the scene in the Sixties, there have always been ‘Bubble-Gum’ pop groups.
Though the template for the manufactured group is often attributed to ‘the Monkeys’ with their infamous ‘Looking for 4 Crazy Guys’ newspaper ad. There had, for a long time prior to the first appearance of those musical apes been many, many groups whose music, image, action, had been conceived and controlled by a music companies producer.
These two aspects (Bubble Gum Groups and Hard-Marketing) are often singled out as the two greatest evils in the current state of music. Masterminded, over-seen and controlled by the all consuming evil of the Multinationals of the Music Industry… Fabrication trends, making (and breaking) groups, almost abusive and brainwashing marketing techniques, all in the name of capitalism…
Then again…
Through these hard marketing techniques, pop music has become a standard entity within our everyday lives, our culture. The British and Northern American cultures especially…. Its near-constant presence is noticeably absent in many of the worlds other nations, even throughout our neighborouring cousins in Europe.
This situation can be further illustrated by the dominating presence of the majority of the music industry being based in the US and the UK.
It also allows for an almost impossibly wide range of fabricated pop groups to consistently sell themselves, their brand name soft drink, clothes, crisps, pretty much anything, and everything. With over sexed teenage girls, and clean-cut a-sexual males bestriding our screens with cheesy dance routines, miming to either re-hashed pop favourites, of badly written new tunes. So similar are these groups, that should an interchange of members occur, probably no one would notice, not least they’re young teen and pre-teen following.
Although, there is a reason for me typing this (other than slagging off the music industry, which is always fun)
It is exactly because of the enormity of the industry, fuelled though it is by the popular music of today, that other styles of music are able to flourish.
Now, I’m talking about pretty much every other form of music here, although there are some exceptions.
Though, I am purposely ignoring the currently trendy ‘alternative’ music (I think Nu-Metal fits in here) which is, itself, though a lesser evil than standard/’pure’ pop, is just as driven by marketing, controlled just as much by industry execs, and is more dangerous in that fans often consider themselves to have a better taste in music, to be more of a connoisseur… NOT listening to POP… which makes them much easier targets (none so blind and all)
I am talking about pretty much all music, I’m going to refer, primarily to that music which has ‘cult’ following, which is small enough to be unknown to the Pepsi Chart watchers, but big enough to be known by people in Glasgow, and London. Including that American band no one else has heard of but are fantastic and have their own sound. Exactly the music buffs like to talk about… the music people who complain about pop music revere… This music is around ONLY because of pop music, only because Britney Spears, Hear Say and Spice Girls sell well…
Where I’m coming fro, is that the size, of the music industry is so large that an enormous variety of tastes can be accounted for. That band in America that no-one else has heard of, only found its way over here, through a friend, who read a mag, or picked it up on his visit to the states last year, is only known because of the scale of the industry, its intention to make money from anything is the only reason you could pick up their album in the local record shop franchise.
For a small band to be able to tour, and known by a select few from lands end to John’o’Groats, can do this only because of the popularity of music to the populous, and its ever present snappy jingle based sound which we are subjected to from before our birth.
It’s because of the all-encompassing music industry, which creates a demand for music by the masses, a desire for others to create music.
If the industry wasn’t around, a far fewer number of artists could afford to present themselves on a level greater than locally or Countywide. Only the mass popularity music could afford to be heard across the UK. With only THE (read Britney, N’Sync) most popular bands being able to be big on both sides of the Atlantic.
There would be FAR fewer bands, even fewer that had influence by musicians who sold few albums, but affected many.
Anyone disagree?
Though the template for the manufactured group is often attributed to ‘the Monkeys’ with their infamous ‘Looking for 4 Crazy Guys’ newspaper ad. There had, for a long time prior to the first appearance of those musical apes been many, many groups whose music, image, action, had been conceived and controlled by a music companies producer.
These two aspects (Bubble Gum Groups and Hard-Marketing) are often singled out as the two greatest evils in the current state of music. Masterminded, over-seen and controlled by the all consuming evil of the Multinationals of the Music Industry… Fabrication trends, making (and breaking) groups, almost abusive and brainwashing marketing techniques, all in the name of capitalism…
Then again…
Through these hard marketing techniques, pop music has become a standard entity within our everyday lives, our culture. The British and Northern American cultures especially…. Its near-constant presence is noticeably absent in many of the worlds other nations, even throughout our neighborouring cousins in Europe.
This situation can be further illustrated by the dominating presence of the majority of the music industry being based in the US and the UK.
It also allows for an almost impossibly wide range of fabricated pop groups to consistently sell themselves, their brand name soft drink, clothes, crisps, pretty much anything, and everything. With over sexed teenage girls, and clean-cut a-sexual males bestriding our screens with cheesy dance routines, miming to either re-hashed pop favourites, of badly written new tunes. So similar are these groups, that should an interchange of members occur, probably no one would notice, not least they’re young teen and pre-teen following.
Although, there is a reason for me typing this (other than slagging off the music industry, which is always fun)
It is exactly because of the enormity of the industry, fuelled though it is by the popular music of today, that other styles of music are able to flourish.
Now, I’m talking about pretty much every other form of music here, although there are some exceptions.
Though, I am purposely ignoring the currently trendy ‘alternative’ music (I think Nu-Metal fits in here) which is, itself, though a lesser evil than standard/’pure’ pop, is just as driven by marketing, controlled just as much by industry execs, and is more dangerous in that fans often consider themselves to have a better taste in music, to be more of a connoisseur… NOT listening to POP… which makes them much easier targets (none so blind and all)
I am talking about pretty much all music, I’m going to refer, primarily to that music which has ‘cult’ following, which is small enough to be unknown to the Pepsi Chart watchers, but big enough to be known by people in Glasgow, and London. Including that American band no one else has heard of but are fantastic and have their own sound. Exactly the music buffs like to talk about… the music people who complain about pop music revere… This music is around ONLY because of pop music, only because Britney Spears, Hear Say and Spice Girls sell well…
Where I’m coming fro, is that the size, of the music industry is so large that an enormous variety of tastes can be accounted for. That band in America that no-one else has heard of, only found its way over here, through a friend, who read a mag, or picked it up on his visit to the states last year, is only known because of the scale of the industry, its intention to make money from anything is the only reason you could pick up their album in the local record shop franchise.
For a small band to be able to tour, and known by a select few from lands end to John’o’Groats, can do this only because of the popularity of music to the populous, and its ever present snappy jingle based sound which we are subjected to from before our birth.
It’s because of the all-encompassing music industry, which creates a demand for music by the masses, a desire for others to create music.
If the industry wasn’t around, a far fewer number of artists could afford to present themselves on a level greater than locally or Countywide. Only the mass popularity music could afford to be heard across the UK. With only THE (read Britney, N’Sync) most popular bands being able to be big on both sides of the Atlantic.
There would be FAR fewer bands, even fewer that had influence by musicians who sold few albums, but affected many.
Anyone disagree?
Totally agree, all these people who like Eminem and Limp Bizkit e.t.c are usually so against Pop but Pop brings in the cash to allow other alternative styles of music to be promoted....often most pop artists outlast all the other artists anyway. Besides Limp Bizkit seem to be pretty much a pop group anyway, just a bit louder ! LOL And I thought seeing Mr "Slim Shady" in court in America was one of the funniest bits of television this year - mainly due to the fact he looked not quite like he usually does, if you know what I mean.
Lastly, pop is the one form of music that is continuously popular, most other forms are just temporary fads or just don't have the following.
Lastly, pop is the one form of music that is continuously popular, most other forms are just temporary fads or just don't have the following.
Yeah, what he said.
Goatboy wrote:
> Yeah, what he said.
You agree?
> Yeah, what he said.
You agree?
Ok, the temptation here for me is to go off on a massive rant about the state of the music industry.
I can sort of see where your post is coming from Shanks, but I would disagree that because of pop and how much money is made, it allows other bands to flourish.
Music is business, yes. And big business at that.
Granted.
However, I (like others) feel that the state of the industry today is stifling those that are in bands because they love music, because they love to play and because they hope to make a living out of it.
The industry is not about music at all, one little bit.
Napster is the perfect example.
They gave the "It will kill music" argument that they used when casettes were released and CD burners.
The thought that one person in the world would buy a copy and then everyone else would get it free.
Absolute tosh.
I have an extensive MP3 collection, but that doesn't stop me going out and buying albums every single week.
I look for rarities, demos and pre-release songs and THEN go and buy it.
(but I'm getting off the point here. Pop means little bands can survive?)
No, pop is strangling smaller bands.
Big labels are only after the instant hits, which is why you see little boys and girls pop up every minute.
If you don't hit a certain level of sales, you're dropped.
Bands that could be massive if they were given the chance are dropped and we never hear them.
Clutch.
A perfect example.
They have been on big labels. Eastwest/Colombia/Earache and get dropped after one album because they don't know how to market this band.
Marketing. The force of evil that exists in this century.
Don't let us find this stuff for ourselves via the net and word of mouth, sell it to me please.
Pre-package and ram it down my throat please.
No thanks.
And Clutch got the perfect answer.
They have their own label, and website (pro-rock.com).
When they need money to record etc, they go out and hit the road for 6-7 months at a time.
The fans are there, we support them, we go to the shows and order the CDs from their websites.
The Net allows a greater chance for bands that might not otherwise get heard by people, you can market yourself.
My band is getting some major interest at last. But we have had some situations where we were expected to grovel and plead for attention and support from A&R men, and we found we coudn't do it.
Instead, we went out month after month and took gigs wherever we could find them in London.
Stuck posters up, handed out flyers in pubs and clubs, emailed 100's of people and worked our fingers off.
We played The Dublin Castle in May and sold it out.
Almost 300 people there, and we got asked back.
Again.
We're playing again the end of June, and this'll be the 3rd time at that venue.
They don't ask us back because they like our music, they like us because we get people through the door.
Money.
It all comes down to money at the end of the day, and that's where your Hearsays and S-Clubs come in.
No talent, taught to dance, given songs written by other people, faces plastered over lunchboxs etc, and we (the public) suck it down and hand them our money.
Limp Bikzit. Alternative? Nope. They used to support Brazilian metal bands, they covered a George Michael song and voila! College radio picked up on it and they got noticed.
Pop is strangling "proper" music, the radio stations are little more than adverts for the bands, your song is plugged and assigned A/B/C list depending on how much money you pay to the A&R dept.
eMpTyV is little more than another advertising medium.
And, the point of that station rings so false with me.
It's music, yet you watch it. You watch music. See anything ironic there?
I listen to radio a lot. I only listen to 1 station.
X-fm (104.9fm). It plays "alternative" music, and you will never hear a Brittney song or Boyzone.
In the space of one hour, this afternoon I heard:
Jimi Hendrix
The Doors
David Kitt
Talking Heads
Super Furry Animals
Soulfly
The Deftones
Tool
Janis Joplin
My Vitriol
King Adora
Last night they had Radiohead live on their website, the only radio station allowed to broadcast it.
Why?
Because Thom Yorke likes to listen to it, is a regular caller during Music Response, a show where the listener votes for the music to be played the following Sunday for 2hrs.
As I see it, the boys bands and girl bands today serve one purpose and one purpose only:
Money.
It's not about music, and if you're not part of the current cycle, tough break kid.
Listen to X-fm, read Q and Mojo, go see local bands that play near where you live, go to gigs and make the effort to check out music while you still have the chance to.
Or one day we wont be able to discuss the merits of pop, because that will be all there is.
I can sort of see where your post is coming from Shanks, but I would disagree that because of pop and how much money is made, it allows other bands to flourish.
Music is business, yes. And big business at that.
Granted.
However, I (like others) feel that the state of the industry today is stifling those that are in bands because they love music, because they love to play and because they hope to make a living out of it.
The industry is not about music at all, one little bit.
Napster is the perfect example.
They gave the "It will kill music" argument that they used when casettes were released and CD burners.
The thought that one person in the world would buy a copy and then everyone else would get it free.
Absolute tosh.
I have an extensive MP3 collection, but that doesn't stop me going out and buying albums every single week.
I look for rarities, demos and pre-release songs and THEN go and buy it.
(but I'm getting off the point here. Pop means little bands can survive?)
No, pop is strangling smaller bands.
Big labels are only after the instant hits, which is why you see little boys and girls pop up every minute.
If you don't hit a certain level of sales, you're dropped.
Bands that could be massive if they were given the chance are dropped and we never hear them.
Clutch.
A perfect example.
They have been on big labels. Eastwest/Colombia/Earache and get dropped after one album because they don't know how to market this band.
Marketing. The force of evil that exists in this century.
Don't let us find this stuff for ourselves via the net and word of mouth, sell it to me please.
Pre-package and ram it down my throat please.
No thanks.
And Clutch got the perfect answer.
They have their own label, and website (pro-rock.com).
When they need money to record etc, they go out and hit the road for 6-7 months at a time.
The fans are there, we support them, we go to the shows and order the CDs from their websites.
The Net allows a greater chance for bands that might not otherwise get heard by people, you can market yourself.
My band is getting some major interest at last. But we have had some situations where we were expected to grovel and plead for attention and support from A&R men, and we found we coudn't do it.
Instead, we went out month after month and took gigs wherever we could find them in London.
Stuck posters up, handed out flyers in pubs and clubs, emailed 100's of people and worked our fingers off.
We played The Dublin Castle in May and sold it out.
Almost 300 people there, and we got asked back.
Again.
We're playing again the end of June, and this'll be the 3rd time at that venue.
They don't ask us back because they like our music, they like us because we get people through the door.
Money.
It all comes down to money at the end of the day, and that's where your Hearsays and S-Clubs come in.
No talent, taught to dance, given songs written by other people, faces plastered over lunchboxs etc, and we (the public) suck it down and hand them our money.
Limp Bikzit. Alternative? Nope. They used to support Brazilian metal bands, they covered a George Michael song and voila! College radio picked up on it and they got noticed.
Pop is strangling "proper" music, the radio stations are little more than adverts for the bands, your song is plugged and assigned A/B/C list depending on how much money you pay to the A&R dept.
eMpTyV is little more than another advertising medium.
And, the point of that station rings so false with me.
It's music, yet you watch it. You watch music. See anything ironic there?
I listen to radio a lot. I only listen to 1 station.
X-fm (104.9fm). It plays "alternative" music, and you will never hear a Brittney song or Boyzone.
In the space of one hour, this afternoon I heard:
Jimi Hendrix
The Doors
David Kitt
Talking Heads
Super Furry Animals
Soulfly
The Deftones
Tool
Janis Joplin
My Vitriol
King Adora
Last night they had Radiohead live on their website, the only radio station allowed to broadcast it.
Why?
Because Thom Yorke likes to listen to it, is a regular caller during Music Response, a show where the listener votes for the music to be played the following Sunday for 2hrs.
As I see it, the boys bands and girl bands today serve one purpose and one purpose only:
Money.
It's not about music, and if you're not part of the current cycle, tough break kid.
Listen to X-fm, read Q and Mojo, go see local bands that play near where you live, go to gigs and make the effort to check out music while you still have the chance to.
Or one day we wont be able to discuss the merits of pop, because that will be all there is.
I see what your saying...
But where I'm comming from here... Is as much the social setup, as it is the Music Industry...
I am saying that due to the scale of the industry that it allows more scope for a wider variety of ideas and musical styles... Although at the same time I am presenting thestifling coverage of the mainstream commercial pop artists...
Although, on the other side, is the noticable influence music has had on the British and American cultures.
Back in the eighties, when I used to watch the Saturday morning Kids programs (although never for very long, they always bored me?) ... Whenever there was a one hit wonder from France, or Australia, from an artist who was increadably famous in their home country, but almost unknown elsewhere, the interviewer would ask the standard question... Why were there so few Australia, French, South African, musicians...
The most memerable can from a french musican and New Zealander, who both gave pretty much the same responce, that muscians arnt seen with the same respect in their respective countries. That 'proper' jobs were more desired, and that strating a band, although not frowned upon, was never really seen as such a cool thing to do...
It gives the impression that, although the British and American music industries are so all emcompasing, they have, a long time ago, found the recipie to success...
They have made music an intrinsic part of our lifes in a way unimaginable 30-40 years ago. The success of music has made it a more attractive propsition for a wider variety of musicians to attempt their own thing.
Being a 'respected' musican has effects that spread far outside the sphere of the industry... equally, Peter Molyneux walks the streets as a complete unknown...
The wide varitey people people drawn to the industry, as a result of its success, have allowed a diverse range of thoughts, ideas and beliefs to the people at large...
And has made distribution of a wider range of musical tastes than would otherwise been possible...
For example, if the music industry were of the scale it were in the UK of the 20's - 40's such a wide range of tastes and perceptions would never have been avalible to the public at large?
But where I'm comming from here... Is as much the social setup, as it is the Music Industry...
I am saying that due to the scale of the industry that it allows more scope for a wider variety of ideas and musical styles... Although at the same time I am presenting thestifling coverage of the mainstream commercial pop artists...
Although, on the other side, is the noticable influence music has had on the British and American cultures.
Back in the eighties, when I used to watch the Saturday morning Kids programs (although never for very long, they always bored me?) ... Whenever there was a one hit wonder from France, or Australia, from an artist who was increadably famous in their home country, but almost unknown elsewhere, the interviewer would ask the standard question... Why were there so few Australia, French, South African, musicians...
The most memerable can from a french musican and New Zealander, who both gave pretty much the same responce, that muscians arnt seen with the same respect in their respective countries. That 'proper' jobs were more desired, and that strating a band, although not frowned upon, was never really seen as such a cool thing to do...
It gives the impression that, although the British and American music industries are so all emcompasing, they have, a long time ago, found the recipie to success...
They have made music an intrinsic part of our lifes in a way unimaginable 30-40 years ago. The success of music has made it a more attractive propsition for a wider variety of musicians to attempt their own thing.
Being a 'respected' musican has effects that spread far outside the sphere of the industry... equally, Peter Molyneux walks the streets as a complete unknown...
The wide varitey people people drawn to the industry, as a result of its success, have allowed a diverse range of thoughts, ideas and beliefs to the people at large...
And has made distribution of a wider range of musical tastes than would otherwise been possible...
For example, if the music industry were of the scale it were in the UK of the 20's - 40's such a wide range of tastes and perceptions would never have been avalible to the public at large?
I agree that music is more of a social thing now, but I'm not entirely sure that is a good thing.
Music for music's sake is good.
Music for the sake of being part of something is wrong.
Yes, the success of music has widened the opportunity for people to do their own thing.
To a point.
In order to become sucessful, you either need to be part of a current trend, but be able to put a spin on it and survive longer than the trend, or remaind on the peripheral and keep plugging away to those that do know about you.
I think it's not as easy today for bands to break through, the major companies are conglomerating and merging into monolithic things (EMI and Warner merged recently).
Which means that the scope of music itself is lessening, and only the main fodder will continue to be sold.
Certain musical styles are just as much a lifestyle as a musical taste.
Pop is everyday, listen on the radio on the way to work stuff that you forget until "Now 15235" is released.
Jazz and Blues are outside of the norm, specialised musical forms that appeal to a more selective listener.
Rock music is the major alternative to pop.
Right now, it's Limp Bizkit and other "nu-metal" bands (god I hate that term).
However, this is a fad and will pass. I've been listening to rock since I was a kid, raised on ACDC, Black Sabbath, The Doors etc, and you will see a trend every few years where rock is big, then goes back underground.
Rock fans are "Pop sucks man, that's for losers. Muppets, look at them. I'm alternative, you'll never catch me being part of a crowd".
Except they all have dyed hair, skate shorts, piercings and are just as much part of a crows then the next person.
It's tribal, always has been, always will.
The social implications are, to me, worthless.
People, as a whole, follow whatever it is that the magazines say is the latest fad, and they follow.
Right now it's Nu-Metal, then it'll be retro 80s or whatever next.
People are told what is cool, they nod their heads and run out and buy that CD, play it for a while and then let it sit on the IKEA table next to Macy Gray and other "Hip this week" artists.
True fans will buy the albums regardless of whether it's popular or not, and some get bitter when their favourite band hits big for a month. You'll always hear "I liked them 1st, I saw them when they were nothing".
It's a badge to wear, nothing more.
Music as a social influence is only relevant when we're told it's ok.
In the meantime, I'll go watch Clutch and Tool and sneer at Boyzone, whilst they laugh at me for going to watch a little band that have to play somewhere like the Camden Underworld, because nobody likes them, therefore they suck.
It's too late for deep and meaningful social comments.
Who wants a fight?
Music for music's sake is good.
Music for the sake of being part of something is wrong.
Yes, the success of music has widened the opportunity for people to do their own thing.
To a point.
In order to become sucessful, you either need to be part of a current trend, but be able to put a spin on it and survive longer than the trend, or remaind on the peripheral and keep plugging away to those that do know about you.
I think it's not as easy today for bands to break through, the major companies are conglomerating and merging into monolithic things (EMI and Warner merged recently).
Which means that the scope of music itself is lessening, and only the main fodder will continue to be sold.
Certain musical styles are just as much a lifestyle as a musical taste.
Pop is everyday, listen on the radio on the way to work stuff that you forget until "Now 15235" is released.
Jazz and Blues are outside of the norm, specialised musical forms that appeal to a more selective listener.
Rock music is the major alternative to pop.
Right now, it's Limp Bizkit and other "nu-metal" bands (god I hate that term).
However, this is a fad and will pass. I've been listening to rock since I was a kid, raised on ACDC, Black Sabbath, The Doors etc, and you will see a trend every few years where rock is big, then goes back underground.
Rock fans are "Pop sucks man, that's for losers. Muppets, look at them. I'm alternative, you'll never catch me being part of a crowd".
Except they all have dyed hair, skate shorts, piercings and are just as much part of a crows then the next person.
It's tribal, always has been, always will.
The social implications are, to me, worthless.
People, as a whole, follow whatever it is that the magazines say is the latest fad, and they follow.
Right now it's Nu-Metal, then it'll be retro 80s or whatever next.
People are told what is cool, they nod their heads and run out and buy that CD, play it for a while and then let it sit on the IKEA table next to Macy Gray and other "Hip this week" artists.
True fans will buy the albums regardless of whether it's popular or not, and some get bitter when their favourite band hits big for a month. You'll always hear "I liked them 1st, I saw them when they were nothing".
It's a badge to wear, nothing more.
Music as a social influence is only relevant when we're told it's ok.
In the meantime, I'll go watch Clutch and Tool and sneer at Boyzone, whilst they laugh at me for going to watch a little band that have to play somewhere like the Camden Underworld, because nobody likes them, therefore they suck.
It's too late for deep and meaningful social comments.
Who wants a fight?
Goatboy wrote :
>Rock fans are "Pop sucks man, that's for losers. Muppets, >look at them. I'm alternative, you'll never catch me being >part of a crowd".
>Except they all have dyed hair, skate shorts, piercings >and are just as much part of a crows then the next person.
LOL ! This is so true ! I've lost count of the number of black hooded rock band tops I've seen this week already.
Totally agreed with everything Goatboy said because it's all right.
>Rock fans are "Pop sucks man, that's for losers. Muppets, >look at them. I'm alternative, you'll never catch me being >part of a crowd".
>Except they all have dyed hair, skate shorts, piercings >and are just as much part of a crows then the next person.
LOL ! This is so true ! I've lost count of the number of black hooded rock band tops I've seen this week already.
Totally agreed with everything Goatboy said because it's all right.
You know it makes sense
Ok... But...
Due to a being such a stong force in our society...
Which is largly due to the size and power of the music industry in our country...
Making music, in whichever style you decide to adopt, has been ,made much more universally acceptable...
people who would otherwise have not become musicians are more suseptable to picking up an instrument and learning how to play...
Though not all the public are always so willing, it does generate a larger volume of people willing to listen to something they havnt heard before, than would otherwise be the case (even if they sound the same as the ones we already have)
Also, due to the scale of the industry, and the ability of these people, who are open to new groups to get hold of music is also greatly increased...
Allowing the cult/fringe/alt etc... groups greater freedom to present their music to a wider audience, and at a much cheaper cost than would otherwise be so
Due to a being such a stong force in our society...
Which is largly due to the size and power of the music industry in our country...
Making music, in whichever style you decide to adopt, has been ,made much more universally acceptable...
people who would otherwise have not become musicians are more suseptable to picking up an instrument and learning how to play...
Though not all the public are always so willing, it does generate a larger volume of people willing to listen to something they havnt heard before, than would otherwise be the case (even if they sound the same as the ones we already have)
Also, due to the scale of the industry, and the ability of these people, who are open to new groups to get hold of music is also greatly increased...
Allowing the cult/fringe/alt etc... groups greater freedom to present their music to a wider audience, and at a much cheaper cost than would otherwise be so
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