Starving Musicians And Radio

NO ME TO KNOW

Greetings and kudos for this website! At long last, there is a communal place where music lovers and musicians can vent their frustrations, while hopefully providing fresh perspective and direction. I hope you find my contribution helpful and usually find myself with something to say on these matters, so a word of warning: I'll be back! ;-)

In Dublin, unlike anywhere in the world, there are an abundance "starving artist" musicians, living the typical life working a completely unrelated day job while devoting the remainder of my time and energy to songwriting and band related stuff. Some are lucky enough to live in a city-central area where original music is relatively well supported by local folk who are eager for live performance as well as fresh musical ideas. Unfortunately, a lot of Dublin radio stations ignore the abundance of local music, focusing completely on industry promoted talent. (so hats off to Phantom; a brilliant exception)

I believe a chaotic combination of the recording industry and radio used to serve as an open conduit between the public and "art music". The public was better able to determine what they wanted through exposure to much of the available music on the radio, and popularizing certain music through record sales. During these times, there was much room for "experimentation" and exploring consensual boundaries of acceptable musical forms. I think this arises out of musicians' natural need for self challenge and progressive musical growth, something that adds fresh energy to live performance. Nowadays, this notion seems more like a luxury, than a recognized component of musical expression with the music industry.

The industry has conducted much research in effort to minimize exposure from "failed" artistic efforts while growing the almighty bottom line with "true". While the many artists (worried about their own bottom lines) have surrendered to this "new order" and arguably surrendering their status as true Artist, musical expression and the variety of it has not disappeared. Though increasingly marginalized by mainstream radio and record labels, the "fringe" musical groups and artists laboring independently through entire careers is testament enough that the art is still alive. (Of course this does not say anything about what these striving folk must do to stay alive.)

At this point, it seems there is little choice between artistically laboring in obscurity or conceding to the industry defined musical formulas in some attempt at popular appeal. This is a realization that has greatly diluted my personal interest in any "new" music spoonfed from the radio.

Musical categorization and identification with "style" arose out of the recognition of diverse musical interests in the world and the attempt to help direct the most receptive audience to the artist. Of course all this has spelled death and obscurity to "crossover" music artists whose forms do not neatly fit into any one genre. I suspect it also has stymied the creativity of many songwriters lucky enough to have already succeeded in one or another genre, but unlucky enough to be typecast in that genre.

Many musicians have not been able to "compartmentalize" their musical ideas into one concise genre. They find these distinctions artificially limiting as well as eliminating the very dynamic which their own personal style depends on, the ablility and freedom to cull various stylistic "brush strokes" from their personal wide ranging musical "palette" to paint a unique musical portrait.

Let me just say there are basically two kinds of music, good music and bad music. Any distinction, beyond what is perceived as good or bad, is purely arbitrary. Now this is a good subject for further debate, so I'll give your eyes a rest for now.
:mad:

jonny

it seems like youre saying something interesting.
but its 3:20 in the morn and i cant see good.
could you please translate this thread into only words of four letters or less. many thanks
:eek: :eek:

skittles

Not to be cheeky or nothin' but I would consider this as common sense..no?

NO ME TO KNOW

now were talkin sense

atonal

Originally posted by NO ME TO KNOW

In Dublin, unlike anywhere in the world, there are an abundance "starving artist" musicians, living the typical life working a completely unrelated day job while devoting the remainder of my time and energy to songwriting and band related stuff.

Granted Dublin has more than its share of talented Artists but this is pretty much the case in any big city.

for the rest of what you said, ageed, music from "the industry" is a product is is an investment made for financial return it is not pure art. The probem in the media comes heavily from Advertising issues, radiostations and MTV and magazines make more money from advertisers than anything else so they have to serve up a marketable demographic which can oly be done through putting things into formulas. I dont think many people actually have musical taste as narrow as the media structured formulas but music is a secondary product as far as the media they dont make money off music they make money off selling laundry detergent to people who are listening to music. Such is life.

Still there is tons of great music in the world being made everyday, I think mainly people have the responsibility of eduacting themselves about music rather than waiting to be "spoonfed" it is not hard to find really great music through going to clubs or the internet or word of mouth.