Dear Editor,
I am amazed and appalled at the views of Kathyrn Leslie (tired of hearing about lost talent, uniqueness, culture, intellect) and Robert. Do you seriously enjoy living in a world where "Major" music is so "cookie cutter corporate" and "fast food" factory line? And Chad Kroeger as a MacDonalds spokesperson doesn't make you laugh and cry at the times we are in!? You both are missing two very important points I am making.
One... radio does not offer choices and support local talent that is more than deserving and would put economic life back into the local arts community and live venues. Nickelback and Avril have made their millions. Some of us would like to just make a comfortable living being true to our music and not some mass produced "product". Radio could help local and indie artists find new fans who might not hear or see the band otherwise and give them revenue possibilities. Share the radio time and freedom of speech. In this case...music. Yes, music and radio
is a business but so are local clubs and indie artists/bands. Why
should we be treated any different!? Especially indie artists who have a good song and are doing their best to market themselves. The fact that I can hear Danny Michel and the Miniatures on mainstream radio now because they are "signed" is ridiculous. They both deserved recognition long before! And Danny Michel and Kinnie Star being nominated as "Best
New Artist" at the Junos... after each worked numerous hard years beforehand?! Come on!
Two... music does not have to be complex and "technical" to be
good. Although I brought up "Rush" who is a great technical band... my point being was that they stayed true to their beliefs and have lasted alot longer (30 years!) than most of these flash in the pans (Len... one of the worst bands and singers ever!) and "been there, sell it again" bands who also waste radio air time. I and many others are asking for something of substance and originality. And in regards to "technical" ability... name me one brand new Canadian musician of a popular band on todays FM radio that has a unique playing style, is inspiring and is beyond the average player with a understanding and mastery of their instrument, ie Rik Emmett, Peart/Lee/Lifeson, Tea
Party, Ian Chrichton, Daniel Lanois. These players inspired others to be the best they can and to actually play their instruments well. Not just hack through power chords and simple drum beats! Your creativity is definitely limited by your technique whether that be playing or theory! Hit songs do not have to be three or four power chord wonders.
I am not angry or bitter and as for my bands career, we have had good successes which I am very proud of! Also, I actually liked Nickelback when I first heard them as independents and funny enough, had them at one of our shows in Sudbury. They were nice guys. And congrats to them for all of the success. As for my own music career... I'm full time in music with my band, teaching(bass/keyboards/guitar),
running a recording studio, church organist(yes that's right, rocker by night, pay for my weekend sins on Sunday... I have a degree in pipe organ and composition from WLU), clinician and music software tech support/sales for a local music store. I make a comfortable living and am one of the lucky few. So I feel that I am debating these issues with a strong sense of understanding. But, seeing the molding of artists and radio to suit the needs of corporate bigwigs, radio "consultants" (huh?) and advertisers while brainwashing the public is making me considerable annoyed. The labels and radio need to take some chances
for a change! Radio is for the people and music choices is not a bad thing whether it be indie or major! I abandoned FM radio for AM talk radio long ago... at least with talk radio you NEVER know what you are going to hear next... It's exciting which todays FM really lacks!!
Please, I've had enough of the "Supersize Me" radio. Our local music communities want a change and choice in the system!
Ian Graham
PS-Rest in Peace Matt Osborne... you were a true musician and friend.
May your deserving talent be long noticed and inspiration spread to
others. www.mattosborne.com
To Don Henley's ears, the FM dial has been transformed from a bazaar of choices to a place where "everybody gets the same McDonald's hamburger." The idea of radio was not to fragment society into what is now called demographics, but rather to bring people together . . .
[Today] a recording artist has a much better chance of getting radio airplay if the promotional budget for a record is large than if the record is good. . . . This unprecedented control over the music industry by the conglomerates is hurting the music business and the culture. Listeners were encouraged to explore different styles and to stretch the boundaries of their tastes. Radio stations used to be local and diverse. Deejays programmed their own shows and developed close
relationships with artists. Today radio stations are centrally
programmed by their corporate owners, and airplay is essentially bought rather than earned.
The fact that Tom Petty's song "The Last DJ" was banned from radio and yet had not one swear word or questionable content, just proves what an absolutely narrow minded world the industry lives in. Why was it banned... because Tom told the truth about radio and the industry.
Nickelback's The Long Road, is more or less a clone of past successes-Canoe.ca-March
30th/2004
And the radio is in the hands of such a lot of fools tryin' to
anaesthetise the way that you feel-Elvis Costello
I was speaking to an academic yesterday who was finding that digital music is changing our listening habits
...we have a far broader taste in music than any radio station would give us credit for.
-Guardian UK Interview with Steve Jobs of Apple after their launch of iTunes Music Store Europe.
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