6/5/2007 4:24:25 AM
The state of music in England

6/5/2007 4:24:25 AM

The state of music in England
Hi...Johnny Normal here.

I have been listening to traditional radio recently, more than I normally would, and I am surprised by the same formula that appears throughout the majority of the stations. The same bands with the same songs on different stations. Obviously a number of stations are covered by the umbrella of one or two major corporate entities and therefore have a uniform playlist which they stick to. Those aside, the remaining stations seem to still play the same music, maybe to compete for the same listeners? This is madness. Where's the innovation gone?...Obviously over to the internet! Artists like myself seem to struggle on relentlessly trying to get record company execs and A&Rs to listen to our music, but what's the point if their ears are tainted with the sound of american sanitised softened punk? Don't get me wrong, there is a market for that music, and it's good in it's own right, but I am fed up with the lack of choice. I know that has been the case for years,In fact, the sixties were full of Beatles-wannabies, the seventies crammed with Led Zep and disco clones...the late seventies sorted the blandness out, influenced by the likes (if that's possible) of Patti Smith and the Ramones, then with the UK invasion of The Pistols and The Clash, which inspired the early eighties generation of New Romantic neo-punk acts to create some great individual sounds. But the eighties became stale and clinical, the nineties descended into second rate Acid induced Happy Mondays (great band!) replications, or Charlatan Charlatans (respect to John Baker) and as for this new decade...not a lot to remember. Yes, the Arctics have passion, and talent too, but following the massive initial media fury...not much airplay. Internet to lead the way for music? Maybe...but the story is still unraveling I think. There's a long way to go yet. The Internet gives massive choice, but maybe that is the fundamental problem?...too much choice...music too accessible? That seems crazy!

I would love to hear the comments and thoughts of all you writers and artists out there. Is there any point in us carrying on courting the evasive and elusive labels. I have looked into starting my own label, but it seems a nightmare of complications. What do you think?

Best wihses
Johnny Normal

6/5/2007 9:25:05 AM

People have "made it" in the past by creating their own market. I think that is the best way to go and Indie music is slowly but surely doing just that. All along over the years the record companies have been at the publics mercy because of what we buy and listen to. It gave them direction for the "mass-marketing". If they're losing money, they'll have no choice but to fall in line. It will take quite a while yet, but we are on the ground floor of a new era. In the meantime I think we have the edge of creativity. Duane

6/5/2007 1:27:52 PM

Hi Johnny,

Alas, it is the same way here in the states. The majority of radio stations are owned by one corporate entity, Clearchannel. These stations are run by programmers that have no creativity, and regurgitate the same material over and over. It is very hard for an artist to go mainstream through the corporate route; the doos are locked shut. The Internet has been a godsend to indie artists; listeners fed up with the status quo are finding the vast amount of talent that exists. With the advent of home studios and Internet sites such as IAC, boundaries are being broken down. Their are different levels of sucess, personally I feel I have been sucessful because more people have heard my music in the last few years then I could ever imagine ten years ago. The music business is in a bad state, but as artists and musicians, we have never had more opportunity to be heard. Regards, Jeff

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