RE: Nirvana & Society

["L. Bird" <pkeets@hotmail.com>]

> > What did you think about his comment that the stagnation was caused by 
>commercialism, Brian?
>
>I'm beginning to think that this whole anti-commercialism thing is mostly 
>just an excuse. "Oh, if only music weren't under the thumb of the moneymen! 
>Then the people's music would spring forth and everything would be 
>wonderful!"
>
>I believe the moneymen are only following the public and the reason what 
>you feel is "good" music doesn't sell and doesn't get played on the radio 
>is that most people's taste in music is crap.

You're talking about the listener's side of this, right?  Or do you think 
Macero is just out of style and out of line?

The radio and TV stations do surveys to find out what will sell.  Editors 
know what sells and I'm sure art galleries do, too.  I'm sure what we hear 
and see is what's popular.  What the artists are complaining about, though, 
is being shut out because they don't want to do what's popular--or likely 
CAN'T.  Not everybody can be a busty 19-year-old blonde, and if you're not, 
then what have you got to sell?  What does Teo Macero have at 70, or Johnny 
Cash at about the same age?  Good music, maybe, but as we recently 
discussed, they need a sexy 19-year-old blonde to sell it for them, or 
they're out in the street.

In an ideal world, the labels would use some of the big bucks they get  from 
Britney Spears to take some small risks, to develop or maintain niche 
markets off to the side for folks who don't have the standard average taste. 
  Macero is saying they cut off the flow of real musicians by putting all 
their investment into manufactured popular acts.


>And if you think that's different now from the way it was, here's a test: 
>Go get a copy of the Billboard pop charts book. Pick out the year you think 
>music was really good, go through the book and find what was popular in the 
>charts then. Chances are very good you'll be surprised at how much 
>unlistenable crap was on the radio even then.
>
>If you appreciate good music (or any art) count your blessings but face it 
>that you will always be in a minority.

I know how much has been on.  Interestingly, though, my taste has shifted, 
and some of the stuff I though was unlistenable crap a few years back sounds 
pretty good now.  Time seems to weed out the crap and leave the best--or 
maybe we just learn to like it.


keets
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