RE: Art movements and commercialism

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

> > Performers such as N'Sync and individual artists like Britney
> > Spears do meet the definition of commercialism, as they are marketed 
>according to a particular formula that the managers know is a proven 
>winner.
>
>Here's where I might have a problem with that. What if The Rolling Stones 
>or The Kinks do a disco song? Are they "selling out" or exploring a new 
>form of music? How do you know?

The other side of commercialism is the institutional kind, which is what 
Macero is complaining about.  That's when editors insist on Stephen King 
type manuscripts, and galleries insist on Warhol type paintings and record 
companies insist on N'Sync type boy band recordings because they figure this 
is the formula that will bring them the best return on their investment. In 
that case, they almost force artists to "sell out" in order to get signed 
and make use of the distribution network that the big companies control.

Artists who are very successful and have enough money to fight their 
contracts can sometimes alter the terms once they're in.  I seem to recall 
George Michael fought through a nasty lawsuit to break his contract because 
it specified the type of recording that he would make and he wanted more 
freedom.  I gather that Prince was in a similar squabble over use of his 
name.

A similar problem is when radio or TV will only air material that falls 
within their format, say the N'Sync/Britnay Spears stuff, because it's the 
big money-maker.  This way they actually cut off more creative artists.  
It's a dis-service to older artists like Johnny Cash as well as as young and 
unheard musicians.

The Internet has recently provided a glimpse of a different distribution 
system where musicians can put up a website and sell their own cds.  Does 
anybody think that system will evenually replace the current one?


keets
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