Born and bred in this briarpatch!

[Bob Olhsson]

http://www.fmqb.com/article.asp?id=389486

[Mixerpuppet]

Cool article.

It's nice to have a knowledge base that remembers the evolution of the record/radio relationship.

I wonder how much of this is caused by the instant gratification syndrome.

I haven't sat "in" eating establishment in more than a month but have hit the drive thru plenty of times and I can't remember the last time I browsed a record store. I ordered my last 2 CD's online.

I've been thinking about buying a record player for my kids(10 & 7) and letting them have access to my limited vinyl.

[Bob Olhsson]

The ONLY reason people started springing for albums rather than singles around 1970 was extraordinary quality. Kind of amazing that 37 years later everybody seems to have forgotten something that is so utterly basic.

[MGMc]

And I think a big part of that quality you mention was that the music showed more depth and breadth. There was some actual variety to the albums. Not only are all the bands tripping over themselves to sound the same as every other band in their genre, but they are also going to great pains to make sure that every song they record sounds the same as every other song they record. Just like the ‘hits’ but not quite as good. Nothing adventurous. Nothing that is going to keep someone’s attention over the course of a dozen songs.

This ties into the other point in the article about the tightly drawn lines between the formats not being something that the listeners care for.

[jerryskid]

But it's kind of hard to do a "Concept Single".......:Roll eyes:

[jimmy v]

Back in the day the DJ actually had the power to select at least some of the material they played.This allowed unknown artists a chance to get some airplay.If an unknown would catch in a given market then the "industry" would jump on it and take it national.Now all the programing is done at a central office and the on air personality just reads the script.Yes local radio does do local talent shows but those are usually on sunday nite at nine.No audience.Its almost impossible now for a local talent to get on the airwaves locally,and if they cant get on locally the what are the odds of get any national exposure.This is just another example of the industry cuttin off its own dick in the rush to the quick buck. ...Back in the day a man could take his boat out on the ocean and catch fish to feed his family,then came the big packer boats,and then the big corporate fleets.Now theres no fishermen,but thats ok cause theres no fish left anyway..The music industry has created this nightmare and personally I feel no sympathy for anyone involved.People still like music and I doubt that will change.A free market economy is what we got and the consumer will always have the last word.Sales are down,big deal,my sales are up and growing.The industry ignored folks like me cause we wouldnt sell millions and now they are crying cause millions like me are takin a bite outa their pie.The heath of the industry has never effected me or folks like me.If the whole thing comes crashing down there will still be people playin music and people enjoying it.

[Bob Olhsson]

The music industry is not who created this nightmare.

It was created by the "deregulation" of broadcasting combined with the consolidation of radio's advertisers.

It's colossaly important for people to really understand what happened if they want to change things for the better.

[jimmy v]

The music industry is not who created this nightmare.

It was created by the "deregulation" of broadcasting combined with the consolidation of radio's advertisers.

It's colossaly important for people to really understand what happened if they want to change things for the better.

Obviously we have a completly different idea of what consitutes the "music industry".From my perspective the deregulated broadcasting co's,the advertisers,the record co's,film,television,its all part of the same elephant.I dont believe you can actually seperate any of it,the same thing is happening in the auto industry,more crap to choose from isnt really a choice.We the people choose what we got.If the population wants things a certain way they will get it.I dont believe there has been any significant change in broadcasting regs. here in Canada but the trends are the same.In the corporate world quarterly earnings are paramount.Art shmart,we need to make money.Coke,Sony,Nike,and the like,they decide who gets exposed to the masses.Sometimes they accidently get behind someone with talent but mostly its people who want to be stars.Thats who the "industry" supports,people who want to be stars.Thats what the people want,STARS. I stand by my comment."the industry has created this nightmare".

[jimmy v]

I got thinkin more bout this,rememberin back in the early seventies listenin to records you worked on Bob,and I realised that there is another contributing factor that I dont hear mentioned.See,back then it was pretty much all we had.TV was programed for our parents.We had music and sports. And weed,lets not forget the impact weed had on record sales.Alomost every kid I knew growing up would smoke a joint and listen to music.There were no video games,no internet,no other available source of entertainment.Just closed bedroom doors and loud music.Album covers were great to stare at. With so many more choices in the entertainment market it is no surprise that some traditionally profitable sectors would take a hit.In the neverending corporate struggle for growth the industry has completly lost touch with their market.Its so obvious from out here.I've watched again and again the industry desperatly grasping for the next big thing,and when they find it they flood the market with anything that is remotely similar.The thing is ..people want it,till they get it ..people like being starstruck and people like what those around them like.I think that although the music industry may be suffering, music is strong and healthy.It has always been true that the industry only represents a small sample of the available talent pool.The people will always want music and the people will always play music I do believe that the corporate mentality is the primary suspect in the murder of music,which kinda makes it a suicide.No?

[nobby]

I think the AOR format (Album Oriented Rock... remember that?) Was sort of almost an anomaly. The shot heard 'round the world was Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Extraordinary lengths went into the original production and the album cover itself, and people's jaws just dropped. The music print media invented a term for themselves, "concept album" to give themselves a subject to write about. John Lennon vociferously denounced the application of that term to Sgt. Pepper, and he was right; it was a collection of unrelated songs.

But concept albums, and prog followed. The same year as Sgt. Pepper, Cream came out, as did Hendrix's Are You Experienced.

Hey, Jimmy V, pass the freakin album cover and don't bogart that joint :grin:

But the AOR format (the sister format at the time IIRC was MOR, which was "Middle Of the Road"... which was more or less top 40... i.e. singles) lasted how long? Mid 70s? late 70's?

The single OTOH has been around for a hundred years. Probably best that we get used to it.

If Harker's article is correct (not sure of his studies variables) I think that it's a good thing that people are getting exposed to more types of music. But just because there are more genres than ever before doesn't mean that's happening. These sales bots seem to be programmed to try to sell you pretty much almost exactly what you just bought, a la targeted audience.

Still, having access to all the genres at virtual record stores and net radio coupled with a healthy dose of curiosity... :Thumbsup:

[jimmy v]

people like songs.

[Bob Olhsson]

People like songs but they can be blown away by performance.

Genre has always been something imposed from the outside. This includes handles such as "alternative" and "indi" because they buy into the false premise of genre.

[jimmy v]

People like songs but they can be blown away by performance.


Ya,thats what it comes down to,be it live or captured. Thats what creates a long term connection between the talent and the people.Thats what the people really want and they will find it.