Reuters is carrying a story on decision by several metal bands to soften their own sound in an attempt to get more radio play. I just can’t understand why someone would sacrifice her or her craft for monetary gain alone. I guess some people will do anything for a buck.
Hard rockers Flaw from Louisville, who blend sensitive melodies with aggressive guitars and anguished screams, are hoping to break through on radio with “Recognize,” a song featuring clean guitars and vocal harmonies from their second album, “Endangered Species.”
“We thought that if we came out with one of our heavier songs first it might not be grabbed onto by daytime radio,” said singer Chris Voltz of the band's new strategy. “This time the first song that we gave to radio was one of the softer, more daytime-acceptable songs.” […]
If I were in the same position, I’d just make the best music I could and make my money from CD sales and concerts. And, if that didn't work out, I may try to improve the band’s sound, but I wouldn’t want to dumb it down. Oh, and do I even need to mention that Metallica is also featured in the article?
Unfortunately, it’s a sad fact of life that Metal is dead in the States. There’s just no room left in radio for anything other than mainstream pop. It reminds me of a great quote that I can’t remember who said:
Freedom of the press only applies of you own one.
The people have to learn the truth behind radio before anything will change. Radio will play what the people demand. It’s just that nobody’s demanding anything. Radio has managed to con America into demanding what it gives them; it’s a vicious cycle.
So – I don’t listen to the radio (well, that’s not entirely true – I listen to a few specific shows on a local non-commercial station that caters to alternative music later in the evening. I also listen to AM talk radio). They’re not giving me what I demand.
But it’s not that simple for a stuggling, non-mainstream band. I know this, second-hand….lot’s of second hands. My brother, my uncles, local bands, etc. Since the people have been trained to demand what radio plays, you have to give radio what it demands – or you don’t get played. You don’t get access to those traditionally market-receptive ears. And that’s a lot of bucks.
And this doesn’t just apply to radio. It also applies to record labels who have to limit creativity of their major artists or fear being banned from the most lucrative shelf in America: Wal Mart. On average, Wal Mart stocks about 400 titles in the CD section. For a large part of America, Wal Mart is the only place they have to buy CDs (or the only place they’ll go). Not making their cut is a guarantee that you’ll lose access to roughly one quarter to one half of the music listeners in America.
And I have to take exception to the typical notion of “selling out”. You can release a crappy single to the radio. You don’t have to play that same crap for your audience in the stands. Just get ’em in the door. Hell, it worked for Jimmy Carter. :)
#undef rant
http://www.yesiknow.com/lte/MP3/water.mp3
Guess who it is?
some interesting thoughts by David Eggers (of a Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius fame) on selling out:
http://www.armchairnews.com/freelance/eggers.html
ulysses:
It’s A Dream Theatre spin-off called Liquid Tension Experiment. I recognize it instantly. Basically, DT with Tony Levin (played with Peter Gabriel among others) on bass and without LaBrie’s pitiful excuse for vocals.
:)
Why?
Josh:
Thanks! Didn’t know Peter Gabriel had a part in it.
As for why, I wanted to see if anyone else had heard of Liquid Tension Experiment. My bro just introduced me to that song and I was pleasantly surprised at the lack of vocals.
Gabriel has nothing to do w/ LTE – I guess you misunderstood/I mistyped. Levin used to play w/ Gabriel (has Bass and stick playing is an incredible element of the album ‘Security’).
The keyboard player, Jordan Rudess, has since joined Dream Theater (sorry for my mis-spelling on my previous post), making Levin the only real “guest” in LTE.
I have LTE 1 and 2. 2 is great – 1 is good. Guess I can stop holding my breath for 3. :(
Bends?