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 Post subject: Boyd mulls over the fall of radio and rise of indiePosted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 11:05 am 
Regale us with your wisdom on this subject, one and all! Why does modern radio suck so bad? here's my take on it (from the newbie thread); i'd like to hear other opinions: Quote: i think radio sucks because, 1) it's all owned by like the same 2 mega-corp-conglomo-evil-soulless-companies, and 2) because they think that we want to hear the same 10-song playlist. when austin's awesome, independently owned "alternative" station died, and was replaced by clearchannel nonsense, that's the day the music died. i test the waters of FM about once every couple of months and shriek in horror, retreating to my cd player.
i was talking with this guy who played with ok go over dinner once, and he was telling me the most interesting thing about radio stations like the big "alt rock" stations. part of how they determine their playlists is by calling males from 18-24, playing them little clips of songs (like nickleback or 3 doors down), and getting either a thumbs up or thumbs down. that's why a lot of bands that appeal to more sensible folk, or girls for that matter, don't get played. i really wish i had a ton of money, i would start my own radio station that caters to people who like the sorts of bands that are always talked about on this forum. there's a huge untapped market there, i think, of people sick of what's on mainstream radio. you'd think the mega-evils would have picked up on that by now, and tried to trick us with something "indy." _________________ hello. |
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Joined: 23 Aug 2003 | Posts: 5978 | Location: Austin, Texas
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 11:19 am
here,here! I second your motion. I mean, I'm not downing any pop artist. I mean they're out there making music that people enjoy and making lots of money. I'm sure there are many kids out there who love every song on the radio but come on folks, why not play some good music once in a while for those of us who "Gettin' Low" and "Senorita" doesn't appeal. Where has all the music gone? _________________ Elizabeth: You two could never make out. You'd start a fire! Me: Why? Because we're so hott that we'd just combust into spontaneous flames of hottness? Elizabeth: No, because that's what happens when two sticks rub together! My brand spankin' new xanga! http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=matchbox17 ~Madi |
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Joined: 16 Oct 2003 | Posts: 94 | Location: Whitehouse, TX
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 11:20 am
Absolutely right. The radio in my car broke and I don't care. If I need to play something, it's on CD or one of my mp3 players. _________________ God is a place you will wait for the rest of your life |
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Joined: 26 Dec 2002 | Posts: 407 | Location: Houston, Texas
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 11:22 am
Firestarter17 wrote: I mean, I'm not downing any pop artist. I wouldn't call most people that get radio play "artists". They're performers selected because they look good and can play someone else's music passably - professional cover bands. Obviously this does not apply to all of them, but in my opinion it goes for a significant majority. _________________ God is a place you will wait for the rest of your life |
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Joined: 26 Dec 2002 | Posts: 407 | Location: Houston, Texas
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 11:24 am
Well said, GlassUser--simple, and to the point. I can't remember the last time I listened to the radio besides when it's been on in the car from time to time... |
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Joined: 21 Nov 2003 | Posts: 2290 |
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 11:32 am
You're right about radio playing the same handful of songs. I don't mind bands like Creed and Puddle of Mudd getting air play, but I do mind it when they get played over and over all day long. We need some variety. Radio stations don't want to take a chance. I remember the local Clear Channel rock station (KTBZ in Houston) played Ben Folds's Rockin' The Suburbs... and I about drove off the road out of surprise. But it was in the middle of the night and that was the only time I heard it. How can an artist find an audience like that? Radio isn't about exposing us to a variety of music. It's about promoting the few chosen artists and bands. Even a band like Radiohead doesn't get much time on the radio in Houston. For example, KTBZ is supposed to be a rock station... or so I thought. But they will play Eminem. One station in Houston does try to do things the right way. KTRU... 91.7 in Houston ( http://www.ktru.org ). It's a college radio station that plays everything you've never heard of. I'm not talking about indie stuff... I'm talking about stuff you've really never heard of (or maybe that's just me). That includes experimental music and... I've ever heard them play tribal stuff. Of course, the problem with KTRU is it's on the opposite end of the spectrum as mainstream radio. They generally don't play many artists on major record labels. Check it out... they stream online. _________________ "If you're a ninja, every day is like friday." -Jamie M. |
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Joined: 28 Jan 2003 | Posts: 2857 | Location: Lake Jackson, TX
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 11:39 am
Ya see... here's my theory... Yes, things that are on the radio are commercialized. They are manipulated to be liked by the masses, and it seems to work. Some people just don't buy into it. And these are the anti-radio people. Me, I would never restrict myself from liking something simply because it was mastered and remastered and doctored up by sound gidgets and gadgets. I like Britney Spears and I don't care if she can sing or not. She entertains me. I think Justin Timberlake is incredibly talented. But that's just my opinion. To sum it up though, now that I've contradicted myself, I do appreciate music more when it is real. It's just hard to come by nowadays on radio and TV in this MTV generation of ours. But it is possible. Look at bands like Coldplay-- they don't suck and they're on the radio. haha. Anyway, most of what I listen to would never be snatched up by the corporate world, but I still have to defend my right to listen to Britney and Justin. Haha Have any of you heard of a band called Ours, by the way? They're great. If you haven't, you should check them out. On the third day of Christmas... Riana |
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Joined: 23 Dec 2003 | Posts: 4 |
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 11:42 am
i have heard of ours, seen them a couple of times in austin, actually. quite good. although, my gf can't stand the wailing after a while. i agree that you shouldn't not like a song because it's mainstream. i think the main problem is there's no variety _________________ hello. |
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Joined: 23 Aug 2003 | Posts: 5978 | Location: Austin, Texas
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 11:49 am
xshiningstar008 wrote: Ya see... here's my theory...Riana snipped for brevity I know "boy band" artists. Justin does not seem to be one of them. Brittany seems like every other cookie-cutter pop diva. One of them might be entertaining, but not an hour straight of it. Unfortunately that type of stuff seems to make up over 50% of mainstream radio (the other stations specialize in generic rap/hip-hop, country, or older stuff). The point is though, like the previous poster said, that not all the music played on the radio sucks, they just take a very narrow slice of the types of music available and play only that, suck or not. _________________ God is a place you will wait for the rest of your life |
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Joined: 26 Dec 2002 | Posts: 407 | Location: Houston, Texas
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 12:00 pm
I think pop music is a lot better now than it was a couple years ago...........i am not saying im buying all the cds, but i think Justin Timberlakes solo stuff, Outkast, uhh, Beyonce? are all "artists" and are at least putting out fun stuff...........Modern rock is a total different beast right now.........96 percent of the stuff out there right now is music to lift weights and beat your girlfriend to....not my cup of tea _________________ "Without music, life would be a mistake." -Friedrich Nietzsche |
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Joined: 20 Jul 2003 | Posts: 658 | Location: Austin, tx
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 12:14 pm
[/quote] Unfortunately that type of stuff seems to make up over 50% of mainstream radio.[/quote] Hence the reason that I do not listen to the radio... ever. I just happen to enjoy some of the things I come across. But yes, I will agree that they play the same songs over and over and over and it is obnoxious. So that's why I ignore it. I can't even remember the last time I wasn't listening to a CD in my car.. Cheers to the guy who likes Ours! I would LOVE to see them live. Hmm... let's see... ever listened to a band called Coheed and Cambria? They are also grand. Check them out too. Riana |
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Joined: 23 Dec 2003 | Posts: 4 |
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 12:20 pm
I want more than entertainment. _________________ signed: Omygosh, Emperor of Shmo **the turtle stamp of approval** www.soulstrum.com |
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Joined: 03 Jul 2003 | Posts: 1195 | Location: West Texas
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 12:31 pm
ahww...I like Keith. Well, I like all of you but I'm laughing at Keith's post. Every stop and wonder what's wrong with us? I mean...we're sure we're right. But we're totally in the minority...well, apparently we are. Those radio artists are selling millions; someone is buying more of their art than of Deathcab or Pedro or Broken Social Scene or Modest Mouse or The Flaming Lips or Ed Harcourt or Portishead or Rilo Kiley or Ester Drang or Midlake or The Shinns or Nuetral Milk Hotel or Fire Theft or Muse or Ben Folds or Eisley...or... fill in the blank. I know they're not all indie. I wouldn't mind hearing the Foo-Fighters, Coldplay, Pink Floyd, The Cure, The Beatles, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Rufus Waynewright, Jeremy Enigk...and Eisley...and plenty of Midlake... overdose on Midlake. But all I get in my town is top 40 crappy crap crap. What makes us the way we are? What makes us repel hype, pretentious behavior, glam, commercialism...? I've been asking myself that lately. Is it a journey? a cycle? I didn't used to mind over-produced, radio music... What makes us pretty much be on this side of the camp and them on the other? Like the difference between musicians and jocks. And how do we take over radio? (is that like taking over Detroit? or the NFL? or the Government?) Why can't someone create a strong company that airs good rock...(indie, art, prog rock, Brit rock, radiohead rock  eisley rock, etc that sells ads and pays the bills and has a strong
market position? Who among you will pick up the torch? And how does all of this play into the strategies of mega labels? Did they create radio? Or is radio just the fastest way to sell millions of records. (hint: yes). These questions and more. _________________ EisleyWebGuy "The industrialists never saw the fruit of their own labor - Post Moderism, which I now proclaim as dead. Their forefathers digital revolutionists, have accelerated the final resolve by punctuating an end to our chaotic journey with a new manifesto and a new era: The Age of Meaning." (manifesto's sold separate) Welcome: Illuminists |
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Joined: 04 Nov 2002 | Posts: 5180 | Location: Tyler, Texas
Last edited by boyd on Tue Dec 23, 2003 12:46 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 12:39 pm
boyd wrote: Every stop and wonder what's wrong with us? I mean...we're sure we're
right. But we're totally in the minority...well, apparently we are. Those radio artists are selling millions; someone is buying more of their art than of Deathcab or Pedro or Rilo Kiley or Ester Drang or Midlake or The Shinns or Eisley...or... fill in the indie blank. Yeah... that's the strange thing about it all. But I used to like radio (and MTV) as well. It's where I discovered bands like Pearl Jam, The Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer, Alice in Chains, REM, Nirvana, Faith No More, Rage Against The Machine... At the time, I'm sure there were plenty who didn't care for that stuff... I suppose. But then I think about all the bands I've discovered without radio (Ben Folds Five, Rooney, Pavement, Phish...), and I wonder how many more are out there that I COULD be discovering. _________________ "If you're a ninja, every day is like friday." -Jamie M. |
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Joined: 28 Jan 2003 | Posts: 2857 | Location: Lake Jackson, TX
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2003 12:41 pm
boyd wrote: Every stop and wonder what's wrong with us? I mean...we're sure we're right. But we're totally in the minority...well, apparently we are. Like the difference between musicians and jocks. i don't think anything's wrong with us. mass produced mediajunk is like slop in the troughs of the mindless herds. it's all about the mob mentality, and it is a rare mob that ever did anything right. boyd wrote: And how do we take over radio? (is that like taking over Detroit? or the NFL? or the Government?) Why can't someone create a strong company that airs good rock...(indie, art, prog rock, Brit rock, radiohead rock eisley rock, etc that sells ads and pays the bills and has a strong market position? Who among you will pick up the torch?i love that line, boyd, you make me think of: 
i would lead the revolution in a heartbeat, if i had the funds. still waiting for my big lotto payoff.  _________________ hello. |
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Joined: 23 Aug 2003 | Posts: 5978 | Location: Austin, Texas
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