Adam J Weitzman wrote:
quoted 6 lines I'm sick and tired of the theory that "the masses are clueless; only we>
> I'm sick and tired of the theory that "the masses are clueless; only we
> know what good music really is." This delusional and condescending
> attitude makes one seem like a complete snob, which turns people *off* to
> the music you're trying to expose them to.
>
Is that quoted theory from someone's post? Or are you putting words in
someone else's mouth?
The masses *are* clueless...due to the their ignorance of a wider musical
spectrum. Nobody is saying "only we know what good music really is."
We're just saying that Top40 rarely gives way to alternative/experimental
stuff, which means the masses stay ignorant to the stuff. If they are
given the chance to hear it from the places where they hear current Top40
(clubs, radios, MTV), then they are given a spectrum to choose from! The
masses shouldn't have to blindly (or rather deafly) buy music they aren't
sure about, or be required to have a friend to give them a sample (as you
say you do, but this isn't mass exposure or distribution). The masses
only stick to what they know. Most people don't arbitrarily try out new
stuff in a music store unless they've been exposed to it...a lot.
And to give the masses a choice, the music currently not being exposed as
much should be given atleast equal exposure. I'm not saying be in the charts
regardless of popularity, but it should all be given as much chance as the
"One" video did. BTW, How do you know that is was *viewers'* choice that
made that video play so much?? It's very possible that a video can be
paid-to-be-played so many times that it's driven into the heads of the masses.
And much of the *clueless* masses *will* buy into it.
Mainly because other varieties of music don't get equal exposure and thus
don't seem "popular". Masses do go with the flow.
Your argument is that each music deserves the level of popularity that it
currently has...that techno deserves to be right where it is...
My argument is opposite. It's NOT the masses which make the music popular -
- it's the music which makes the masses popular: Stick to the norm, conform,
fit in, go with the flow. Well, it is a little bit of both, but MORESO the
latter than the former. No, it's not the "grassy knoll" theory, but rather
more subtle, it's corporate conspiracy. A big reason why techno is not up
there in the Top40 is because it's on SMALL labels run by SMALL businesses,
rarely corps. Aphex is getting recognition (exposure) know because he's on
a BIGGER label, not because the viewers/masses requested him. So he's being
given a chance like Metallica did, but there will be unequal exposure...
Popularity of music is not due totally to the interest/disinterest of the
masses; it's moreso due to the industry. Only a small number of people even
heard of Aphex Twin. This is due to the industry! Not because the masses
don't request it! HOW CAN THEY REQUEST SOMETHING THEY HAVEN'T HEARD???
And about snobbery: I find more snobs in the current Top40 world (however,
due to the fact that there are more people in the mainstream, the percentage
of snobs will be a greater number). There are more closed-minded people...
They aren't willing to go against the flow! This happened to me lastnight;
going around mainstream/Top40 clubs lastnight promoting for a rave, there are
SO many cautious, unsure, some stuck-up, snobby, ignorant, closed-minded
people (or maybe it's just Houston:)... WHEREAS, at a rave, nearly everyone
is basically easy to chat with on a similar wavelength (well, this may be due
to the fact that ravers have a more common wavelength than the vast variety
of people in the mainstream do with each other). But anyway, I find many
more NUMBERS of open-minded, intelligent people at raves than I do in the
masses (and raves are ITTY BITTY compared to the masses!!!)
Don't call us elite simply because we are a small people powerfully trying
to expose the masses to the music that we play. There are those of us who
get so frustrated with the industry sometimes that they seem like arrogant
elitist jerks, but this should not affect the music or the mass' decisions
and opinions on the music itself. So those who indeed DO have that attitude
of "The top40 you listen to is crap; here, listen to some REAL music" can't
be blamed for any music's unpopularity among the masses...but it would help
to prevent a notorious rave scene if this attitude were left at home (I have
a friend who is like this and was promoting with me last night...he turned
several people off, but those people were rather snobby to begin with).
Anyway, I hope atleast some of this post has valid points which disprove
your theory that "techno deserves to be right where it is."
How can it deserve to be there when the ladder hasn't been raised to give
it a chance to climb??? The major force which raises this ladder is the
industry, not the music quality or choice of the masses. That's my argument.
-djkc