quoted 44 lines Hello,>Hello,
>
>On Tue, 10 Sep 1996 16:20:06 -0400, "Frank Deutschmann"
><fdeutsch@bfm.com> wrote:
>
>> I wouldn't be
>>surprised if the Tricky vid started getting some air on MTV -- its not too far
>>from the mainstream (and I don't think that's all that bad).
>
>I don't think you understand what has been going on the last few
>years.
>
>Since Kurt Cobain died, MTV has broadcast zero minutes of new music.
>
>Everything has been a retread of something previous.
>Nirvana-wannabes, Cocteau_Twins-wannabees, Grateful_Dead-wannabees,
>etc. etc. etc.
>
>MTV *knows* all about techno, they broadcast the "Love Parade" live on
>MTV Europe - and as mentioned on this mailing list, MTV Europe
>broadcasts techno videos all the time.
>
>There is some techno everywhere on USA TV and radio, except in *music*
>programming. EG the "Showbiz Today" program on CNN uses entirely
>techno music for their lead-ins, and even the Rush Limbaugh radio show
>uses plenty of house and techno for their lead-ins (called "bumps" in
>the radio business).
>
>So, MTV is clearly afraid of something with regards to techno. At the
>silly Woodstock '94 festival, MTV went out of their way to make fun of
>ravers who were there to catch The Orb. No other festival goers were
>made fun of.
>
>This is why the AMP program is so surprising.
>
>And is probably why it is only being shown at 3 a.m. ...
>
>
>Cheers,
>
>Ken <*>
>kstuart@mail.telis.org
>
>My favorite CD for 1996 so far = Orbital - "In Sides"
A couple of things are going on here. First is the ongoing conspiracy on
the part of the music business to destroy any form of popular music that
doesn't include guitars and vocals. A couple of possible reasons:
rock'n'roll is much more expensive to produce, and requires such things as
dedicated recording facilities, studio musicians and extended recording
schedules, with the resultant exorbitant studio and rental fees. The
industry doesn't want to let go of the power they wield from being the only
ones able to summon up that kind of cash flow. Techno is being produced by
kids in their bedrooms, and that scares the shit out the established
industry. The same thing is apparent with the lack of vocals: the
publishing industry doesn't know how to handle instrumental material, and
is not happy when an instrumental song somehow slips through to mainstream
acceptance. How does a publishing company control cover versions of a song
that doesn't have any lyrics (which are a large factor in securing a strong
copyright on a song.)
The second factor is, at least in the US, a lingering fear of being stamped
as somehow less masculine by abandoning all those phallic symbols that are
built into rock'n'roll. The disco era, when industry people were forced to
rub shoulders with honest-to-god homosexuals, is still casting a long
shadow. The prospect of again having to deal with a nation of people waving
their hands in the air and shaking their butts to the boogie beat frankly
scares this incredibly homophobic industry.
Think about it: who are the only dance-oriented bands that have mainstream
success, outside of the ghettoized gay, club or minority markets? Bands
(and never solo artists) who dabble in techno, but maintain the forms that
keep the industry comfortable (a cute female lead singer, guitars,
expensive studio freaks controlling the creative output.)
OK, enough rambling. I've been thinking about this a lot, so I'd love some
feedback...
[Home is where the stereo is]
Finally back from his sojourn in the great North,
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