MY THOUGHTS ON BASHING STATIONS FOR "INSUFFICIENT" MICHAEL JACKSON COVERAGE

Wildstyle K · Jun 26, 2009

I think, while understandable, it is also a little... wrong... to criticize a station for not "going all Michael" or doing as much as some people believe is appropriate on the entire situation.

Why? It's both for psychological and business reasons..

1. Not everybody grieves or comes to closure the exact same way another person might, so for one to expect that because they'd handle it a certain way, then everyone else should too, it's not really... well, open minded thinking. Everybody is different. Some may not wish to be hit 24/7 with the same depressing news. It also makes a difference when and what time you receive the news. Your reaction and how you want to deal with it will be different if you are at work (9/11) than it would be if you have the day off at home (Aaliyah / Selena), or are on vacation (like when I found out about Lisa "left eye" Lopez in Cuba). Age can also be a factor on what you wish to hear, and I'd expect a station like Radio Disney not to do a full coverage...

2. If a station is not live, or mostly pre-recorded, then those can be the places where people who do not wish to be constantly saddened or reminded can turn to. Besides, one never knows what really might be going on behind the scenes as music is playing on a station. I could understand some just taking the day off a bit and letting things run completely on auto pilot over the airwaves, or just doing a sprinkle of coverage here and there while trying to keep everything else as "normal day" sounding as possible.

I came to this conclusion and way of thinking mostly from what happened on 9/11, when someone called KissFM KZZP to criticize KPTY The Party for playing music, and the morning show very intelligently said something along the lines of (I don't remember the specific wording); "I understand your frustration about certain stations wanting to be all "we're all party all the time" and all that, but this is not a time to criticize, and you must remember; not everyone can handle or wants to deal with 24/7 coverage of a situation of this matter, and I believe that everyone has the right to handle the situation as they wish, the best they can for themselves. For some people, that might mean getting a little info and once they had enough they just want to sit back and listen to some music....."

I can agree to this to some extent because the last thing I want to do is turn on the radio at night to hear this all night in my sleep, only to wake up and be bambarted with the news as an introduction to the new day. I actually just kept the radio off after 12am, knowing what the morning shows would be like... and listened to Sirius BPM... which.. I still managed to wake up JUST IN TIME to hear something! Anyway, no talk radio, and pretty much no radio in general for me outside of mix show play, since all the songs tend to have a bit of a gloomy feel and sound to them today. Very bad time for me to get into a car and hear "apologize" by One republic on Kiss FM, and even the "I gotta feeling" song by Black Eyed Peas sounds a bit.... well, I don't know how to describe it. The Keri Hilson "knocks you down"... I don't know. A bunch of stuff are just sounding a bit "situational, eerie, and gloomy" today (which some would probably wonder why I'd listen to the type of rhythms that are played on Sirius BPM..). Anyway, I can't just sit here and listen to nonstop Michael Jackson hits at the moment... and it doesn't help when you go to Yes dot com and the picture for all the MJ tracks eerily and brightly stand out. Maybe it's just me. I have my own personal issues, phobias, and thoughts when it comes to death or something I know being dead that I don't want to deal with.. or reminders of how plans and things could drastically change with little or no warning and - THAT'S IT.. sometimes before you even come to realize or discover the situation has already taken place.

Well... as for me personally, I'm fine with getting my news about any situation on Talk Radio or News Channels, or SOME music channels. No Coast to Coast AM with George Noory for me this weekend.

landtuna · Jun 26, 2009

Re: MY THOUGHTS ON BASHING STATIONS FOR "INSUFFICIENT" MICHAEL JACKSON COVERAGE

I was/am not a MJ fan - of his music or his personality. I don't wish anyone dying at such a young age but I can't help but believe his life style is going to be proven to have contributed significantly, just as happened with Elvis - so I can't feel sorry for him either.

But it is interesting to note that in the past number of months I can't recall hearing one single MJ piece (and I would have because I immediately change the station) yet the stations fall all over themselves now that he's gone.

While I think mention of his passing is noteworthy it really won't affect a significant number of people outside his immediate family. He hasn't been the entertainer he once was for a very long time. He died, in effect, years ago.

Knowing what was coming when I heard the news yesterday I just popped some CD's into the car for the next few days. Interestingly, "Dust In The Wind" was the first song played. How appropriate!

Wildstyle K · Jun 26, 2009

Re: MY THOUGHTS ON BASHING STATIONS FOR "INSUFFICIENT" MICHAEL JACKSON COVERAGE

I've had the discussions with my sister about the whole Elvis/Michael thing that's coming, and what will come with Madonna. I agree he will go down in history for these past few generations as Elvis did in his generations.

One of the benefits of Michael dying so young is that he got to go without too many years of no music following his successful career, causing a fade out of the fame he's managed to hold on to now. Imagine Whitney Houston or anyone else who passes a long time after their music career and generation becomes the elderly - it just isn't or wont be the same. Dying too young can also have its bad affects as well, especially when not given enough time to REALLY live up to and show all that you could have done.

Michael's time came almost at a perfect time. Not during his biggest successes, but also not too long way out in the future to the point his years of no music became equal to the musical years.

Madonna will really mean something to me when her time comes, and so will Janet, but somehow I believe Janet's time will not be as massive as Madonna... Paula Abdul? Well as much as I regret it, I must say because of too much time passing since her last chart topping hit, she will not be recognized for everything she was. All the people who love her will be around her age, maybe a little younger, but mostly close to that age for that generation. MC Hammer will not get anything like Madonna, Paula, or Janet. Never knew Selena much, but just felt she gave off positive vibes as a good person.

After Madonna, we're pretty much done with the "greatness". Aaliyah could have easily been one of the greatest, if only things worked out just a little bit differently! ..But who knows in reality if she'd still be making chart topping hits today, in 2009? was she willing to modernize with the times and sing over uptempo r&b, pop, and dance beats? Or would she have been like Mariah and refuse to change too much with the times and stick to some typical beat tempo? You may ask "well what about this hip hop generation/decade/15 years of hip hop being the top 40 phase?" Well this is how I explained it to my sister: "There's going to be Elvis, Michael Jackson, A bunch of rappers, and whoever pops up for whatever should take over for the next generation". Maybe Notorious BIG, Jay-Z, Tupac, and Eminem will be the bigger ones in the whole "game". 50 Cent will be well broadcasted, while Ludacris will remain "arguably" one of the tops with the big 4. Not sure how Dr Dre or Snoop will rank.. and Sir Mix A Lot and 2 Live crew may get just about as much coverage as what happened with Run DMC. Madonna pretty much shares Michael's generation, so.... but she does differ in the fact that she's covered a much wider diversity in music genre's, and has maintained relativity and top 40 radio friendly-ness, even up until 2008- early 2009. The only thing really left for this generation "Huge Pop Star-wise" is Britney, if she can manage to survive long enough musically and humanly to maintain success throughout the next few generations. Britney is already following in Madonna's footsteps when it comes to changing with the times, maintaining success as phases in music generations pass...etc. I don't think Lady GaGa has reached Britney's level at this point. Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake? Hmmm... I'll just say Justin will be a "bigger deal" to the majority out of the two. Who knows what MC Hammer will be like... not quite as much as Donald Trump or Bill Clinton, who currently don't even have any hits at all.

Will Smith has been able to keep his status high by going right from hot music to hot films, so both the TV and Radio (and whatever other future technology comes) will be able to jump on that.

Group's or their members never get the recognition they deserve - because they are groups. Groups must automatically share the fame, and groups never tend to all go at once. Beyonce becoming solo might help her out a bit when it comes to history recognition.

It's funny how many Pilots, Doctors, Teachers, Police Officers, Bus Drivers, Architects, Advertisers, Military Troops...etc. do so much to meaningfully and even physically better and save people's lives, yet because they don't have any chart topping hits or tv exposure, they'll probably never even get any more recognition than La Bouche ("be my lover"/"sweet dreams"), or Nadine Renee from Planet & Soul ("set you free") did when their times came. I didn't even hear about them passing until years later, and they were great, talented people too. Will anyone even give credit to Shannon or Pebbles...or Ace of Base?

I must say, logically speaking, why must we wait for someone to pass before saying "OK I guess we could break the rules and give them more attention NOW.."? Why does everything suddenly change just because the natural death of life occurs? People say all they wish, then ALL THE SUDDEN, life is no longer present in the body, therefore we must ONLY talk about the good and how everyone who dies was "such a good person", up until a point when everyone is like "ok, I guess it's ok to make jokes again". It's so funny how people operate on this planet! Well...... contradicting my "good person" statement, OJ Simpson's time will be interesting, but quick, and on another note, I do not want to be here to see what it will be like when Obama's time comes because I can already feel how that would be (unless of course something unexpected shall pop up to kill the current popularity status, or he lives to be 95 or so, leaving much time, many women, and other races to "rise up" after his term).

whit979 · Jun 26, 2009

Re: MY THOUGHTS ON BASHING STATIONS FOR "INSUFFICIENT" MICHAEL JACKSON COVERAGE

The Michael Jackson music marathons won't go beyond the weekend. It's the most significant death in the music industry in probably 15 years or more. I don't mind hearing stations pay tribute to him in this way.

butlerguy03 · Jun 26, 2009

Re: MY THOUGHTS ON BASHING STATIONS FOR "INSUFFICIENT" MICHAEL JACKSON COVERAGE

There are only a very few artists that we would go above and beyond normal "extra" spins. Because of the vast library, Michael Jackson was easy. Madonna and Bono from U2 will get the much added attention, Mariah Carey has fallen off but still remains one of the top singles hit artists off all time. I think the size of the library matters. Stephen Tyler and Snoop Dogg. My wife contends that Beyonce has almost reached the Mariah Carey level, and I can definately see that. She has changed with the times and remains very important to pop radio. Britney has the major hits, but a small library compared to the others here. However, can anyone compete with Elvis, Michael Jackson or even when Paul McCartney passes (hopefully not for a very long time!).

Wildstyle K · Jun 26, 2009

Re: MY THOUGHTS ON BASHING STATIONS FOR "INSUFFICIENT" MICHAEL JACKSON COVERAGE

Britney is one of those "must stick around for another decade or two to be at that level of recognition" artists. I'm sure there are probably a few rock/alternative bands I left out, but their style of music is so much towards one genre sound that it wont get the massive recognition a pop song could easily receive. It is too bad that Phil Collins probably wouldn't get the attention he deserves as a result of how much the popular sound of music has changed today. He'd be somewhat ignored on current rhythmic, top 40, and urban formats. Mariah Carey has fizzled herself out too much, so the deep "awe" has been lessened. Madonna will gladly get to be the woman to use the one first name on the female side, like Elvis has done on the male side. only difference, Elvis's last name is sometimes used. Madonna's is normally never used.

I truly wish Aaliyah stayed around. When her songs were being played, you could hear such art in all of them. As far as Beyonce, she will not get too much attention outside of rhythmic top 40 or urban format, unlike the way Michael has been able to overcome genres with his styles... but if she can manage to last long enough to the point where the AC stations (possibly begin to) lean more on the urban sound than the alternative sound, or if she begins to cross genre boundaries with established future hits, it may work out. Prince will also be a radio genre breaker as well. . ..but most of all of this is just hypothesis. Maybe something unexpected and surprising may happen and Taylor Swift or Jordin Spark might somehow outshine everyone and become the next big thing..or Kelly Clarkson.. or we could have some guy similar to Ricky Martin cross over out of no where, spark a whole new latin pop craze that really takes off this time in the U.S. then spreads international, and have a pure spanish lyricist / latin pop star of the future generation. The talk of the town would be, We've never experienced a sensation quite like this... how this all started was unusual and unexpected..."

Who knows... Imagine someone releasing a bunch of Christmas hits that make it so big and hot that people are forced to play many of them all year round for many years to come, and that artists becomes... Ok maybe this is too much of a stretch of the imagination. ..But that doesn't mean it couldn't someday happen by accident!

BRH · Jul 1, 2009

Re: MY THOUGHTS ON BASHING STATIONS FOR "INSUFFICIENT" MICHAEL JACKSON COVERAGE

I grew up on Jackson in the 80s and his music was huge. But "was" is the key word. He really has little relation to today's CHR. If I was programming a CHR, I certainly wouldn't go all MJ or spend too much time on it. After all, the last "real" hit he had was in 1990 with Black or White, which was before many current CHR listeners were even born.

Roger That · Jul 2, 2009