I could have added this at the bottom of the K Rock post, but I want people to see this and I didn't want my message to be buried.
First of all, Indie has no ratings and it is absolutely fair to compare them to KROQ. Indie would get no ratings even if they had the best signal in LA.
These crap, obscure artists don't sell records and they don't get good callout.
Why do alternative stations play Nickelback?? How about 2.5 million albums sold (for "All The Right Reasons") and a gigantic amount of requests.
Remember people that radio is about serving a large audience not what some 20 something, upscale socialite thinks "is a great band." Nickelback, Fallout Boy, System of a Down--these people sell tickets, albums, get requests.
Dogs Die in Hot Cars, Uncle, Metric--these bands do not.
KROQ is a great station...it makes a lot of money, the air talent is respected...the few "too cool for the room" people who have dissed this station are living in LA LA land. Radio has never been about "the music." It's about making money by serving a large audience.
What should a station in market #1 or #2 play??
Nickelback--2.5 million records or some shithole "indie" band that's sold 2,000 records out of the back of their truck who got a rave review in Spin Magazine?
Trust me people, I listen to Lamb of God, Dying Fetus and Arch Enemy--all fierce metal bands.
However, I have no illusions that these bands don't sell that many records relative to the Black Eyed Peas and Kelly Clarkson. It would be great for me if K Rock has played these bands, but what about the 1,000's upon 1,000's of pissed off listeners who don't want to listen to some chick scream her lungs out??
Artistic merit is as good as a bullshit steak anymore in radio. I'm a musician who knows probably better than most on this board how tough it is to sell records or even get discovered.
The problem with a station like Indie is you have some pompous (BLEEP) trying to pick only music that is not being played on the more successful stations.
I mean really, who turns on and oldies station and says, "I want to hear a song that I don't remember, that I've never heard before, by some band who recorded the song in their basement?"
Come on people...use common sense.
The "indie" bands that do get into the mainstream--i.e. The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, She Wants Revenge and Modest Mouse--have an ability for mass appeal, or at least enough of one to warrant small play on a major radio station.
And of course, most of these bands have now been disowned by the "too cool for the room" indie listeners. Now they have to tout newer, similar bands, who have not been "contaminated by success."
Since when is being successful and making money a sin?
Personally, as a musician, I'd rather be Fallout Boy than the homeless guy on the street who only sings obscure, rare Dylan songs.
One of those puts food on the table, the other doesn't. You do the math.
First of all, Indie has no ratings and it is absolutely fair to compare them to KROQ. Indie would get no ratings even if they had the best signal in LA.
These crap, obscure artists don't sell records and they don't get good callout.
Why do alternative stations play Nickelback?? How about 2.5 million albums sold (for "All The Right Reasons") and a gigantic amount of requests.
Remember people that radio is about serving a large audience not what some 20 something, upscale socialite thinks "is a great band." Nickelback, Fallout Boy, System of a Down--these people sell tickets, albums, get requests.
Dogs Die in Hot Cars, Uncle, Metric--these bands do not.
KROQ is a great station...it makes a lot of money, the air talent is respected...the few "too cool for the room" people who have dissed this station are living in LA LA land. Radio has never been about "the music." It's about making money by serving a large audience.
What should a station in market #1 or #2 play??
Nickelback--2.5 million records or some shithole "indie" band that's sold 2,000 records out of the back of their truck who got a rave review in Spin Magazine?
Trust me people, I listen to Lamb of God, Dying Fetus and Arch Enemy--all fierce metal bands.
However, I have no illusions that these bands don't sell that many records relative to the Black Eyed Peas and Kelly Clarkson. It would be great for me if K Rock has played these bands, but what about the 1,000's upon 1,000's of pissed off listeners who don't want to listen to some chick scream her lungs out??
Artistic merit is as good as a bullshit steak anymore in radio. I'm a musician who knows probably better than most on this board how tough it is to sell records or even get discovered.
The problem with a station like Indie is you have some pompous (BLEEP) trying to pick only music that is not being played on the more successful stations.
I mean really, who turns on and oldies station and says, "I want to hear a song that I don't remember, that I've never heard before, by some band who recorded the song in their basement?"
Come on people...use common sense.
The "indie" bands that do get into the mainstream--i.e. The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, She Wants Revenge and Modest Mouse--have an ability for mass appeal, or at least enough of one to warrant small play on a major radio station.
And of course, most of these bands have now been disowned by the "too cool for the room" indie listeners. Now they have to tout newer, similar bands, who have not been "contaminated by success."
Since when is being successful and making money a sin?
Personally, as a musician, I'd rather be Fallout Boy than the homeless guy on the street who only sings obscure, rare Dylan songs.
One of those puts food on the table, the other doesn't. You do the math.
