Short time to type this question out, as it's time to get ready for work.

Is the popular music system outise the USA as fucked as it is here? I mean, here radio stations play like eight to ten songs on repeat all day long, and then those eight to ten artists end up selling the most records. The RIAA then wonders why their record sales are dropping, while independent labels are seeing more sales than ever. Independently and locally owned radio is almost gone here in the USA.

It seems that smaller bands have a better chance of actually making it overseas... I'd just like the outsider's point of view on the subject. Thanks!

I'd go on, but I don't have time.

 

I don't actually listen to the radio much, but I know that UK stations have 'playlists' and there are many independent radio stations where you feel that the DJ is down the pub and left a continuous tape-loop running!

 

I cant even turn on my radio any more without geting angry and throwing the damn thing out the window. Thats why god invented ipods that thing was well worth that kidney i use it alot more!

 

interesting question there caffeine. it's sad when radio starts to dictate to it's listeners what particular artists and music genres are broadcast and then subsequently listened to.

here in NZ, a large majority of the commercially operated stations are owned by one of two or three large media companies. there appears to be (i only listen to independant college radio here, so i'm kinda biased with my opinions....) certain stations that play a certain general genre of music, therefore attempting to market to a specific target audience, age group etc.

yes, high rotation/repetition ultimately leads to domination and biased chart-based sales, but to be perfectly honest, i pay absolutely no attention to 'whats popular' at present as it is in no way 'representive' of what is actually happening within the genre of music that i choose to listen to. i mean one week it's a single from the (revolting...apologies for own opinion inserted here...) "Idol" t.v series, then that gets taken over by a 'hit' from something like "High school Musical", then we see a flying entry at number one by U2...... granted i love 'diversity', but things like that really don't float my boat.....

all i can say is, as you described, 'mainstream' music sales are suffering and independant/alternative/minority etc sales are rising, then that can only be a good thing, as it proves that music is being sold more and more due to its' orginal intention, ie. played to be appreciated for what it is..... not because of the fact it is hammered into someones psyche from repetitive listening!!

popular music is just that...popular music. i guess it has a place (where, i don't know....well actually i do but i wont go there....!) and obviously a captive audience. but so does music that is created, produced and then marketed to an audience that is not as concerned with what is popular at the time. that audience is just as specific in its needs.... maybe they don't care for what the artisits wear, their celebrity status or their hair style this week....but they still love and critique that music, just as popular music is ranked and marketed.

both you and i are well aware of what we like and dis-like and (at least i like to think so....) listen to a rather wide range of musical genres. as for myself, i like it that way...variety is a great thing! i guess commercial radio is just that...making money! but i have the choice not to listen to it...(maybe some folks don't eg. that radio that gets played in their workplace etc)

and it's a choice i like...:mrgreen:

 

Yea most radio well I think alll radio stations are owned by one big company. And if a different , better radio station comes around the big company shuts the radio down. So that's what's going on with the rock station in san diego. So music comes second to the big company. The indie radio station sucks now cuz there trying to sound like the big radio station. So now I listen talk radio and I love that way more.

 

From what I've heard from friends across the seas, they are hearing a lot better music. Because it doesn't hit the American Mainstream. As it is, American Metal has dried up anyway. The future for Metal is in European hands. Dragonforce, In Flames, Blind Guardian, Amon Amarth, all great European bands, and they make truly impressive music. Not some washed up pussy mainstream stuff.

 

Most of the "independent" local stations over here in the UK are commercial and owned by one of 2 or 3 major broadcasters. They have a limited playlist of safe mainstream stuff over most of their air-time, with specialist shows (Metal, Rap, dance, oldies) only usually on at off-peak times. the BBC has a more diverse playlist on it's main "youth" station, Radio 1, but I'm a bit old for that these days (comment most likely to be uttered when Trumpet listens to Radio 1 by accident: "Well that's not music! It's just sort of noise, isn't it!" I am truly becoming my dad!). Radio 2, which is the BBC station aimed at adults, plays a fair variety of stuff from a fairly wide range (60s to new stuff, but mostly avoiding Rap, Dance and all that modern-sounding stuff. You're quite likely to hear Cold Play or Keane, though).

In London there are some specialist stations, like Kiss and XFM and a few smaller ones, but they don;t really make it far from the capital.

I've given up on trying to listen to music on the radio, though. I rely on the Internet and word-of-mouth to find stuff I like, which is hardly what passes for mainstream these days.

Hope that answers part of the question, Caff.

 

just wanted to add our 'college radio' used to be fully indepedant...ie. no commercial advertising, staffed by volunteers, between 50 -100% 'free' playlist (dj could spin what ever they wanted...) and any money received by the station, whether grants or sponsership, was usually put back into music purchases, equipment or awesome parties!! laid back, no frills plain old entertainment! and they usually sponsered some great gigs!!

nice comments happening here....

 

Any hope for the future of British radio died with John Peel .....................and also the hope for a lot of up-and-coming bands!

 

that tragic loss was felt around the world....

 

John Peel died? Bummer.

College radio at my alma mater was terrible. So many times I had to change the channel, just from "uh" and "er" and what was essentially fifteen seconds or more of radio silence. The level of amatuerism was so bad I had to just fucking shut it off.

 

thats a shame... totally rocks here!

 

Yeah.

The station in Omaha, actually Council Bluffs, however, is 89.7 the RIVER.

https://www.897theriver.com/

They boast of being one of the most powerful college stations in the world. Unfortunately, they are strictly run by an anal bitch (according to two independent sources I know who work there) and the station actually comes across sounding quite corporate.

 

but at least they cater to a non-mainstream market right? so i guess thats gotta be good somehow....

great you posted a link...will check it out later. cheers!