I think it's something that the creators of the music have consistently expressed, they want recognition for their artform - when others (eg Oakenfold) are getting credit for it. But more than that it's a matter of being able to draw an income from it. Unless you got a second job. I have this saying 'underground needs to eat'. If you're really underground, no one knows you, how can you get international bookings? It costs a fortune to tour acts now and promoters favour those with a profile. Putting out music is an expensive enterprise. Marketing, everything. How can you promote your music without touring? It's pretty straightforward. I think this is why many of the creators want some recognition. They want to earn a living from their music to support themselves and have some financial security. People often forget that music-making is still a process of labour. Musicians still got to pay the bills. Sure, UR are very underground and have made it work, same with KDJ, but they are clever enough to devise alternative ways of marketing themselves. Anti-marketing. Recognition brings other opportunities too - like commisioned work for art galleries of whatever. It's not a case of wanting MTV and Hype Williams videos, it's more subtle.
---------- >From: a <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: Kent williams <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Re: (313) heads-only techno? nah >Date: Tue, 6 May 2003 2:10 AM > >> I would just like to see techno to have enough awareness and support >> among the general populace that it's taken seriously as a musical form > > Why? > > On Monday, May 5, 2003, at 15:45 Atlantic/Reykjavik, Kent williams > wrote: > >> I would just like to see techno to have enough awareness and support >> among >> the general populace that it's a) taken seriously as a musical form b) >> gains >> a large enough audience to support events in places other than major >> cities. >> >> Not only has techno never really entered the pop music scene in the US, >> techno and dance music seems to be dying on the vine out here in the >> hinterlands. A couple of years ago we could bring out prominent >> Detroit >> and Chicago artists and not lose our shirts. No more. I don't think >> Iowa >> is unique, either. Factors like the putrid state of the US Economy, >> Anti-rave laws, changing tastes, have made it harder to find an >> audience >> for the music. >> >> On Mon, 5 May 2003, Darren Longton (Marketing) wrote: >>> ooooo....don't think that'll go over well with the heads in detroit. >>> Don't want to get into the whole elitism thing again, but....guess >>> heads >>> will have to except that our "underground scene" will eventually be a >>> POP-MTV-CEO controlled genre....if it becomes the next hip hop. I >>> mean...I LOVE hiphop...but it's getting a little too...well...MTV!! >> >
