<<Of course, what we really need is our own Nirvana. After hearing a bit of
their new recordings and considering their slight but important impact at
mainstream country with "California Angel" I'm thinking maybe The
Derailers are the right horse on which to bet.>>
Therein lies the problem. The fucking thing is overhyped already. At least
grunge started selling, THEN got overhyped. It's now been 6 years or so
(arguably) that this genre/format or whatever gotten any attention and every
year we hear the same bullshit - I remember Peter Blackstock saying "this is
the one that's going to blow it open" about "Tomorrow the Green Grass." Less
than a year later, he admirably put his tail between his legs in the same
paper he wrote it and admitted he was wrong. And the year before that and
after that it was another record. Every year it's something new that's going
to blow it open. I have no idea why I am typing this. Oh well.
-----Original Message-----
From: JP Riedie <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: passenger side <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tuesday, January 19, 1999 4:18 PM
Subject: Re: Americana guesswork
>><<There's a story developing here regarding the current state of
>>"Americana."
>>(TM)Who's going to write it? (c'mon Mr. Slack - tell it like it is>>)>>
>>
>>Caution: the following are assumptions, though I suspect close to the
truth:
>>
>>Someone probably wanted Americana to still be Americana - in other words,
>>keeping the current reporting stations intact, which for the majority are
>>not huge and potentially impacting, and someone else probably wanted to
>>slick it up a bit. Maybe start a singles chart. Change the name. Blah blah
>>blah. The circle goes round and round and you can only suspect and
theorize
>>who wants what. Bottom line: the stuff ain't selling and not many people
are
>>paying attention to it, and maybe Gavin or whoever else involved the
>>Americana mafia are finally beginning to realize it and feel the need for
>>changes to be made before Gavin just gives up on it. I mean, when Dale
>>Watson's only selling appox 10,000 copies, maybe some changes should be
>>made. Who knows. I'm just guessing...........I know I wouldn't want that
>>damn job....
>
>First off, "The Truckin' Sessions" as of last week has sold less than 4000
>units since its release in August. So the sales impact of "Americana"
>radio is even less than most assume.
>
>Anyway...
>
>I think the name "Americana" sucks. As a word it connotes a wide array of
>meanings, none of which immediately bring to mind the kind of music that
>seems to be be taking over a chart that was once dominated by folky
>singer-songwriter crap.
>
>My thinking is that Gavin should take advantage of the widespread disgust
>and disillusionment with country radio (which truly is the root of all evil
>- Nashville makes records according to the perceived tastes of programmers)
>by scrapping the folky reporting stations, renaming the chart "Alternative
>Country" and positioning the whole thing similarly to the way Alternative
>Rock was positioned in opposition to AOR ten years ago.
>
>How will this help sell records? First, changing the name from the hazy
>"Americana" to something with the word "country" in it will clearly define
>the whole raison d'etre of the format as an actual alternative to the dreck
>on country radio, Though my research is informal and anecdotal (my mom and
>her friends were the focus group) I believe lots of country fans are sick
>of country radio. A clearly defined format can be more easily marketed to
>disaffected country fans.
>
>Second, and most importantly, as alternative rock caused AOR to loosen up
>and start playing U2 and REM then Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden, then Rage
>Against the Machine, I believe even a moderately successful alternative
>country format will force mainstream programmers to broaden their playlists
>to include acts such as The Derailers, Dale Watson, and Kelly Willis and
>maybe even consign Shania and her ilk to some sort of Adult Contemporary
>Country format. Then we will begin to see sales impact.
>
>Of course, what we really need is our own Nirvana. After hearing a bit of
>their new recordings and considering their slight but important impact at
>mainstream country with "California Angel" I'm thinking maybe The
>Derailers are the right horse on which to bet.
>
>NP: The Trial of William Jefferson Clinton
>
>
>
