Re: Over here and overheated

[Morgan Keating]

The basic problem stems from the punk era. Up until the late 80s at
least UK music reporting was dominated by two weekly papers, Melody
Maker and New Musical Express (the 'inkies' as they're known as
against the 'glossies' or monthly music magazines).

Both they, and the UK music industry as a whole, were late in
catching on to punk and they have vowed never again to be caught
out like that. So their subsequent history has been the endless
frenzied search for The Next Big Thing, which means they're open to
any record company hype. The apotheosis of this (I wish I could say
it was the nadir but there's probably a lot worse to come) was
Britpop. If you thought Oasis were crap (and they do have a couple
of good tunes) you should see some of the other absolute garbage
they've tried to foist on us. They have, however, been found out
and their circulations are plummeting, (while those of the glossies
are rising) which of course only encourages even more desperate
searching for the next 'movement' they can hitch themselves to.
There are many reasons why I thank God (or at least would do so in
more than a metaphorical sense if I believed in Her) I like country
music. Being completely ignored as a result by all the mainstream
media in the UK is one of them. Just think how good country might
be in the US if it wasn't just so damned *popular*. 

--
Iain Noble 
Hound Dog Research, Survey and Social Research Consultancy, 
28A Collegiate Crescent Sheffield S10 2BA UK
Phone/fax: (+44) (0)114 267 1394 email:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
   [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 ---


Thanks for the background Iain...  Interesting how this industry is so
darned transparent across the board?  We've got pretty much the same
scenario here but with just a couple of different twists to the plot thrown
in.

Thank god for the grass roots movements...

morgan

Re: Over here and overheated

[Barry Mazor]

ON the other hand, you've got some WAY better glossies going these days!
There's just no equivalent of MOJO in the U Sof A...for a magazine willing
to look and listen at big tent pop music.  Profiles of Frank Sinatra and
Gram Parsons and say, the Sex Pistols in the same magazine,
uncondescendingly--and talking about how they've mattered and still do.
JEESH; it's worth what we've got to pay fpor it over here.

And there are I think things to like about the likes of  VOX and SELECT,
etc...from at least a big tent rock and roll perspective!

And it will be no surprise to Iain, Stevie or others in the slightly
far-flunbg British contingent that there's not all that much really
provocative,  good country reporting easy to find in print
ANYwhere--especially when it walks up to rock and rolls doorstep and
complicates matters!.




 They have, however, been found out
and their circulations are plummeting, (while those of the glossies are rising
Iain Noble