No Sugarcoating & No Bullshit: February
Written by Jo Hayes
Saturday, 28 February 2015 04:00
Hello and happy weekend, Uber Rockers. I’m not only glad that I get to write my blog again, after some tedious essay writing, but that it’s edging closer to Springtime. Perhaps I shouldn’t complain, as we haven’t had much snow here in Brighton (the amount we did get was pathetic and barely lasted half an hour), but I just hate winter!
Anyway, this month’s blog is about who has the control in the music industry, the fans or the record labels? As usual, this was inspired by the warped way my mind works. I saw that the Top 40 charts may be getting moved to Fridays, which I don’t care about either way, but it got me thinking how the music I like (and I imagine many of you), isn’t always defined by the music charts anymore. Especially with crowd funding websites such as Kickstarter and PledgeMusic.
If someone were to ask me who was in the Top 40 charts, I could hazard a guess, but I wouldn’t have a clue. When I was a kid growing up, it was equally as bad (as I unfortunately grew up in the nineties), but there would occasionally be a rare gem which would pop up. I remember recording Top Of The Pops or other TV shows, on a few occasions when there was a song I couldn’t get enough of – like Rocket From The Crypt’s’ On a Rope’ and Green Day’s ‘Basket Case’, and even the DumDums’ ‘Everything’ (there’s bound to be a few closet fans on this site somewhere).
It was then I used to pay attention to what was in the charts, as I couldn’t get inspiration from going to gigs being a child, and out of my group of friends, it was always me who would complain about the crap they all liked (to be blunt). Just before my teens, I realised there were other ways to find out good music, which often involved me raiding my parents’ CD collection, I knew that many bands which were still popular, didn’t need to be in the charts and had a huge fan-base.
I imagine growing up in the sixties and seventies, there would have been good bands on TV, and not that I can really comment, but the eighties (which I don’t remember much of), seemed to be where chart music went downhill – for the most part.
Even though I don’t pay attention to it, I guess the charts is a reflection of what the mainstream public like, but probably influenced and controlled through clever publicity, and moulded by the record companies.
As I mentioned earlier, with music projects being successfully funded by Kickstarter and PledgeMusic, smaller bands, or those with a more underground following, can raise the funds needed to record and release an album or EP without the usual constraints of not being signed. Most bands with a good following seem to get their project funded, and as well as having played a part in getting the album to fruition, there are rewards to say thanks for pledging a certain amount. I think it’s quite exciting to feel involved in this process, and gives us some sense of control.
I think one of the most successful PledgeMusic projects has to be Ginger Wildheart when he hit 555%, consequently naming the triple album ‘555%’, and raising £250k. This amount can only be dreamed of by bands wishing to get signed, and I think some sadly still think that they will get a ridiculous advance (maybe those who attend a certain rock school that I’m sure I’ve complained of in earlier blogs).
I recently backed L7 and their documentary project, ‘Pretend We’re Dead’, on Kickstarter, which was successfully funded this week. Due to the popularity of this, and requests on social media for them to reunite, they’ve now reformed, and are playing a few gigs this summer. Power to the fans I say.
I think it’s fair to say that many bands wouldn’t be able to continue if they were to hang around waiting to be signed by a big label, and relying on the merch they sell playing toilet venues. Crowdfunding means putting a hell of a lot more work in (as I’ve been told by a friend, whose band’s album was successfully funded on Kickstarter) rather than having people doing it for you, but I imagine although it would be exhausting, would feel much more rewarding. This way will hopefully help many more bands who have the DIY ethic anyway, and who knows, maybe the publicity gained by doing these projects, will change the music in the mainstream? That would be great, no more soulless pop bands… (in my dreams).
Before I ramble on any more, I’ll sign off…
Until next time…
Jo