Really?
I wasn't aware that we could choose the music played in elevators and grocery stores, used in commercials on tv, chosen for soundtracks for movies, or suddenly added to a decent radio station's playlist because apparently the program director is getting his balls off/nose filled by some drug-mongering record company tart.

I am overjoyed to hear that we can force venues to only hire decent bands instead of the fad-of-the-moment crap pushed by the PR machine. Please let us know how we can do that. And how can we get "classic rock" stations to play the once commonly-aired album tracks instead the same overplayed singles they always play?

The problem is, over-hyped bands become omnipresent because the recording companies have a lot invested in acts (not musicians) they feel they can control and that are designed to appeal to the lowest common denominator (Brittney Spears on a number of levels is a prime example -- crap songs with lyrics aimed at children, blatant pedophile sexuality aimed at boys and dirty old men, flashy stage acts/videos that distract from the alleged music, electronically processed "music" where the "musicians" and producers can be plugged in anonymously, thus eliminating any unintended stars). Lazy journalists and media execs buy into the hype because it beats going out and actually listening to musicians to find good ones. They then become omnipresent, and people that have no taste or, to be honest, don't know better because they've never really heard good music tend to accept what's been given to them.

There's also another reason to voice off against crap acts. I'd like to see the good ones invested in, promoted, and making money so they can surivive and continue producing good music. The hyped ones rarely survive beyond a season and are soon forgotten (Michael Bolton anyone? I notice his appeal disappeared when he cut his hair, so that says a lot about the strength of his alleged talent). I work at a volunteer public low power station (www.wvlp.org), and to see the middle-aged women in the organization try and get Michael Buble played and not make a connection between him and Bolton (or John Secada) was astounding.

That said, there I admit to seeing whining, posturing and troll baiting in the posts here. However, it's easier to ignore as it's limited to a small part of this website and won't be foisted on us while we're in line buying new shoes or driving and looking for something to listen to.
(ChiTown Guy Dating when 35+: sane, single, attractive - pick 2, Fri 31 Dec 2010, 15:17, Reply)