Earth
2032, the final strands of the resistance are crushed and music lovers all over
the world now receive their music through one channel only – legal downloads of
mind-implanted MP3’s provided by one massive music corporation (maybe called
Sony-Cowell Corp for arguments sakes) where the only music available is from
artists currently signed to that label – everything else is illegal! (You could
say a Fahrenheit 451-like world except no one is burnt alive only tortured
through the obvious ear-bleeding torture of having to listen to the above label’s
artists)
I’m
sure we would all agree this is the perfect vision of hell for all lovers of
tasteful music and beyond! But, what I would like to ask here is how much of
this far-fetched fictional story could well become non-fiction? In my opinion –
we’re half way there!!
Does
anyone remember when the world of music used to be an exciting, individual,
none-generic free place? I do, and I pray it will return one day. Sadly, we are
nearing this place at a very steady pace!
Now,
I’m not gonna rattle on about how much I hate the likes of X Factor, Take
Splatt and the army of other factory generated teeny boppers’ wet dreams that
are out there as you already know that! But, I am gonna talk about the current
influence they have over the majority of these ‘people’ when it comes to buying
music and other associated products that they endorse.
An
example of what I’m on about is currently being acted out in the Olympics that are
taking place in our country. At the glorious corporate games you are currently
only allowed to eat a certain fast food product at event arenas. There are also
stories about people not being able to buy certain food, drink and other
merchandise without possessing a certain well known credit card and not with
cash!
Now,
I know the Olympics have very little to do with the far world of music, but if
you look at today’s breed of popular musicians/bands you often get the feeling
they do their full time jobs part time as the majority of their time they spend
promoting perfumes, sports products and other assorted trinkets that they
receive vast amounts of money for.
To
me, this only adds to one thing – their ‘part time’ job (musician) creates
nothing but pure shite! The only reason they sell so many records is because
they are famous beyond belief and that you see images of them everywhere
endorsing above mentioned products. In other words – you really can’t escape
them in your every day life as you are beaten into submission to actually
knowing and hearing these musicians/bands music. The words – ‘you can’t win’
springs to mind (or if you were a Trekky like me “resistance is futile”)
So,
back to my initial point about there being only one all-powerful music label that
releases ALL
music to the world and bans any other music from the past and present (they are
currently know as independent labels and music shops). Their wheels rely
heavily on promotion and promoting their music with the help of famous people
and other z-list celebrities who gladly suck the balls of any executive who
waves a massive cheque under their eyes for their ‘services’ thus helping the lovely,
harmless, fluffy bunny world of the nice risk-free world of pop music continues
to live happily ever after.
This
is not a brave new world, this is a world where no one gets angry, no one
causes a scandal, no one swears, no one fights, no one sleeps with sleazy
groupies, no one sleeps with their best friend’s wife, no one EVER drinks or
takes drugs and most important of all – no one ever makes a fool of themselves!!
Which brings me nicely to my next point...?
Does
anyone remember the days when certain musicians wouldn’t really give a fuck
about making a fool of them selves on stage? Or, more to that fact – being
humiliated on stage by a fan who had for example thrown a drink or other
assorted delicacies sold in the auditorium they didn’t feel like eating? (I
remember seeing Arthur Lee’s teeth fall out one night. He simply picked them up
and carried on playing his mouth organ) However, they were rare days when the
band/musician and the audience had a special relationship. You could call it
mutual respect. Or a marriage of convenience
These
days never mind throwing food or beverages at some sexy, shiny superstar on
stage!! If you ever managed to get within ten feet of these detached demy-gods
you will certainly have your collar felt by some steroid-with the chance of
losing a few teeth or the possibility of breaking a limb!!
Now,
I know you think I’m going on a bit here and having a moment, but if you go
back to the start of this story and really THINK about what that world would be
like to live in and listen to music in – I’d say that was a perfect vision of
hell! But, what can we collectively do about it? Well, there are a number of
solutions which I have thought of:
1.
Support local music and local music venues! Stay away from ‘big’ venues that
promote ‘big’ bands/musicians that rely on ‘big’ sponsorship!!! They are run by
and support the Devil himself! – fact!!!
2.
Go to your local independent record shop and buy something you’ve never heard
before. It may turn out to be shit, it may not! The point is you DID IT!
I’ll guarantee you will feel good about yourself and you will receive some
sort of absolution for all those shite records you bought that you thought were
cool at the time when you also thought ‘Juice’ and ‘Naf Naf’ sweatshirts were
cool! (Ben – stop laughing and take a look in your wardrobe ye wool)
3.
Do not in any way what so ever purchase, promote, big up or be associated with any
music that has the slightest link or association with Simon Cowell and his
business ‘partners’ as you are not doing yourself any favours regarding your
own street-cred and are only fanning the flames of initial story of this Blog
(see top)
So,
all things said, I would like to say I know we can’t change all of the future,
but we can certainly shape which way it may head weather it be bad or good ... I’m
hoping it’s good
Go
forth
Peace
Mol
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