Category: Jam Session
So despite the lame topic title, I want your honest thoughts here. Are you more likely to take an interest in a given song or artist if they're popular or it's recommended by a friend who likes lots of popular things, or do you just find out things on your own? The reason I'm asking is because it can seem that some people believe that if a song or artist is selling lots of records and making hits, their music is better than stuff that nobody has ever heard of. What do ya think?
That's an interesting question. personally I like to think that all music should be judged on the music itself, not on record sales. After all it is commonly known that certain records are plugged more to increase sales and so the figures of record sales are not always totally accurate. Also, the reason some people buy certain artists may not be because of the quality of the music they produce, but because of their saleability as a person - i.e. whether they have the look ... etc.
However, it depends on whether you are prepared to go out and look for lesser known artists, as it is the ones who sell the most records who get the air play on the radio stations, so if commercial radio is what you listen to, you're more likely to develop the taste for the music that is being more widely played.
I mostly go on what I like. Like if I hear someone listening to or if I catch a song on the radio and I like it, I'll start listening to the station to hear the songs from that artist, but then I'll usually end up liking other songs also. But usually, it turns out that even though it's not exactly unusual music, it's stuff most of my family and friends wouldn't usually listen to. For instance, I had started liking classic rock because I got tired of the Top 40's station and one of my uncles kept listening to AC-DC during a party and I thought it was cool, so that's one kind of music I'm into, but when I mention it to my friends or a lot of my family, they're either not that familiar with the bands or their songs, or they just wouldn't listen to them regularly. But it's weird because when my friends, cousins, or siblings mention new songs that just came out in today's popular music, I usually wouldn't have heard of it until someone was playing it and pointed it out. The only reason I hear a lot of hip-hop, R&B, and current rock (well I'd likely listen to the current rock stuff more anyway but still), is mostly because most people my age play it.
Leilani
Of course, though, I'd either buy artists that would be well-known because of the stores carrying them, or if it's just one or 2 songs I especially like from an artist, I'd look it up to download those songs. But I wouldn't necessarily buy an artist's CD just because of high sales itself.
Leilani
I am the radiostation freak. I spend my day flicking around, providing I'm not at college etc, he he. Either that or, I listen to things I randomly come across or things that my friends listen too. If I'm out in restaurants, shops etc, I'll always be trying to listen to see what they're playing. I'm a music obsessive, he he.
no I tend to seek out bands or artists who make me curious as in the case of Marilyn Manson...if someone says you will love this it's guarenteed to put me off...
if i like an artest, i like them no matter what. to ttell you the truth, some of the groups i like, no ones ever heard of, so there you go.
WEll, I think we're almost confusing two issues here. I think all that the big record companies' marketting really amoutts to is making access to their signed artists easier, they are all over the radio and tv and magazines etc. They pick, well those they think will sell, sometimes that involves a lot of tallent, but sometimes it apears to be just looks or a marketable quality but the end result is that we are bombarded with their songs 24/7. I think what limits your taste in music somwhat is merely the volume of bands and artists out there and you need some type of a guide to browse through them, sometimes that guide is a friend or the net or a concert but most times it is a magazine or tv or radio. That's why I think the "big/popular" artists are overly represented in my cd collection although I mostly go with indie groups. And just because groups are not known doesn't have to mean they are not awful, I think the majority of unsigned artists is pretty awful but majority being 60% of may be 210000 bands, just as an idea which still leaves 4000 good bands that one misses out on.
I use New Musical Express and other music magazines to get the lo down on what's happening in the music scene and if I like something of the radio I acquire it. I also love downloading random albums from the net to test them out and I've come across a lot of good artists that way. And that's what the labels dislike evenmore than the fact their sogns are being downloaded, the net is such an easy promotion tool if used correctly and they are losing a lot of the grip they had on music marektting and the subsequent share of the profits they used to take.
I don't even listen to radio much anymore, so if I'm out somewhere and hear a song that sounds cool, I'll find out who it's by and download it. so yeah that's how I get my music.
I'm a very ecclectic music collector, but a bit of an indie-snob in terms of new stuff. My preferred radio station is a real mixed bag of rock, metal, hip-hop and pop, but prides itself on being an alternative to the charts and top 40 stuff. I tend to be the same way. It usually serves well, but sometimes I'll avoid an artist or an album, purely because it's being plugged to death on commercial stations and find out later I've missed out on something awesome. I love getting stuff recommended to me by friends, although you have to take their tastes into consideration before rushing out to buy something on someone's say-so. Ans as much as downloading is a tough deal for the artists in terms of royalties, I love the way it's pissing off the record labels and advertisers, and it's doing great things for unsigned and indie groups in terms of circulation. If I find an unknown who I love on-line, I try to find the money to buy the album, and I tend to plug it to all and sundry.