Sorry I haven't followed all the details of this thread but I can speak
from personal experience of meeting him and say that Matt has a solid
knowledge of music that covers such a wide breadth it leaves me pretty
breathless- his enthusiasm for the subject and willingness to actually
get up and DO something to further other people's enjoyment and
education also carries a lot of weight in my book- as anyone who's ever
played excellent music in front of 20 people all night will know, its
not about quantity, its all about the quality and Matt and Dave are ALL
about the quality -I'm not saying you play to 20 people every week
before I get an ear bashing Matt :)
Jason
On 9 Feb 2005, at 22:00, Matt MacQueen wrote:
I disagree, I think it's time people took seriously the idea
of PREVENTING or BREAKING-UP the "ClearChannel near-monopoly
of programming."
So should we also stop watching independent films and instead put
pressure on the major studios to produce more leftfield movies for
fear that they will eventually kill the indy market? No. I think you
misjudge the position. It's not a position of retreat, it's using the
weapons at your immediate disposal to fight the battle instead of
asking the enemy if you can borrow his guns.
Yes, thank you. I really can't add much else to Kamal's words here...
they articulated my feeling better than I probably could have. I
guess Tosh maybe a tone I perceived set me off to a kneejerk
reaction, but I'm so TIRED of of people telling me over the years it's
just a tiny tiny niche, why bother in the US, etc, marginalizing the
effect, all US radio is dead/worthless, etc. That's B.S. If I had
a nickel for everytime I heard that... I'd be, uh, ordering lots more
records.
It's not a lost cause NOR is the solution is a singleminded coup (or
outlaw) of ClearChannel. Personally I prefer to soak whoever will
listen with music, over faxing the government protest letters and
trying to prevent "them".. god knows there are small armies of lawyers
and politicians already trying to do just that.. and I bet those
attorneys can't pack a crate or DJ for sh!t either... ha. But more
power to them, there's no single silver bullet, there are dozens of
good forward-thinking electronic music programs in the US.. check
Beats in Space on WNYU, Crush Collision on WCBN, Small Change on
WFMU, and as you mentioned Liz Copeland on WDET, etc.) Hell in
Chicago there are probably at least 4 or 5 other shows I can think of
that are pushing their own forms of future funk, deep house, techno,
or whatever you want to call it... point is there ARE alternatives,
and they're not pissing in the wind, many have powerful transmitters
and "prime" airtime.
ClearChannel is emerging as a bigger target than Micro$oft for
anti-trust legislation, it's just that with the current administration
in office, they are sitting well protected ...for now? For ever? But
my personal position is do what you can with with you got on the air,
it's (ok, I can't resist the UR-ism) a form of sonic warfare. The
question is where are you most equipped to fight, and with what tools
are you most effective? What inspires you? Does fighting corporations
inspire you? Knock yourself out, I'd prefer to Rock the Discotheque,
in your car, living room or via podcast.
this is radio clash using aural ammunition
this is radio clash can we get that world to listen?
this is radio clash on pirate satellite
orbiting your living room,
cashing in the bill of rights.
this is radio clash on pirate satellite
this is radio clash -- everybody hold on tight!!
PS -- Brave New Waves is pretty legendary, now sure there isn't
massive population density up there, but who cares, they have like,
what, 4 hours, EVERY WEEKNIGHT? That's a stunning amount of airtime,
even if it's late night... music for interiors. It's hitting people
upside their heads with indie labels. There are lots of formats and
labels that would kill to have that kind of exposure... they must get
promos by the truckload too. I have caught some of their interviews
archived online too, they bring a depth to it a typical mixshow
doesn't by having that much time to stretch it out.
peace
--
MM
http://sonicsunset.com
