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The lyrical ambiguity of "Phantom Limb" by the Shins lends itself to many interpretations... But one thing is certain, going off to Nemarca's porch comes from a fan's request that Shins leader, singer/guitarist James Mercer, build her unusual name into a song.

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Originally posted by Sickdude: Wednesday, June 6, 2007 7:21 AM


SICKDUDE



Can't do youtube at work, but this very topic is something I have been thinking about a lot recently.

Seems like the music and radio industries have had each other caught up in a death spiral for several years now. Music is promoted on radio, and conversely radio can only play what music is being made.

The music industry makes and promotes music of a few narrowly defined genres, and insists that its stars be young, charismatic, and live the rock-n-roll lifestyle. Less and less emphasis is placed on songwriting ability and voice talent. Further, if a musician is not the demographic they are looking for, they don't do the album. Lastly, the main fault of the music industry is price. It is just ridiculous that you can buy a movie on DVD cheaper than you can buy the soundtrack. I understand it takes about $0.10 to make a CD, and about $1.00 to make a DVD. Seeing as how the case and packaging can't be that much (maybe $.20) if there is a printing of at least 10,000 copies, why is it a CD from the store cost $14.00?!? Especially when a DVD only cost $7-15? Even with the artist getting a royalty, a CD should only be about $4-5. The music industry likes to complain about declining sales and piracy, but there would be a lot less of both if music were more of an impulse buy.

Meanwhile, the radio industry has been slowly digging its own grave for decades now. Marketing and programmed playlists kill creativity, enthusiasm, and variety. I was just listening to a report on NPR the other day where the subject was saying that basically Rock grew when FM stations were just starting out. With no one listening to them, the DJs were able to play whatever they liked, which happened to be early Rock (they mentioned Sgt Pepper specifically). It turns out there is still quite a bit of good music being made, but without exposure, the general populace never hears it, and it never catches on. Thus, radio is left with the same tired playlist year after year. Our local NPR just started a new station (89.3 the Current) last year that plays a huge variety of obscure rock aimed at youth. It often sounds like a university radio station, but for the first time in a long time, I have been discovering new music that I like. More radio stations should have an open playlist like this (and not just lip service saying that they do). They might find their audience growing instead of loosing people to XMRadio, ipods, etc.

Rant over. For now.

"I am your father, Luke. Give in to the Dark Side, you nob!" - Doug McKenzie

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