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what's the line..
 

offline tolstoyed from the ocean on 2005-02-26 09:39 [#01513863]
Points: 50073 Status: Moderator



between commercial/pop and alternative music in your
opinion?


 

offline giginger from Milky Beans (United Kingdom) on 2005-02-26 09:43 [#01513872]
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A line that is regularly crossed.


 

offline ecnadniarb on 2005-02-26 09:45 [#01513874]
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Your personal attitude to music.


 

offline tolstoyed from the ocean on 2005-02-26 09:49 [#01513879]
Points: 50073 Status: Moderator



hmm, yes i suppose people perception of alternative and pop
on this mb is very different to general perception..

but still, i'd say that commercial/pop music is the one that
promotors try to push as far up the charts as possible and
to be presented in the media constantly..


 

offline ecnadniarb on 2005-02-26 09:53 [#01513883]
Points: 24805 Status: Lurker | Followup to tolstoyed: #01513879 | Show recordbag



That covers everything released by a pretty much all
labels.

There is no line. Everything is personal opinion. Kids see
the likes of Busted as rebellious and alternative, most
people see it as pop crap, why is one persons opinion any
more valid than another...music is whatever it makes you
feel.


 

offline zkreso from Kr.sand (Norway) on 2005-02-26 09:53 [#01513886]
Points: 274 Status: Lurker



Everything you can buy is commercial.


 

offline mrgypsum on 2005-02-26 09:56 [#01513889]
Points: 5103 Status: Lurker



alternative music and comercial pop are 33% of the same
sphere. i tend to think of music genres( if you want to cut
music up like that ) in bubbles that overlap one another,
its not really that precise, but they definetly overlap, i
would say some bands that are on the boundaries of pop and
alternative are: radiohead, sometimes pop sometimes
alternative



 

offline dog_belch from Netherlands, The on 2005-02-26 09:56 [#01513890]
Points: 15098 Status: Addict | Show recordbag



It's just labels, really isn't it? I don't know, there's
very subversive pop, there's very cynical, commerical
rubbish touted as alternative. I appreciate the question,
but, I think, you know there is no line between
pop/indie/commercial. It is all product, that much is
certain.


 

offline Dannn_ from United Kingdom on 2005-02-26 09:57 [#01513892]
Points: 7877 Status: Lurker



they are in no way mutually exclusive; pop is defined by the
market and alternative is created indepenent of the market,
but its still a part of it


 

offline mrgypsum on 2005-02-26 09:57 [#01513893]
Points: 5103 Status: Lurker | Followup to zkreso: #01513886



well yes, but not propaganda - no one is encouraging me to
buy the analord series (unless you work for rephlex), but if
britney spears released a new album, there would be
comercials for it on the internet and on television using
propaganda to sell the music, also the music is a comercial
for itself.


 

offline nacmat on 2005-02-26 09:58 [#01513894]
Points: 31271 Status: Lurker



the final purpose of the album

if you make music to be good music, it will probably be
alternative

if you make music to sell a lot then it ssurely comercial

its very difficutl to tell


 

offline r40f from qrters tea party on 2005-02-26 10:00 [#01513896]
Points: 14210 Status: Regular



commercial music is music designed as an advertisement. the
people involved with this type of music understand how to
deliberately write and produce a song that will appeal to a
lot of people within a chosen demographic. it's exactly
like the 30 second ads you see on tv and the radio jingles.
they come up with something that will get stuck in your head
and, after many repeat listens, you will assume that you
like it because you keep remembering it.

commercial music doesn't need to have any substance or
artistic weight because it is implicitly entertainment. the
singers or bands that perform this type of music are only
there so that the label can attach an image to the music.
when they have a sexy young image behind the music, they
have the complete package. it's sort of like the label is
selling you 90% packaging and image and 10% music. 0% of
that is actual art.

artistic merit is often a liability to the entertainment
industry unless they can spin it into something
controversial that will sell. in this case, they will seek
to co-opt and exploit the art and mutate it into their own
commercial product (punk rock, hip hop, idm, etc - all
genres that have fallen victim to exploitation). this
process is inevitable and is conveniently efficient and
profitable. as far as the masses are concerned, sum 41 and
avril lavigne are legitimate punk rock music and are true
rebels and have a lot of independent spirit. they've been
told that that is what punk rock is many times by
professionals, so it must be true. but the truth is that
somebody at that label said, "we can sell this to teenagers,
let's do it"

the music industry / entertainment industry has been doing
all of this since the first record was sold. it's nothing
new. their goal is to make money, and the way they have
found that works the best is to sell images (and to a lesser
extent, formuliac music often written by a professional
commercial songwriter).

whether anyone chooses to listen to the commercial songs on
mtv and radio is up


 

offline mrgypsum on 2005-02-26 10:00 [#01513897]
Points: 5103 Status: Lurker | Followup to nacmat: #01513894



i think its more than that, pink floyd made great music, but
it can be used as comercial pop, any music can be used as
pop music.


 

offline r40f from qrters tea party on 2005-02-26 10:00 [#01513898]
Points: 14210 Status: Regular | Followup to r40f: #01513896



to them. it's just preference.


 

offline tolstoyed from the ocean on 2005-02-26 10:00 [#01513899]
Points: 50073 Status: Moderator | Followup to ecnadniarb: #01513883



well, im not sure i agree with you on that completly..sure
there are different views on what's alternative and what's
not, but there are plenty of labels who don't work on any
promotion whatsoever, they release that music for a certain
group of people and it works ok for them i suppose..you
won't see any of those songs on pop charts ever..how come
busted (i don't know them btw) and such bends get known to
those kids? mostly because their promotors are forsing them
in media..


 

offline r40f from qrters tea party on 2005-02-26 10:03 [#01513901]
Points: 14210 Status: Regular



my understanding of what "pop" music is is that it is
essentially a genre like electronica or rock n roll. it's
different from calling something commercial, which is a term
that exists outside the definitions of music genres.


 

offline mrgypsum on 2005-02-26 10:05 [#01513904]
Points: 5103 Status: Lurker | Followup to r40f: #01513901



when the pop movement first started this was the case, it
might still be, i dont know, but try to think of something
that is pop music but is not comercial? i cant really think
of anything, thats why i believe pop music is comercial -
pop music has become comercial music.


 

offline tolstoyed from the ocean on 2005-02-26 10:06 [#01513905]
Points: 50073 Status: Moderator



yes, pop is different to popular, sorry for that :)
pop is a genre and popular is commercial in my books.


 

offline ecnadniarb on 2005-02-26 10:06 [#01513907]
Points: 24805 Status: Lurker | Followup to tolstoyed: #01513899 | Show recordbag



The promotors are the labels they are on. The labels will
invest as much money into a product as they feel it will
take to maximise their return. For example Windowlicker was
quite heavily marketed by Warp at the time of its release,
because they knew it had potential to attract a broader
range of listeners than your typical Aphex release. Does
this make Windowlicker any less alternative than anything
else Richard has released. I would say not.


 

offline obara from Utrecht on 2005-02-26 10:07 [#01513908]
Points: 19377 Status: Regular



it depends


 

offline xf from Australia on 2005-02-26 10:08 [#01513913]
Points: 2952 Status: Lurker



remember what pop stands for: popular.


 

offline tolstoyed from the ocean on 2005-02-26 10:09 [#01513915]
Points: 50073 Status: Moderator



it seems most of us kind of agree it's up to lables and
media what is going to be forced into mass sales..that is
quite obvious with the extremes but gets much harder to
define towards the centre, where does commercial music
starts? i huess that part is left to an individual to decide
for himself/herself..


 

offline r40f from qrters tea party on 2005-02-26 10:11 [#01513917]
Points: 14210 Status: Regular | Followup to mrgypsum: #01513904



actually, i think that pop/popular music started out as more
blatantly commercial just like nashville-pop-country.

i'm sure there are plenty of pop artists we've never heard
of because they didn't seek out the commercial aspect of the
music world.


 

offline ecnadniarb on 2005-02-26 10:11 [#01513918]
Points: 24805 Status: Lurker | Followup to tolstoyed: #01513915 | Show recordbag



So you agree with the first post I made in this topic. I AM
SO WISDOMY


 

offline tolstoyed from the ocean on 2005-02-26 10:14 [#01513920]
Points: 50073 Status: Moderator | Followup to ecnadniarb: #01513907



i would say windowlicker is his most commercial release,
yes... i didn't get high on the charts for some reason
though..i've read in several interviews how he deliberatly
controlled come to daddy single not to get too high on
charts, i bet they weren't cool with that on warp, but if he
wanted im sure they could push that release or windowlicker
much more.


 

offline tolstoyed from the ocean on 2005-02-26 10:16 [#01513924]
Points: 50073 Status: Moderator | Followup to ecnadniarb: #01513918



haha you never fail :)


 

offline mrgypsum on 2005-02-26 10:16 [#01513925]
Points: 5103 Status: Lurker | Followup to r40f: #01513917



i am thinking of it in a more modern art way, for me pop
music or the pop artistic movement in general started in the
60's with artists like warhol - its art that represents the
culture, youth culture - its kind of like a mirror
reflecting an image of itself on another mirror, the art
imitates the people and then the people imitate the art, and
the two feed off of one another - i think that this idea has
been raped to the point where you will find pop culture has
been pushed down everyones throat - hence it has been
processed and mass produced.


 

offline ecnadniarb on 2005-02-26 10:17 [#01513926]
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Also this misconception that the big labels/media dictate
what is being listened to is a little incorrect. No matter
how much money you put behind someone like Snores for
example, people still aren't going to like it or buy it en
mass. The music industry has a whole if financially
product/unit sales orientated. The listening populous as a
whole are passive music listeners.


 

offline qrter from the future, and it works (Netherlands, The) on 2005-02-26 10:17 [#01513928]
Points: 47414 Status: Moderator



anything dog_belch like is good.

the rest is not.

this is all you need to know.


 

offline tolstoyed from the ocean on 2005-02-26 10:18 [#01513930]
Points: 50073 Status: Moderator



yes pop stands for popular, but to me pop kind of got genre
on its own..not necessarily all pop is popular :)


 

offline qrter from the future, and it works (Netherlands, The) on 2005-02-26 10:18 [#01513931]
Points: 47414 Status: Moderator | Followup to ecnadniarb: #01513926



but that's just because Venetian Snares is just about the
only music that has been scientifically and objectively
proven to be crap.


 

offline tolstoyed from the ocean on 2005-02-26 10:20 [#01513934]
Points: 50073 Status: Moderator | Followup to ecnadniarb: #01513926



you haven't read r40f's big post have you? big labels
usually have people eho sort of have an idea what could be
attractive for the masses..


 

offline ecnadniarb on 2005-02-26 10:20 [#01513936]
Points: 24805 Status: Lurker | Followup to qrter: #01513931 | Show recordbag



I realised it was a bad example after I posted it. OK let's
change it to someone talented like, let's say, Luke Vibert.


 

offline mrgypsum on 2005-02-26 10:21 [#01513938]
Points: 5103 Status: Lurker | Followup to ecnadniarb: #01513926



thats because funk doesnt try to make pop music, or he
doesnt try to appeal to the mass audience, he does try to
appeal to an audience, but not the mass one. but
compromising his stuff, he could do it, but he chooses not
to, but i still agree with what you are saying - you mean it
doesnt matter what the artist does - if the labels and the
media dictated the sales - they would try to popularize
everything they could, even the shit, iyo snores.


 

offline r40f from qrters tea party on 2005-02-26 10:23 [#01513944]
Points: 14210 Status: Regular



imo, warhol was a visionary and his ideas about art and pop
art were extremely important.

i just don't believe for a second that the christina
aguileras of the world are meant to be ironic. whether they
realize it or not, they're an element of the system of
business. like a billboard or spam e-mail, each commercial
superstar is a cog of the industry.

i do agree that pop culture is now, in and of itself, a
product.


 

offline qrter from the future, and it works (Netherlands, The) on 2005-02-26 10:24 [#01513949]
Points: 47414 Status: Moderator



my opinion is the Best of All.


 

offline tolstoyed from the ocean on 2005-02-26 10:24 [#01513950]
Points: 50073 Status: Moderator | Followup to ecnadniarb: #01513936



well, vibert would definitely be much more of an interest
for masses than vsnares, but we know already that warp's
promotion is shit, i don't know if it's intentional but im
sure some of their music could become much more popular than
it is.


 

offline mrgypsum on 2005-02-26 10:25 [#01513951]
Points: 5103 Status: Lurker | Followup to qrter: #01513949



mine is BEST OF ALL


 

offline qrter from the future, and it works (Netherlands, The) on 2005-02-26 10:26 [#01513954]
Points: 47414 Status: Moderator | Followup to mrgypsum: #01513951



no no


 

offline tolstoyed from the ocean on 2005-02-26 10:28 [#01513957]
Points: 50073 Status: Moderator | Followup to r40f: #01513944



im sure they realize it, and they're enjoying every minute
of it :)


 

offline mrgypsum on 2005-02-26 10:28 [#01513958]
Points: 5103 Status: Lurker | Followup to qrter: #01513954



should i reply with a yes yes? we could go on all day and
fill up some threads :)

i much rather talk about something more important like....

is leak 1 untilted?


 

offline qrter from the future, and it works (Netherlands, The) on 2005-02-26 10:29 [#01513961]
Points: 47414 Status: Moderator | Followup to mrgypsum: #01513958



yes. leak 1 is untilted.


 

offline ecnadniarb on 2005-02-26 10:30 [#01513963]
Points: 24805 Status: Lurker | Followup to mrgypsum: #01513938 | Show recordbag



It's pretty sad that you jump to the conclusion that artists
who have gained mass appeal have somehow compromised their
music in some way to get where they are. Like it or not,
just as you like snores, there are a lot of people who love
the "commercial/pop" that so many people here hate. Some
of these people like making music that sounds like the music
they love. I have a friend who makes pure cheesy house
music (IMO) but he loves music as much as anyone I have ever
met.


 

offline r40f from qrters tea party on 2005-02-26 10:33 [#01513971]
Points: 14210 Status: Regular | Followup to ecnadniarb: #01513963



i can see where you're coming from, but i can't think of any
artists that haven't compromised their music in exchange for
commercial success. i can't think of even one example. who
are you referring to?


 

offline mrgypsum on 2005-02-26 10:33 [#01513972]
Points: 5103 Status: Lurker | Followup to ecnadniarb: #01513963



i couldnt agree with you more, i was just using snares as an
example, as in he would have to compromise what he is doing,
but if you are an artist, and you love what you do, no
matter what type of art or genre it falls in, thats great
with me - if a pop artist or an artist who is making music
that is regarded as 'safe' 'simple' is enjoying his art then
that is the best possible thing, i totally agree with you,
who am i to judge that persons artistic drive / merits.


 

offline tolstoyed from the ocean on 2005-02-26 10:34 [#01513973]
Points: 50073 Status: Moderator | Followup to ecnadniarb: #01513963



hey, i like a lot of pop music, im not talking about music
preferences here, merely about what's commercial and what's
not..why is commercial music instantly related to shit music
is beyond me.


 

offline tolstoyed from the ocean on 2005-02-26 10:35 [#01513975]
Points: 50073 Status: Moderator



im almost convinced that if some big label signed aaron they
could puch him up the charts quite a bit..


 

offline tolstoyed from the ocean on 2005-02-26 10:36 [#01513977]
Points: 50073 Status: Moderator | Followup to r40f: #01513971



nirvana :D


 

offline dog_belch from Netherlands, The on 2005-02-26 10:37 [#01513979]
Points: 15098 Status: Addict | Followup to qrter: #01513928 | Show recordbag



Whether that was a dig or not it does further reinforce the
notion I have, of late, been harbouring that I invented the
whole world and that this all just some extended dream... I
digress. I agree with Ecnad, that labels can't force people
to buy something, no matter how much money they throw behind
a single/singer. I think we generally get the pop we want
and deserve, people buy music they like. Some pop's
thrilling, some pop is thrilling because it's so blatent in
it's commerciality, ... to some crusty classical afficianado
all what we might think of as avant garde and cutting edge
could be considered pop.... If you can open your ears to all
music and find something to enjoy, or muse upon, or even
reproach then consider yourself lucky. There's a lot of
people, most people, who would dismiss 99% of music as being
"weird" or whatever, and it's not their fault.. well it is a
bit, basically they're deaf, and everyone here, I believe,
is blessed with ears to listen with, so be thankful.


 

offline mrgypsum on 2005-02-26 10:39 [#01513981]
Points: 5103 Status: Lurker



a couple of life long friends of mine all write and perform
in these garage punk and metal bands, i cant stand punk and
metal, but they put 100% of themselves into and it gets them
really charged up when they record and play shows, how i
feel about the music vs what they feel about the music, and
the level at which they engage themselves in it are
indepedent.


 


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