This piece is a microcosm of all that is wrong with public radio's facination with the Internet and alternative distribution methods.
First the radio review--KUOW is a great station and the host is competant, relaxing, smart, perfect! Though the production is local and should have been recut if national distribution is desired. But I would have no problem using this piece as part of a themed local news magazine.
However, the host fails to ask the guest one simple question. The piece is about a musician who simply wants to make money by distributing his music over the net with voluntary contributions. His promo plan? Write a Song a week until someone gives him some money and makes him semi-famous.
The unasked question the host should have asked from the get go? "Is your music any good.?" How can you write a quality song every week on a schedule?" What is your inspiration for making music?" I went to the site and listened to many songs to find out.
In short, this is all about the Internet and not the music. The same way Public Radio as an industry is more concerned about the distribution pipes than the QUALITY CONTENT! Thank god for PRX where we have an abundance of content to explore!
So if the Internet is all powerful, why isn't this guy famous and rich by now? Because his music is horrible. It's mostly novelty songs and repetitive folk rock clich?s. In the interview the host and guest talk about his most popular song to date being a folk rock reinterpretation of a misogynistic rap song "Baby Got Back"
While this piece is good, we must focus on the content of what we cover, not the pipes and marketing plan.
The fact that this piece got a strong reaction from me is a sure sign it's a great piece of radio that will push our listeners to think for themselves.
Review of Jonathan Coulton's Music Business
Steve Yasko
Posted on May 29, 2006 at 06:02 AM
Why don't we just call it Public Radio Idol?
This piece is a microcosm of all that is wrong with public radio's facination with the Internet and alternative distribution methods.
First the radio review--KUOW is a great station and the host is competant, relaxing, smart, perfect! Though the production is local and should have been recut if national distribution is desired. But I would have no problem using this piece as part of a themed local news magazine.
However, the host fails to ask the guest one simple question. The piece is about a musician who simply wants to make money by distributing his music over the net with voluntary contributions. His promo plan? Write a Song a week until someone gives him some money and makes him semi-famous.
The unasked question the host should have asked from the get go? "Is your music any good.?" How can you write a quality song every week on a schedule?" What is your inspiration for making music?" I went to the site and listened to many songs to find out.
In short, this is all about the Internet and not the music. The same way Public Radio as an industry is more concerned about the distribution pipes than the QUALITY CONTENT! Thank god for PRX where we have an abundance of content to explore!
So if the Internet is all powerful, why isn't this guy famous and rich by now? Because his music is horrible. It's mostly novelty songs and repetitive folk rock clich?s. In the interview the host and guest talk about his most popular song to date being a folk rock reinterpretation of a misogynistic rap song "Baby Got Back"
While this piece is good, we must focus on the content of what we cover, not the pipes and marketing plan.
The fact that this piece got a strong reaction from me is a sure sign it's a great piece of radio that will push our listeners to think for themselves.