Are audiences getting stupider???

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 27 Jul 2004 3:29 am

OK, I've been wondering about this for awhile. But with corporate radio, feeding us what they want us to hear, MTV, VH-1, CMT, whatever, EVERY artist out there is in the hands of the system, if thet're hunting "major label" success. And that means they've got to look and sound like whatever the system dictates. As was pointed out in a now closed thread, a "rap-country" duo is doing a stupid song, that some people consider vulgar, and the kids dig it. Pro-war anthems spring up every day, sung, and written, by non-veterans, and the general audience dances in lock-step. LINE DANCING?!?!?!?!?!?
The Gretchen Wilson thing--We get asked to play that one, without a girl singer--hell, we've all got BEARDS!
So is the mainstream audience getting dumber? Is THAT why Kid Rock and Cheryl Crowe had a #1 COUNTRY hit?
There's a lot of good music out there--on small labels, with producers and engineers who roll tape and holler "GO." But has the audience disappeared? Are we all getting brainwashed? RAP?????

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 27 Jul 2004 5:08 am

Stephen,

I agree. If you are a musician or artist, you will always be searching for truth, new expression and fulfillment, and bland corporate media will never satisfy that. Your average listener takes what's given them, but musicians will always go hungry!

or something like that,
Drew

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Drew's Website

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 27 Jul 2004 6:20 am

I don't think they are.

Writer are pushing the envelope, the majority are buying.

There's alot of good music on big labels too!
Even on the records with lyrics we disagree with.

Tim Whitlock · Post by **Tim Whitlock** » 27 Jul 2004 7:18 am

Ever read "The Emperor's New Clothes" when you were a kid? Now do you get it?

Gere Mullican · Post by **Gere Mullican** » 27 Jul 2004 7:20 am

Stephen, I agree with you 1000%. I am too old to change.
Gere

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 27 Jul 2004 7:21 am

Steve, I think they call it "gradual-izm". People won't tolerate a big quick change, but if you "ease" it in a little at a time, people soon accept it. Like leading sheep to the slaughter.

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 27 Jul 2004 7:51 am

It has always been in the best interest of business to have an ignorant and pliable consumer base that will buy products that they don't need, without question.

Brandin · Post by **Brandin** » 27 Jul 2004 8:42 am

"Are audiences getting stupider???"

When were they smart?

GB

Mark Metdker · Post by **Mark Metdker** » 27 Jul 2004 10:59 am

"Video Killed The Radio Star"

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 27 Jul 2004 12:39 pm

I'm sure the large percentage of every type of music audience is getting generally more gullible, although the trend is nothing new. (Remember "play Meloncholy Baby fer me"?) That goes for EVERY kind of marketable form of music. Just look at the smooth jazz phenomena. ugh. The demographics guys are great at selling cleverness and sheen at the expence of real content and charachter. We're having to dummy down on a huge scale, while the PR folks are selling us on how hip and cutting edge we are. For awhile there, I thought radio was gonna propel us into a brave new world. I was wrong. Video DID kill the radio star. Also now just about everything has a sexual element attached to the package that's shoved down our throats, and we all know SEX SELLS.

Don't get me wrong Theresa, I'm not a N'Ville basher, I think Paul and the guys are incredible players who deserve every success bestowed upon them, but I have absouletly no faith in 99% of any of the programing directors or record execs in power at the moment. If any thing truly new and creative is allowed to happen, it's because it flies under the radar somehow. Like my friend Heather Myles sang, "Nashville's gone Hollywood"

Unfortunately for all of us, money corrupts art.

Sorry for the rant...

Charles French · Post by **Charles French** » 27 Jul 2004 1:13 pm

NO they've always been this stupid! As I was watching a show on Waylon last nite, a commercial came on promoting Jimmy Buffett's new CD "Hey Good Looking". I almost threw up! His music is living proof people are stupid. How else could he be so famous?

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 27 Jul 2004 5:07 pm

If I can convince you that EVERYBODY else thinks that something is absolutely stupendous, magnificent, wonderful and exciting, are you more likely to fake yourself out and think that too?

Madison Avenue has been working this tactic for years.

We're watching the death of independent thought.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 27 Jul 2004 5:12 pm

Yes, Stephen. It seems like, starting in the '50s, the "mainstream" audience became really dumb! Before that, you had to be good, and after, you just had to be different. In the '40s, no records that I know of were realesed by people who couldn't sing. Even if they were, they wouldn't have been a hit. Starting in the '50s, incredibly small talents rose to be "stars", and real talent was largely forgotten. When did I have this epiphany? Well, one day I turned the record "Wipe Out" (by The Surfaris) over and listened to the flip side, "Surfer Joe".

I almost puked.

So, since the '50s, bands and singers with minimal talent have become cult heroes, and we can only blame...the audiences. After all, those bands and singers were doing the best they could!

kyle reid · Post by **kyle reid** » 27 Jul 2004 8:27 pm

Its called "No Listening Talent" Exactly why a song called "Redneck Woman" shoots to #1 in about a week! Tacky,Tacky,Tacky.

erik · Post by **erik** » 27 Jul 2004 9:45 pm

People today are more booksmart. They are just culturally aloof.

-johnson

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 28 Jul 2004 5:20 am

Too cool. This thread made me laugh. The requests for Redneck Woman when you've all got beards is great! Of course, there are probably some redneck women with beards, now that I think about it.

T, you're still giving the music "industry" too much credit. I think sattlelite and internet music as well as declining sales will put the pressure on the big boys for a reality check -- as least as far as the country genre is concerned. If it doesn't so what? We've got XM, Sirus and the web.

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HagFan

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 28 Jul 2004 6:33 am

Chas Smith has it right. It is to the great advantage of the people who really run things to keep the populace ignorant, distracted with trivialities and obedient to their TV's. A lot of people know more about "American Idol", J. Lo's sex life and their favorite sports team than they know about their congressman's voting records. In 1972, 2.5% of Americans controlled 50% of our resources. In 2002, 0.5% of Americans controlled 50% of our resources. How many people do you know who own TV stations or newspapers? Rich people act out of self-interest, like everybody else.

Eddie D.Bollinger · Post by **Eddie D.Bollinger** » 28 Jul 2004 7:34 am

Kyle,
You have nailed it. I agree totally.

Eddie

Jon Kemppainen · Post by **Jon Kemppainen** » 28 Jul 2004 8:59 am

Thinking about it, TV must be even worse for perpetuating the mindless fog....

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 28 Jul 2004 10:17 am

I don't think audiences are any stupider today than in the past. I got sick of "Elvira" and "Achy Breaky Heart" many years ago, and they are still requested today.

Post by **Joey Ace** » 28 Jul 2004 10:28 am

I agree that audiences have not gotten any dumber.

I recall playing in an all guy Country band in the 70s when Disco started.

We had many requests for "The Hustle" and "It's Raining Men".

Just as I appreciated a good drummer, I really appreciate an informed audience member.

I always take extra time to talk to someone who shows an interest and has a bit of knowledge.

Just like good drummers, there are far too few of these folks.

Les Pierce · Post by **Les Pierce** » 28 Jul 2004 7:16 pm

If you play in a bar, then you know the audience goes there to get drunk and pick up somebody to take home. If you play for shows, then you know the audience goes to see someone they've heard on the radio, or have seen TV. Nothing's changed...been that way since I can remember. (There are those few exceptions when a band has a dedicated following, but the people are there because they are friends of the band members, in most cases).

If you think about it, how could it be any different?

Les

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Strat,Tele
Dekley S-10

Charles Curtis · Post by **Charles Curtis** » 29 Jul 2004 5:38 am

I like the way Ms Wilson sings those lyrics. It seems to me to be authoritative with a good beat and I can understand each word. When I'm listening to music I don't want to get into "rocket science".

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 29 Jul 2004 6:34 am

Personally, I'd have preferred that record if the words had been indecipherable - the 'Redneck Woman' lyric's banality is only surpassed by her new one - anyone heard THAT?

I turned on country music radio by mistake yesterday, and there it was - I was like a deer in the headlights, and its sheer crassness almost robbed me of the ability to change the station!

What's it all coming to?<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Roger Rettig on 29 July 2004 at 07:35 AM.]</p></FONT>