[Wondervixen]

Maybe my angst is just aimed at the wrong parties. There ARE still Bands out there (Collective Soul, Linkin Park, Dave Matthews, etc)...I think it's more the teeny dweeb record company execs and the young turks in radio that are deciding for all of us that "studies show 88% of the public likes Dancing Bears, so we're gonna shove all we can down their throats in every visible market we can".

Truth is, they polled 88% on Mall Rats at the Gap who are spending allowance money Mommy & Daddy gave them.

How long would these dopes be around if they were TV execs & tried to heave all of the Olson Twins we could take on us 24 hours a day/365 a year?

[freebilly]

Dave Matthews Band--They're awesome! My 15 year old loves them (he's also a guitar player in a garage band).

[habs4ever]

I just downloaded most of Bryan Ferry's new album called Frantic, and was amazed that if the artist was called U2, it would be at the top of the charts.Without a doubt, fresher sounding than what is being played on alternative radio today.And yet, it isn't being played.It is consigned to formatted radio that goes for an over 35 demographic.But the sound is better suited for the U2 audience.

The real trouble is that vital artists like Bryan Ferry cannot get distribution except by the Internet.Now, since I really enjoy this CD, I will go out and buy it and reward him for his efforts.But no thanks to radio or MTV.

[paltz]

it's more the teeny dweeb record company execs and the young turks in radio that are deciding for all of us

FM Radio actually did have much to do with a lot of the crap that's out today. In the past, DJ's had free reign over what they could play. However, guys like Lee Abrams came along and ruined that and began polling(remember that dirty word?) listeners likes, dislikes, and buying habits....boom TOP 40 was born, and The DJ was spinning what the advertisers were telling him/her to spin not what was in his own record collection. More importantly, how often do you ever remember the name of a band who sang a tune these days from the radio? Dj's never ID the artists anymore, b/c it takes more ad time.