This Band is Not Your Newest Friend
Me: You’ve got a show coming up, so what’s your band sound like?
She: . . . um, well . . .[Scuffle ensues in which I somehow play the part of Rupert Murdoch pillow queen.]
Me: Are you gonna post some songs or something, beforehand?
She: We’re not putting stuff up on MySpace, if that’s what you mean.
What the heck, I just wanna hear your band, and talk about it to other people who might like it. Am I a total sell-out if I think there’s something democratic to putting songs where they’re easily found and shared? Should we have to work harder to find out about bands? Back in the day, it was the norm to lovingly craft fanzines and mix tapes, and send away for tiny indie label catalogs. Now, I don’t really need to interact with another person to find out about bands, but that doesn’t mean I don’t still go to shows, talk to friends, or catch up in print. MySpace is a tool for bands to exploit--I say all the more so for little bands who rely on word-of-mouth for their fan base. I don't think MySpace alone spells the end for more grassroots music mediums, but maybe I'm just terribly naive?
Then again, maybe my friend was trying to tell me to break the internet instant gratification habit? That waiting to hear a band is part of the anticipatory fun of discovery that blithely clicking through artists and songs denies the online musicophile? Ultimately, I know it’s my pal’s prerogative to draw the line wherever she wants--I just can’t help but feel I’m on one side of the moat, decked out in Nikes, swigging Coke, and parking my Hummer in a handicap spot.
5 comments:
I was just talking about this last night, Coach. My conversation was in the context of people who refuse to publicize their parties, but the debate is the same. Is it really worth some kind of street cred or underground status if the crowd you bring in never cracks double digits?
Like it or not, music needs to be available someplace on the internet. It's the new medium, even if it's not the one I prefer. I don't own an ipod or use itunes but you can still find my band on myspace and soon will be able to download our stuff from itunes, etc.
I don't think posting my music on myspace means that I endorse the view s of Rupert Murdoch any more than playing in bar would mean I endorse the views of the Coors family or a tobacco company. Any statement I want to make is done in the context of my music. Being so sanctimonious about where, when and how I make it available to people is just kind of silly. I hate Rupert Murdoch just as much as the next person but my having a myspace page doesn't make him(or me)any money, so I don't really think it's a big deal. That doesn't mean I'd sign a contract with them or some major record label that sucks ass, but to be so rigid as to not even create a forum for people to hear your music online is, I think, more pompous than it is punk rock. If you dont want to use myspace, there are other avenues. Create your own website if need be. Just be sure you check out the political affiliation and business practices of the people you are buying bandwidth from. (<-- sarcasm)
Your friend might have been telling you that they haven't recorded anything; otherwise they really need a mypsace, facebook, or at least a website with mp3s. No one will come to their show, unless they just tell their friends. It could have been an embarrassment thing, but not catering to the internet in 2008 is just stupid, unless you are already famous.
Your friend might have been telling you that they haven't recorded anything; otherwise they really need a mypsace, facebook, or at least a website with mp3s. No one will come to their show, unless they just tell their friends. It could have been an embarrassment thing, but not catering to the internet in 2008 is just stupid, unless you are already famous.
a lot of the complaints i hear about putting your events or music on myspace is associated with the people who own the site. sure its free, easy, helpful - but you are still lining the pockets of some evil motherfuckers every time you sign on. you see those advertisements all over with the video of that guy looking at the computer screen typing and making sexy eyes at you? just because you dont click on ads doesnt mean youre not making the site money. also many diy bands are against it because its so not diy. zines, mixtapes, flyers - more diy, more honest, more effort. its kind of a quality vs quantity debate. and like you said, many people want to break the internet habit. back in the day people actually had to TALK TO EACH OTHER to find out about new music or shows. most of the bands that hate on relying on myspace do so because they come from a more community oriented atmosphere. i dont think its some street cred issue or im cooler because i know about bands that arent on myspace thing. its just a different subculture. local diy performer spoonboy actually made a zine called "the abcs of fuck myspace" thats really good.
heres the link to read it.
http://www.throughtheconcreterecords.com/documents/
fuckmyspace1.html
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