I understand. There's something about the curiousity of stardom. A show where a few (not many) talented singers compete for the prize of a recording contract, by singing popular songs, and being judged by first, leaders in the music and entertainment industry, and then by...YOU. You get to decide who gets this "massive" record deal that creates ultimate stardom for one lucky/talented individual. Then, you get sold all of the company products from The American Idol karaoke video game (which is fun), to the American Idol tour, featuring the top ten singers from the show.
My question is...do you have that same type of attraction to artists who are not on American Idol? I urge you (once you finish reading this great blog), to go to the
Wikipedia page, and find out what has happened with all the people who did not win American Idol. Will you begin supporting them again as you did when they were on the show? Even better, will you find artists to support without having to see them on American Idol?
You have the opportunity to be a fan of someone's music, today, and to help that artist have a successful career by supporting his/her music in attending shows, inviting friends, buying t-shirts and downloads, and even inviting them to do a house concert at your place. However, most enjoy spending more time in front of the television to be "sold" the illusion of stardom. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy watching stars, many of them are great, and I am entertained. But all of the American Idol winners were local and regional artists before making it onto the show. So you have an opportunity to find your "American Idol" by going to local shows, and finding the independent artists around you. Talk to people about the music scene in your area.
New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta are music markets that are flooded with great talent. Miami, Boston, and Chicago are the next music markets in line to offer a vast amount of talent. But where ever you live, I urge you to seek out FOUR or FIVE artists who you enjoy listening to, and support their careers. Instead of texting or phoning in to vote for them to win a contest, you can buy a MP3 download of theirs, or even send them an e-mail asking for free music. I bet you they will send you some.
As a fan of music, I am tired of being "force-fed" artists who go through a machine. And forgive me, because I am digressing a tad bit to show that I'm not hating on American Idol, but I'm using it as an example to show how the music/entertainment industry is manipulating music consumers to buy certain products. The music industry should be more than getting a "consumer" to buy a "product". It should be about a connection between the music, the artist, and the fan.
I love Carrie Underwood, she is one of my favorite artists, and she came through American Idol. She seems like a genuine person, and God Bless her, and the other winners and non-winners who have had great success. But I believe Carrie Underwood was great before she was on American Idol. She didn't need that to become a star...
but the music industry wants you to believe that she did.I'm wondering if as music fans, we are glorifying money and fame too much. I think we are letting money and fame dictate our tastes. It takes a lot of money to produce American Idol, but since they get it right back through all the advertisers who want to sell us something, they will keep "buying us". Now with the talk of new judges, they are continuing to create the "allure". And I like all of the potentials I've heard about...Jennifer Lopez, Justin Timberlake, Aerosmith...and I can't blame them for taking whatever money is offered and running with it. But it's all to create an illusion that "American Idol" is the show through which stars are created, and the major label deal is how you become a star. For me, it starts with great music, and a great voice. And I personally don't need a show to help me find that. Yes, it's entertaining, but in a way, I wish they highlighted the people that didn't make it, so they can show that there is a music scene outside of the major record deals, and major videos and tours. Unless you have a lot of money behind you...it's a dream.
And that's the major difference between most major artists and not so major artists...money! Someone or some company puts money behind an act to polish, promote, and sell, and people buy. As fans, we are not giving enough credit to the artists who don't have that major backing.
Take the radio for instance. The music that gets onto the radio is music that major record labels pay millions of dollars to promote to all radio stations to constantly spin their music. Money. And you wonder why you hear the same songs over and over again?
Some may wonder, if an artist wants to be successful, they should get on a major label so
that label can put tons of money behind them, and then maybe I'll start to pay attention. But there is a reason why Justin Timberlake, Usher, and Mary J Blige have started their own labels. In a nutshell, a major record deal dictates what the artist will sing, how they will sing it, and how much money the label will spend on it. Many artists are leaving major record deals now, because they want to have more control over their projects.
All I'm saying is that our music and entertainment industries would be much better if we supported all types of artists, and not just those signed to major record deals, or that come through reality shows. Yes, I understand with the internet, anyone can make a song and put it up, and that means more weeding out of the bad music, to get to the good music...but isn't that what the judges do at American Idol?? Take control of your music industry!! Go to YouTube and find the next Bieber before someone else does, and share it. Go to a concert of an artist you haven't heard before, because you may hear the next Alicia Keys.
I'm leaning towards starting a movement that makes finding great independent music the "it" thing to do. It's challenging...but it would be fun I think.
Anyone who wants to help me work on that let me know. I think it can happen.
Jared Jones - Singer/Songwriter - www.jaredjonesonline.com
