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I Hear Music, Partisan Music ( How the Grammys Contribute to Plummeting Record Sales )
National Review ^ | 02/13/2007 | Raymond Arroyo

Posted on 02/13/2007 11:16:30 AM PST by SirLinksalot

I Hear Music, Partisan Music

Watching the Grammys.

By Raymond Arroyo

The whole point of music is to transcend politics, grievances, and the differences that divide to help us reconnect to those essential human emotions we all share: love, loss, anger, regret. Unless, that is, you work for the music industry.

Like its wicked stepsister, Hollywood, the music business has become increasingly divorced from its purpose, estranged from its audience, and maliciously partisan. Not that they seem to care. Case in point: the 49th Annual Grammy Awards held at the Los Angeles Staples Center on Sunday night. Watching the proceedings, who could be blamed for wanting to staple some mouths shut?

For the Dixie Chicks, who won a total of five Grammys, the evening was a triumph. No big surprise. Natalie Maines, the lead singer for the group, all but insured this outcome in 2003, when, during a concert in London she announced, “Just so you know, we’re ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas.” Back on the mainland, a huge chunk of their fan base in red-state America stop whistling Dixie Chicks; the comments would eventually lead to dwindling record sales and a banishment from many country-radio stations. The Chicks were unrepentant, and decided to court a more urbane crowd, shaking off the “rednecks” that had made them stars.

On Sunday, they communed with their new fan base: Grammy voters. For the tune “Not Ready to Make Nice,” the Chicks snagged Best Song and Best Record of the Year Grammys, despite the fact that it never broke the top 20 on any chart. And to prove the power of an offhanded comment against a beleaguered president, the trio took home an Album of the Year Grammy as well.

Accepting the award Natalie Maines droned, “To quote the great Simpsons, ‘Heh, heh.’ A lot of people have turned off their TV sets now.” That’s assuming her performance earlier in the evening hadn’t already had viewers rushing for their remotes — for part of that live number, poor Natalie sounded flatter than her record sales. It was enough to tempt one to beg Laura Ingraham to retitle her book: “Shut up, And Don’t Sing Either.”

For an institution approaching its 50th year, and an industry hemorrhaging financially, one would have imagined that the Grammy telecast would have at least tried to reach as wide an audience as possible. No such luck. Save for the American Idol champion, Carrie Underwood, who picked up a pair of Grammys for her Jesus Take the Wheel, there was little for Middle America to revel in.

The aging Police opened the show to prove that they could still stand on stage together and pull off a reasonably good version of “Roxanne.” The Latin diva Shakira popped her pelvis and undulated her way through her summer hit, “Hips Don’t Lie,” wandering through a set that looked like a Bollywood strip club.

The rapper Ludacris, who won Best Rap Album honors for the “masterpiece” (his words) Release Therapy, gave a “shout out to Oprah and Bill O’Reilly” (both of whom have been critical of his lyrics). With a catalog that includes such hits as “Hoes in My Room” and “Girls Gone Wild,” how ludicrous that anyone would take umbrage at the Ludacris view of women in his music. The video for his latest work, broadcast in part at the Grammys, featured Ludacris surrounded by bikini-clad women writhing all over him. One clip featured he and “his employees” lying on a bed of cash. Oprah and O’Reilly seem to have this one right.

Finally, near the end of the of the torturous ceremony, as if the nerves could take any more, that musical giant Al Gore took the stage to announce the winner of the Best Rock Album. Why? I have no idea. But as evidence that global warming is wreaking some havoc, perhaps on what is left of good taste, Jimmy Carter won a spoken-word Grammy for his audio book, Our Endangered Values. If you’re very quiet you can still hear the cries of jubilation rising in Gaza.

Insignificant musical talents like Bob Dylan, John Williams, the San Francisco Symphony, Randy Newman, and more than 90 others were not of sufficient caliber to be featured on the Grammy telecast, though they all took home prizes. The airtime had to be saved for the real talent out there: Shakira, the Chicks, and Ludacris, and their scintillating performances. Ludicrous.

Given this one night’s collective assault on the ears, the eyes, and decency itself, is it any wonder that record sales have plummeted? If this is the best that the American recording industry has to offer the world, their future is very bleak indeed. While relatively cheap music downloads doubled last year, the industry’s bread and butter, CDs sales, continued to slide. In the year 2000, ’N Sync sold more than nine million copies of their album, No Strings Attached. This year’s bestseller, High School Musical sold a paltry 3.7 million. Big retailers like Musicland and Tower Records have called it quits for good. People will download a tune here and there, but their devotion to individual artists is slipping; their willingness to plop down 18 bucks to hear slickly packaged, homogenized drek is gone. As one record exec told a Canadian newspaper this week, “I think the fan is in control now… they have the power.” To quote those great Simpsons: “Heh, heh.”

— Raymond Arroyo is editor of the forthcoming, Mother Angelica’s Little Book of Life Lessons and Everyday Spirituality (Doubleday, March) and host of EWTN’s The World Over Live.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: dixiechicks; grammy; grammys; liberalagenda
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To: SirLinksalot
This is the first really good article I have seen on the problems with the music business. The execs have been going more and more political, and relinquishing authority/micromanaging. I know, that looks like an oxymoron. Allow me to explain.

Politics were clearly behind the nomination of Jimmy Carter for the spoken word album, and Al Gore being a presenter. The nominations of the DC's was also political. Many of the nominations are done by trade committees (hand picked producers, artists, label people etc of the genre)and not necessarily the general membership of the RIAA, so, like the MSM the bias shows.

The execs relinquish authority when they allow the artistry to appeal to the least common denominator. One who is classless, crude, rude and socially unacceptable is encouraged. No one will tell someone they have gone over the line anymore, resulting in many people like myself (mothers, grandmothers, civil people in general), refusing to purchase, or to allow the purchase of, any of that crap.

Additionally, you have the "bean counters" dictating what is "hot" now. We had a very talented artist we worked with and were told "Hat singers aren't selling now, make him a trio". He went on to produce 2 highly mediocre albums, neither of which even we would purchase.

The availability of decent music over the internet, with no label involvement, is what is causing the industry to die. I am in the music business, and I have not personally bought a CD in over 5 years.
41 posted on 02/13/2007 12:19:04 PM PST by Grammy
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To: Timothy
I'm sure ol' Bobby can't believe where the industry has gone either. He pretty much helped build it to it's former greatness in his lifetime, only to see the younger generation completely blow it in a few short years.

It's a shame.
42 posted on 02/13/2007 12:19:29 PM PST by PSYCHO-FREEP (" Judge not and thou shalt not be judged")
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To: LoneConservative
That sounds like it will be a great show.

While I have just about worn out my copy of Wishbones I haven't listended to Brokedown as much. That song first appeared on a Rod Picott CD...I think he cowrote it with Cleaves.

43 posted on 02/13/2007 12:20:18 PM PST by GSWarrior
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To: SirLinksalot

HIDH SCHOOL MUSICAL was the year's best seller? Wow. I guess 11 year olds haven't figured how to steal music off the web yet.


44 posted on 02/13/2007 12:26:57 PM PST by wtc911 (You can't get there from here)
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To: Grammy
I believe this all started when the uber leftist MTV decided to "Take back the country" with that ridiculous "ROCK the VOTE" campaign. Their new priority is not to promote music, but to promote the Leftist agenda and persuade the younger generations to start dominating the elections with their Liberal Ideology.

In that respect, it has worked. There is a new generation of very political and liberal voters among the electorate. More than any other time in recent history.
45 posted on 02/13/2007 12:27:22 PM PST by PSYCHO-FREEP (" Judge not and thou shalt not be judged")
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To: Tokra
He was clearly being sarcastic on that one. I also LOVE Bob Dylan. He visited Viet Nam several times in support of our troops through USO shows. He also kept himself out of the anit-war rallies in the late 60's & early 70"s.
46 posted on 02/13/2007 12:33:16 PM PST by PSYCHO-FREEP (" Judge not and thou shalt not be judged")
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To: safeasthebanks; Timothy; PSYCHO-FREEP
Guilty as charged!

I guess I just saw the word insignificant and jumped to conclusions.

47 posted on 02/13/2007 12:36:22 PM PST by Tokra (I think I'll retire to Bedlam.)
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To: Grammy

As I wrote yesterday: Ya know,,, You can train a monkey to dance a jig in front of an organ grinder. And to collect money from passersby. Does that make the monkey a professional entertainer? No, the monkey's just a trained animal, like so many of today's stars.


48 posted on 02/13/2007 12:37:50 PM PST by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ("Don't touch that thing")
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To: SirLinksalot

They have transformed the award into the SHAMMIES. I honestly wasn't aware it was on until the next day when I read of the results...glad I missed it.


49 posted on 02/13/2007 12:39:57 PM PST by highlander_UW (I don't know what my future holds, but I know Who holds my future)
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To: upchuck
Interesting. I found this information in regards to allofmp3.com.

Your comments, please?

50 posted on 02/13/2007 12:44:24 PM PST by Joe Brower (Sheep have two speeds: "graze" and "stampede".)
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To: wastedyears
Did anybody watch to make sure Shakira's lips were perfectly synched with the voice?

The were in sync and then some.

51 posted on 02/13/2007 12:46:43 PM PST by Always Right
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To: Thombo2
CUTE! euuuuuu! I was cuter than her two 10 minutes after I plopped out a 6 lb 8 oz baby boy. Gees!
52 posted on 02/13/2007 12:48:19 PM PST by Bitsy
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To: Hildy
Unfortunately, she's forever grouped into that Britney Spears, Mandy Moore group, which is the furthest thing from what she is.

Well that is her own fault. Her last album was all about trying to outskank Britney. Christiana has always been way too talented to have to stoop to those levels. Britney on the other hand had to do it to help deflect the fact she is at best an average singer.

53 posted on 02/13/2007 12:53:23 PM PST by Always Right
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To: PhilCollins
The Grammys now have too many catagories. About 10 years ago, they had awards for best single, best album, best group, and best solo act.

Actually....

They’ve been giving boatloads of Grammy’s for decades. Here are some categories that have been added over the years:

Best Polka Album - Added in 1986. Won this year by Jimmy Sturr for “Dance with me”. This guy has won TWELVE Grammys in this category including one tie in 1987.

Best (Musical) Album For Children - Added in 1959. Won this year by Dan Zanes for “Catch that Train!”

Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) - Added in 1963.

Etc. There have always been a staggering number of categories at the Grammys.
54 posted on 02/13/2007 12:55:17 PM PST by SirLinksalot
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To: SirLinksalot
The Grammys have come to epitomize the entertainment industry's slow but steady slide into the moral gutter.

I'm sure there were many a sore shoulder the day afterwards from the frenzied orgy of back-slapping.
55 posted on 02/13/2007 12:56:01 PM PST by reagan_fanatic (Every time a jihadist dies, an angel gets its wings.)
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To: SirLinksalot

Sorry excuse for a TV program.


56 posted on 02/13/2007 1:03:49 PM PST by LM_Guy
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To: SirLinksalot

Haven't bought a music CD in over 10 years, and haven't regretted it either.


57 posted on 02/13/2007 1:07:46 PM PST by lilylangtree (Veni, Vidi, Vici)
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To: SirLinksalot

Why do you continue to hold back and not tell us what you REALLY think about today's music?


58 posted on 02/13/2007 1:11:50 PM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP

MTV may have helped with both the decline of quality and the politicization of the music business, but it didn't start it. It started when "music" quit being the first priority and "business" took over.


59 posted on 02/13/2007 1:21:17 PM PST by Grammy
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To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra

Exactly. Then the bean counters begin to treat ALL the talent like monkeys and the caliber of the industry slowly slides into the toilet.


60 posted on 02/13/2007 1:23:45 PM PST by Grammy
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