Music: Local = Good?
October 16, 2009
Want to be part of and interesting debate on how local/Scottish music is covered and critiqued online?
One thing we absolutely want to do here on The Kiosque is increase our coverage of local bands and DJs. With our new format and a podcast up and running now, it’s going to be far easier to highlight some of the great music that’s being made around the North-East at the moment, which in turn will hopefully have a knock-on effect on gig attendances, CD/record sales, downloads etc.
However, this raises a few questions: Are we going to big things up just because they’re local? Are we in danger of falling into a trap that means we’ll look at everything through Granite-tinted spectacles? (an unlikely product I know but hey, any entrepreneurs are welcome to the patent). Most importantly, how can we avoid this? We’d like to think that the stuff we’ll point you towards will be featured for the sole reason that it’s good, in our opinion of course, however, we don’t expect for a moment that you’ll agree with everything, it would be totally naive to do so.
Anyway, what prompted this bout of hand-wringing is a post on the Scotsman’s excellent Under The Radar blog in which another (equally worthy) Scottish music site, The Pop Cop accuses them of a scatter-gun approach to the bands they cover, claiming there are only twelve new acts in Scotland worth listening to each year. Now, I’m pretty sure I could rattle off at least 6 bands (probably more) in Aberdeen alone that are worth some ear-time, all of whom could cut it on far bigger stages than the local/Scottish scene if given the chance. So, what do you think?
Get commenting over there and below…
October 16, 2009 at 09:42
I agree a little with The Pop Cop. There’s a lot of so-so bands getting coverage on that blog, but I’m not sure that It’s really worth getting bent out of shape about it. Probably best to give people the opportunity to simply make their own mind up on what is worthy by paying for tickets to see them or buying a self-released CD etc.
However, when I cast my mind back over the last few years towards bands that have had a widely exposed and carefully manicured gestation period, very few have actually proved to live up to this level of exposure. I might be being paranoid, but after the debut Franz Ferdinand record made Glasgow some sort of musical epicentre (apparently), Sons & Daughters were so universally lauded by ‘oor medya’, that our southern cousins took a backwards step and began to retreat firmly back to Shoreditch as quickly as I can find a new 4-piece ‘indie band’ that are decked head-to-toe in Topshop on MySpace. In my opinion, the whole ‘pick a dozen and plug ‘em to death’ approach is simply going to make things worse rather than better.
There’s no doubt that exposing little known bands in this way is having a positive effect on local music scenes in Scotland and at the moment, Aberdeen is a decent example of this.
October 16, 2009 at 09:58
Spot on about the Sons & Daughters thing ‘Joy’. I said something similar in an email to a friend just the other day…
October 16, 2009 at 10:23
Part of the, thinking, may be in there is no direct attachment to the ‘Scottish music industry’ in this part of the world and therefore we suffer from being seen, or acting, as parochial, with no ‘real’ contribution to make to the wider picture (the south). We probably require, or at least wouldn’t suffer from some more recognition or voice at an industry level in order to be seen as ‘knowing what we are talking about’ by anyone out-with the locale. I am not suggesting here that we don’t know what we are talking about and this is far from the case but an inward looking ‘scene’ is a tricky one.
All this said if there is a growing professional approach to how things are developed, supported and reported upon and how, most importantly, bands/musicians themselves approach a potential music career then this is industry approach we will benefit from. It certainly can’t hurt!
October 16, 2009 at 10:38
Agreed Jim, and Aberdeen is seen (and acts) as if it’s a separate entity within that ‘Scottish music scene’. Personally I’m starting to see that as a good thing and one that should be built upon.
Here’s Song By Toad from Edinburgh’s take on the debate http://songbytoad.com/2009/10/multi-writer-blogzine-thingies/
Some interesting points about blogging in general in the comments…
October 16, 2009 at 10:36
All I have to say on the matter is that I like this blog because I get the impression it’s discerning. I don’t think that The Kiosque would cover any old pap just because it’s in Aberdeen, and I wouldn’t want it to go down that road.
I get the impression the content has been ‘filtered’ by genuine music fans that know their stuff, and for me that’s a good thing.
cheers
Jayne
October 16, 2009 at 10:56
There is a Scottish Music Industry Association currently being developed that is intended to look at the things of which we speak. So far I would suggest that it is, again, predominantly central belt reps that are sitting on the board but need not be the case. Certainly some local voice would be good in the mix. Then again, if you create enough noise off your own back then people take notice!
Being a self contained, knowledgeable and professional scene is the way to go. That said, playing devils advocate, no cash and people continually giving time for free, at all levels, tends to breed that which we would want to avoid. Aim high with high expectations I say. Of course this is all based on the talent on the ground and if that sucks nae hope.
October 16, 2009 at 12:56
Jim said “if there is a growing professional approach to how things are developed, supported and reported upon and how, most importantly, bands/musicians themselves approach a potential music career then this is industry approach we will benefit from”
Could not agree more Jim!