"Concerned"

[achebeautiful]

There are some troubling things about the state of the music business here in the United States of America.

Here is a post recently made by a fan of Bruce Springsteen from Europe at a Bruce Springsteen forum that I sometimes visit:

"Looks like the American part of the Seeger Sessions Tour ended with the who shows in Holmdel, NJ, this last weekend. There have been rumors for a while about more European shows in the fall. In fact, Bruce himself told a couple of European crowds that he would be back in Europe later this year, so there’s a very good possibility of this happening. There have also been rumors of more North American shows, but they don’t seem to have the same substance. It’s very possible that there could have been a second North American leg if the last month of shows had been better attended, and while nothing can be ruled out yet, it just doesn’t look good for North American Seeger tour fans unless they want to travel to Europe.
Anyway, this opens an interesting perspective: if the second European leg is going to happen, which by all accounts will be more extensive than the first one, could this be the first time in Bruce history that Europe will get more shows than North America on a tour? As if that isn’t unusual enough, the most bizarre thing about it is that the tour is about celebrating American music. Why does that appeal more to Europeans than to Americans? Is it that we here in Europe have a better appreciation for American musical history or are we just less critical and would sell out stadiums just to see Bruce read from the phone book? Something to ponder while we wait for the next official news."

And if that is not enough, Leanne Rimes' just released album "Whatever We Wanna" is not even being marketed in the USA! An English language American artist releasing an album outside of her own country? And all because she is making the change from country to pop, which gets an unfavorable reputation from country fans here!

This is rediculous in my opinion!

[S.C.]

Actually, it's not so hard to believe artists releasing records outside of the USA. It's a good thing in my opinion. Just like it's a good thing for artists to sing in other languages.

[achebeautiful]

No....

This is far different Shavon!

I agree with what you are saying......but what is happening here is a total disregard for the things you are saying!

Artists in the USA have to go to foreign countries to be accepted! How sad!

[ocelot]

I don't think it's a bad thing to make music that will be more successful other places (like music in other languages) but I think it's terrible that if that music was released in NA it would make her career suffer. Shouldn't it be able the music not about politics?

[cppgenius]

Mark, look to me your topic was the spark for Leona's topic The State of the Music Industry in NA. Like I said this problem has its roots from the fans. Without the fans you won't have an audience to listen to your music. If fans stop to support the junk artists, and start to support the real artists, you will see how fast these underrated artists will rise to the top. And if fans keep supporting them, for their music, you will see the ones, who have taken their glory to their heads, fall out of the bus. Fans should only support real artists who keep making quality and sincere music, music that comes from the heart, not music that complies with some marketing scheme.

I like to use the word sincere, because this is one word that Lara mentions time after time, in fact she emphasises it. She used it when she explained that it is not important in which language you sing, as long as it is sincere. One of the qualities she feels that has to be present in her own music, is sincerity, and it makes a lot of sense, real music is music that comes from the heart and speaks to the soul, not the "hum didi da, bla bla bla" junk that is polluting the radio stations and the CD' stores these days.

[achebeautiful]

I just want to be clear about my concern for the state of music in the USA. I absolutely have no problem with an artist marketing his/her album in another country. My problem lies in the fact that these artists feel that they have to in order to sell their music, because the US market would be unaccepting of it.

It's troubling to me that what we get on our radio is defined as music, while 'real' music doesn't even sell in our stores here!

I think it is sad that talented artists who try different styles of music cannot succeed here in the States, simply because we are not as willing to embrace various musical styles and tastes as much as the Europeans or others.

[cppgenius]

And it is even worse if your own artists get rejected because of this, LeAnn Rimes is an American rejected by Americans, that's a shame. You should hold on to artists like these like you would hold on to gold. If you don't, you will end up like the South African music industry. Most of our top artists are retired, dead or left the country. Now we are literally left with the leftovers.

[S.C.]

I can not be bothered worrying about the USA rejecting or accepting artists may they be homegrown or not. The situation is what it is. It's never going to change. The state of music in the USA has been on the decline for a long time. It has been a culture of quantity over quality for quite some time. I'm satisfied with the artists that I support. The artists that I support may not be huge mega stars in the USA, but, they are in my heart. And that's the only thing that matters to me.

[lapayin]

This may be an over generalization but my feelings are America today is too media driven. The performers that are popular are PR products and not necessarily artists. Our whole society is like that. I do not want to get into a political discussion but even our politicians are PR products and not necessarily qualified to make world changing decissions. Americans have become shallow. There are very few artistic TV shows in America (ie music/variety) but tons of "reality" (oximoron) shows that degrade and humiliate. Unfortunately we do not care about quality and artistry we just want to build ourselves up by putting others down. I guess it makes us think we are more important?

Here is an example:

One of my favorite singers is Anastacia. She is not huge in America (She's from Chicago and New York) but is very popular in Europe. Her style was big glasses and funky clothes. She stated this was the way she is. She even wrote a song about her style Freak Of Nature (album title). She has had laser eye surgery and shows more cleavage now. I saw an interview with her a few months ago on a French TV show. She made mention that since she got rid of her glasses and now dresses "differently" she has become more popular. Maybe this is why Madonna keeps reinventing herself. Sad we can't just accept people for their talents. There are a few of us who do, as Shavon said - "they are in my heart. And that's the only thing that matters to me."

[achebeautiful]

I completely agree with you Paula. Well stated.