The mysterious case of the disappearing music shows
I have been pondering the total lack of any decent music shows on terrestrial TV anymore. OK there’s Later... (if you can get past the irritating boogie woogie gnome who presents it) but that’s pretty much it. Top of the Pops, Sounds of the Sixties (then Seventies, Eighties, etc), Old Grey Whistle Test, The Tube, ITV Chart Show, etc etc. They’ve all gone, but why? There must be a logical reason.
It can’t be because people aren’t interested in music - downloads, ipod sales, music blogs and the like are all soaring and musicians grace the pages of our newspapers more than ever before. And surely just as many people are into music as are into sport, property development, gardening and all the other stuff that fills the telly schedules.
The argument that there isn’t enough decent music anymore is just tosh and half of the stuff on TOTP was pretty naff anyway.
Is it because record sales are falling and record companies are going out of business? No, there’s no real reason why that would have any effect.
Is it because people don’t want to watch bands performing live? Of course not. Gigs are selling out like hotcakes left right and centre and the coverage of the summer festivals has reached fever pitch this year.
So here’s a theory. Perhaps our musical tastes have become too diverse. There are so many more bands around now and so many more ways to listen to them, plus all the old stuff is easily obtainable and we can carry it everywhere we go on our MP3 players. So everyone’s tastes have become much more eclectic and varied. We’ve got a much wider array of music to choose from therefore the chances of any two people’s musical tastes overlapping is much less.
Whereas in the past a show could feature five or six bands on a 50 minute show and know that 80 percent of the viewers would find at least one or two of them interesting, now that percentage is much lower. And once it drops below a certain point the telly chiefs no longer find it worthwhile to make.
Do I have a point or am I just rambling incoherently again?
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Here's another theory
I seem to have about 40 music channels on my sky box. Its mostly cheap as chips TV relying on promos. MTV has some more expensive looking stuff as well. That's where people watch music now.
It's freed up our channels so we can watch idiots feeding their kids crap and people who have let themselves go get repaired on a TV show budget.
It may not be progress.
With freebox/freesat or whatever it is called.....
...have not most homes access to BBC4. Friday evening is virtually always bumper viewing.
Good point
Forgot about BBC4. Quietly, a very spendid channel.
It's almost the only tv channel....
....I look up in advance.
Usually from about 9pm onwards on a Friday.
The last couple of weeks they've been showing concerts on a Thurs evening too. Loudon Wainwright III and Ray Lamontagne the last 2 weeks if I remember correctly. I didn't watch as I've seen both before.
It's odd really
They have a few shows for 'the youth' that include all the new bands not loved hereabouts, such as 'Sound'. Then they have the BBC4 stuff which seems aimed at a more mature audience, as in Word approved. It's this BB3/BBC4 mentality, splitting teens from older adults, whereas teenagers seem pretty into dadrock or whatever you want to call it as well as the new indie lot and old farts do enjoy some new music. I've seen the teenagers with their Stooges and Hendrix t-shirts and bags. Why they don't have a show catering to pop/rock music lovers of all ages I don't really know. TV people seem to have lost the plot a bit with one thing and another. Later covers a wide range though, but does lean toward the supposed older person's taste.
Live at Abbey Road
I taped it for the first time because Suzanne Vega (one of my favourite singers) was on it.
Watched the documentary talky bits of Panic At The Disco. Watched a minute of the first song then fast forwarded it.
Completely skipped David Grey.
Watched the Suzanne Vega talking bits, listened to the first song (Tom's Cafe) then gave up half way through Luka.
One of two bands was interesting. And then I gave up on the interesting one. Why? It was a lifeless studio performance. What's the point? According to The Word article they get to perform each songs as many times as they want until they nail the perfect take. Which just kills the passion. I will not be watching future editions of this pointless, redundant show.
non PC
The Zutons were really good, and one's pleasure is in no way reduced by the camera man's realisation that regular up down up panning along Abi Harding's legs makes better telly than a shot of a stubbly Scouse bass player.
These days...
..we have youtube. And TMF. Spoilt for choice.
Listen to the Word Backstage Podcast
David Hepworth talks to Mark Cooper (BBC Head of Music) about this....very interesting it is too.