Another Classic Example...

[bazwillrun]

of a musician being played on national radio because of who they are and not the quality of their music...dont these idiots have the nous to work out what constitutes good new music as opposed to tired old dull material from an artist whos best days are long gone, like his hair...

A track from Neil Diamonds new album was played on Radio 2 about an hour ago (Ken Bruce saying how brilliant it was etc etc etc...)....it was absolute dross, it was dull, it was boring....but it was Neil Diamond so got plugged

If an anonymous/unknown artist had pushed that song to a "record company" it wouldnt have even got listened to past the first couple of bars...

[andy-hughes]

Baz - there are inumerable musicians - and ND is up there - whose appeal to millions of people cometely passes me by.

But - that appeal is there, and remains in full swing, so Radio 2 are oblidged to play music by popular musicians - the remit for grounbdreaking lies elswhere on the BBC.

You (and I) may find it dreadful turgid gloop, but millions of other really enjoy it, so they get to hear it because that is how Public Service Broadcasting works.

[ludwig]

// If an anonymous/unknown artist had pushed that song to a "record company" it wouldnt have even got listened to past the first couple of bars... //

They also have to play what people are interested in hearing, and people are interested in hearing Neil Diamond's new album. Not you or I perhaps, but plenty are.

ps - I heard the new David Bowie single on Radio 6 the other day, and that sounded like a bunch of tedious 5hiite as well. Bowie's an important artist though, so they're right to play it.

[The Builder]

Business, my boy... business, although I have to say I agree with what both Baz and Andy have said. It's dictatorship by Record Company. Record deals; sales; album promotions etc.

In ND's defence, there is a distinction between musician and entertainer.
ND is a magnificent entertainer, and should be respected for that if nothing else.

If musicianship and innovation had ever been the only criteria, then the Music Business would have missed out on a lot of fun over the last sixty years.

[jomifl]

Ludwig, when I first heard of David Bowie I looked forward to hearing something new and exciting and perhaps a touch avant garde. However he turned out to be like the rest of the self regarding rock gurus, no rock and no guru. We have far more interesting music from the local bands of all colours here in SW France. North African, Mediterranean, Gypsy..Bluegrass, even. You name it, we've got it , none of them will be famous but they are talented and do perform at parties and local events.

[bazwillrun]

for the record ND has written some superb songs...but that was years ago.

Many years ago I used to work in the "music biz" and we used to use "pluggers" people who we'd pay to take our artists tracks round to the radio stations where they had "influence" and would "convince" the dj's to play the tracks....wonder if it still goes on ?

[andy-hughes]

baz - probably a lot less now, because the Charts have far less of an impact than they used to have back in the day.

With free downloads and so on, the notion of pluggers as in the old days may well be dead and gone, but don't quote me.

[Answerprancer]

I totally agree with you, the thing is - it's mostly crappy playlists only featuring well known established that seem to get played during the hours of daylight on mainstream radio stations. The exciting new stuff only seems to get aired late at night. (Hooray, common ground - lets get married ;-)