Around this time of year, every year... just as summer is approaching and winter is thankfully gone for another 10 months, we start to see record companies invest alot more time into their new acts... promoting them at every opportunity and trying to broaden the prospects of a tidy number 1 album and loyal fan base. For this reason new music becomes ripe and we start to see the rubbish currently in the top 40 fade out and indie/electro take over as supreme once again... This goes without saying for 2 main reasons and a few tiny... The first notable reason is...
1. The Brits
and this year we cant escape them, what with peter kay hosting and the usual, unusual blend of odd ball singers and music industry excs all crammed into one building for a, never quite long enough show that in the past has featured some iconic moments and helped in shaping not just british music culture, but also in USA and australia native indie groups fame thereselves on behaving 'like the british' and due to this not only can the brit awards be essential for the success of any new act in the UK but also globally like Britney, Scissor Sisters, Eminem all put there label through there paces to make sure they got a space to preform, but also go all the way to ensure their performance is the most memorable of the evening... But the genuis of it is... YOU DONT EVEN NEED TO PREFORM case in point: Michael Jackson being mooned by jarvis cocker or The KLF weirdness on that crazy 92 show or The Halliwell union jack dress which was voted the most iconic moment in not just the brits history, but pop history.. and brought all of these acts priceless publicity, which, without the Brits... wouldn't actually have been possible, The Brits remains the only british show that reaches more people and carries more influence than the Xfactor.
2. Festivals
Leading up to summer we also get the chance to speculate on who will be appearing at each of the festivals. Festival business boomed at the beginning of the 90's and in its path, created some new festivals and a new type of summer holiday experience which invites anyone, of any age and of any background to camp in a field with thousands of other strangers, shit and wash in dirty horrible, probable STD filled area, be bitten by flying insects, the like of which are only known in the Balado area of earth and definitely get mud in your nose, arse, hair, nails, shoes and beer... All in the name of music...This was and continues to be the most successful form of introduction to any music lover and new bands, sure you have your NME magazine where you cant actually hear the printed words about how good the music is on their end or radio stations which even although play alot of new music which is cool and likely exciting for any new artist... they also turn down thousands and thousands of new bands to be heard on there station, either for being 'not in keeping with the stations genre' or 'not popular enough' stations take the easy option and wait until the artist is minorly successful before furthering their career. There is nothing quite like walking around a field with a warm beer in your hand and passing a tent where a band is playing to a crowd of around 12... or 13... where the energy and power of the lyrics may just be enough to make them your new favorite artist.
These 2 giant music promotions make all the shitty urban/RnB bearable, to know that is a few months time we will probably be listening and raving on about a new artist that we had no idea existed before the above...
There are a few some reasons as fore mentioned, which might just be theories at this stage but still every part as important
The Gallaghers
I am not afraid at all of admitting how much i hate them, however... As the last band around after the 90's Britpop era, They have my respect for lasting so long and i am also a tiny bit sad and let down that in actual fact Britpop is now DEAD. (even although it died 10 years ago, i find it difficult to admit) apart of me always wishes that blur and plup and others would reform for musics sake.... However, i do know that if they did, and Oasis are now included - It still wouldn't be the same. With the brothers now possibly split forever (or at least until the big bucked reform tour deals start coming in) they have the dilemma of who will carry on as Oasis and who, out of the brothers is left to seek new band mates and name... In actual fact these questions may have already been answered in the press, however until i see the changes and the way it sounds for myself i refuse to believe it...
With this in itself brings a massive change to the music scene and alot of bands will try now to step up there game to try and claim the gapping hole Oasis have left.
Glee
Lastly and ill leave it for you to decide how important this one is, Glee, which you really cant avoid right now...his does for music something genius and very clever. Britannia High was a UK show, very similar, but a complete failure. It doesnt take long to see the differences between them and the reason its US competition marvels in places BH failed. firstly, the songs on glee are covers where the songs on BH were originals, BH had too many serious story lines whereas glee focuses on humouring it audience and importantly the characters on glee can act. Glee is filming for season 2 right now in the US and no doubt will also re-appear back over here too. With album, Glee soundtrack: Part 1 on the way (feb 15th) we will be sure to see alot more top 10 hits by the cast and with that as above comes a new wave of fans or gleeks as their known, taking to the mic and releasing there efforts inspired by the show.
All in all this could be a very very exciting year for music, what with all the silly Reformations done and over with and away from our charts we can get back to what we do best, New Music...
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