HOW LOW CAN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY GO??

What "idol" has done to music industry.

Our popular / mainstream music industry is now at such a low ebb that the major focus is now on mainstream/crossover shows such as pop stars and Australian idol, leaving true original talent to only be marketed via independent music companies or by self promotion on the web.

The nature of these shows goes against any original ideas or artist development. .judges and therefore music producers are only looking for a short term quick buck, instantly marketable to masses, in a music style that in past decades was called "bubble gum" music.

Imagine serious heavy weight artists (before they were famous) going on to Australian idol....

For Example:

Kurt Cobain performing 'smells like teen spirit'....

Mark [I was never a star anyway so this job is my career highlight]
Holden would say...

.."Ok man what are you doin??..get some good clothes, a decent hairstyle, and stop screaming. Your guitar is out of tune and your songs have no relevance... listen to some Beatles albums and get singing lessons....next!!!"

Eric Clapton comes on performing "Layla"

Marcia [I sold my soul and lost all credibility to be a judge on idol]
Hines would say...'okay that was pretty good but maybe you should smile a little more and you don't need that guitar...lead breaks are sooooo yesterday, and don't you think you are a bit old?are you trying to be a guitar hero or something...."we don't need guitar heroes on australian idol!!'..... Next!!

James Hetfield comes on next doing enter sandman....

Judge number three [who is so unimportant I don't know his name.. does anybody??] says...'okay dude I can see you're into metal music but how ya going to go on our next show doing the music of Elton john and popular show tunes? You need to get more versatile. You're never gonna be successful doing just this metal stuff. Learn to sing a few different styles and stop that snarling? you must smile more. Maybe try wearing a suit next time.. you just might scrape thru...."...next!!!"

Ands so on ands so on.....

As long as shows like this are our main source of popular music, good original music and artists with a fresh approach will never get the attention they deserve when the main criteria for success is sounding like someone else and looking good (and demographically acceptable) on TV.

With a few exceptions most contestants are about as talented (not) as the poor misled fools on big brother, and are on TV for no other reason then to 'be famous'

Illy