A musical hegemony

So what do I think about the Syco/Xfactor/Sony dominance? Well I wonder about the abuse factor. If during x factor season most top 5 acts receive their coveted positions after appearing on the live show, what on earth is going on behind the scenes for artists to receive their invitation to play. This process should be monitored by an independent body of some kind....and i wonder why the monopolies and mergers commission aren't interested in the music business in general as the individual companies become swallowed up by the bigger fish and we get less and less choice.

There is no best in music

I'm trying to be a bit more thoughtful, or less analytical....ha! How do you do that? Every time I hear something I don't like, it's so easy to damn it and with a few remarks reduce it to a bite of a sandwich you didn't like so you threw it away.
Now not everything we sample whether it be music or food, is made with love and should therefore be appreciated for that, sometimes people are trying to make you eat shit (literally), but when it comes to the creative process within music, which is an artform after all, should I even say anything about it at all? I listen to and appreciate certain records I could never justify to others, yet in my mind that particular song is an inspiration for getting out of bed in the morning.

Just the term guilty pleasure shows that taste transcends fashions and fans of songs may hide their preferences to avoid criticisms.

Don't follow your heart, follow your ears! If you like it..you like it.

Why go independent?

Too many people still think the way forward for their careers is to "get a record deal" with a major. 2 problems with that. No-one's getting signed unless they've completely set everything up themselves already, with a huge fan-base and a certain amount of "guaranteed" sales in advance or they've suffered the humiliation of talent shows and become "lucky" enough to win or get into the televised bit, or they are one of the smaller and smaller percentage getting signed through being 'spotted' like winning the lottery or something and your problems only really start once you're signed...potential for "getting dropped" extremely high after 1-2 singles and def. after 1 album if the sales aren't considered enough...

Why go independent? If you've got the true drive to work hard at your own career 'stead of waiting for others to make it happen for you, then it is for you.

You should be able to have a much closer relationship with an independent label actually getting to know the boss and the staff who all should actually genuinely believe in your music as every signing must count or they'll not last too long.

Go Independent but only if you must.. if you're prepared to work even harder, start your own label and the rewards will be so much greater, in other words...if you really have music, writing talent and some resources, some way of financing yourself (small to begin with, no need to re-mortgage the house) and you really are unafraid of seriously hard work, don't wait around...get on with it!