Ok so all over the globe, millions of people tune into their favourite radio shows, buy their favourite music mags and seek out the hottest new artists via established websites/blogs. These are our sources for everything new, everything BIG and everything we need to know. Our DJs, like musical gods command what artists we listen to, and cast off those that aren't fit in their eyes. We trust our DJs, have faith that they'll deliver. Both DJs and journalists are seen as the real innovators in the music scene, they know what's hot and what's not, the first to know of good music, and the ones who can really influence choice. But are they, are they the real innovators?
Looking at the mainstream, are djs still looking back at the bottom of the food chain to bring through the next big thing (Ras Kwame's 100% Homegrown BBC1xtra radio show, now taken over by Roll Deep's DJ Target, is an excellent example of this). OR do they merely wait for the masses to jump on it first, for the buzz to be generated before they co-sign their name to new talent. This is the question i'm asking. Are we the masses dictating what the djs play, being the innovators of new music? or do the djs dictate what we listen to?
After all, they are called 'Commercial' DJs for a reason and therefore must play whatever is most commercially viable for their station companies, however maybe greater salute should be given to the underground djs who help to create these hypes, the music followers who constantly seek out new music and the people who push unknown artists long before some of the commercial djs even begin to catch a whiff of what's going on.
Obviously 'they' say, if you're hot than you're hot so you will eventually get played, but is this always the case? Where do YOU find new music and artists? Do you feel radio DJs still call the shots or do you believe they're just the puppets of the corporate world? If you got some answers for just some of my many questions of this music industry game leave me a comment...
Ms Nay
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