Comments on: Your Take: Regional vs. Mainstream

By: Shannon

Shannon — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:49:00 +0000

I prefer local bands, but they’re not as easy to find here in the detroit-metro area. My favorite here is a band Redhill. They play a lot of local events here, like our annual hoedown and some local bars, but they’ve also opened for Gretchen Wilson and Billy Ray Cyrus when they’ve been in town.

Great music — their album “You Get What You Get” was phenomenal. Check them out… http://www.redhillrocks.com

By: Matt B.

Matt B. — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 06:14:21 +0000

BNA and Pat Green have amicably parted ways according to tonight’s Country Aircheck. Don’t know what that means about his future nationally or back in Texas but he may be ‘done’ as a ‘mainstream’ artist, for whatever it’s worth.

By: stormy

stormy — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:29:34 +0000

I still think the huge mulit-station conglomerates are going to die out due to their own weight, which would make getting on local radio easier.

By: Cleavo

Cleavo — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:55:21 +0000

Another thing to consider (IMHO): ‘regional’ or ‘independent’ acts have always had, and continue to have, a hard time getting radio airplay. And as great as the internet is, the people that get their music in the car, from regular old radio, are still the majority (albeit a shrinking one). Until we can get last.fm et al our cars easily, mainstream is still the only way to reach the ‘masses’. That said, I have a great deal of respect for those groups who make the conscious decision (yes, it has been and can be done) to eschew the mainstream and focus on making great music (and a decent living) ‘regionally’.

By: Daman

Daman — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:30:58 +0000

Stewman is right…the critics and a vocal minority often turn on you when you have success. Pat Green is the perfect example. It’s a shame becuase he’s done more to promote the TX music scene than just about anyone…and continues to do so. They frame it as though these artists are selling out for success when in reality they are just growing. Its as if they want them to keep making the same record over and over again. What creative person wants to do that?? And the truth be told, all artists want national success!!

By: Stormy

Stormy — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:44:40 +0000

Kasey Chambers did sign with Warner Brothers LA instead of Nashville because the Nashville label wanted her to get with Nashville writers and completely re-do The Captain.

By: Littleboot

Littleboot — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 04:47:29 +0000

I think mainstream success would hinder an artist’s music big time, especially in the country / pop genre or is it Pop/country. I would say if you’ve already recorded a killer sounding song or album a big company would definitely be managing not only your creative process, but your look as well, that is unless your already “Hot” on your own but I’m sure they will have something to say about it. I think getting a few songs plugged by an artist would be better than getting signed by a major.

By: Leeann Ward

Leeann Ward — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:51:23 +0000

Matt,
I see what you’re saying, but I can’t fully agree. As someone who dislikes Pat Green’s newer music, but really enjoys his older stuff, I feel there is a marked difference since he’s started vying for the mainstream market. As far as he goes, I haven’t been a long time follower of his. I didn’t discover his older music until well after he hit the national scene. If it wasn’t for the fact that his transitional album from regional success, Three Days, was pretty good, I never would have checked out his older music based on the albums that followed Three Days.

As far as this question is concerned, I just don’t feel there’s a black and white answer.

By: Razor X

Razor X — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:37:40 +0000

,i> This is not to say that said fan need to like everything that they hear from an artist that breaks out but to categorically claim all of the former favorite band’s “new stuff” as crap really means that most fans don’t take time to really listen to the new record or if they do, they expect it to sound exactly the same as the previous ‘indie’ stuff.

Or it could mean that the band’s new music is not that good.

By: Matt B.

Matt B. — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 19:11:48 +0000

In general I find that people who ‘hate’ the mainstream will romanticize that ‘regional’ or ‘indie’ person while they’re still there (Eli Young Band/Pat Green/Jack Ingram et al) but as soon as said guy ‘goes Nashville’ or ’sells out’ the fans now hate that band.

This same thing happens in the indie rock scene. A band is beloved as a regional or ‘indie’ act but then ‘makes it big’ and then ‘loses’ much of their original ‘fans.’ Most artists would say so be it because every artist wants to reach as many people as possible, even if they say they don’t. So for a ‘fan’ to criticize a regional/indie act for trying to go mainstream probably really wasn’t a fan of that band at all.

This is not to say that said fan need to like everything that they hear from an artist that breaks out but to categorically claim all of the former favorite band’s “new stuff” as crap really means that most fans don’t take time to really listen to the new record or if they do, they expect it to sound exactly the same as the previous ‘indie’ stuff.