I’ve been thinking more about this “Bum Rush the Charts” thing. Just trying to figure out why I should spend my 99¢ on a band whose music doesn’t do much for me.
Who stands to benefit? Well, Podshow, certainly, to the extent there’s any publicity wash from this campaign. Black Lab, no doubt: lots of people who really don’t know or like them buying their track. But “amateur media”? Come on, give me a break!
Black Lab is a band whose music I don’t really love; it’s just not my style. Even Podshow’s number one satellite repairman P.W. Fenton said the same thing on his most recent Digital Flotsam podcast. I’d never listen to them on my own.
So my participating in this campaign is like putting 99¢ into some Salvation Army kettle somewhere, except the kettle really belongs to this suburban kid who’s trying to raise money for a new drum kit, not feed the poor. And I’d be doing it to make a point to…somebody?
On the other hand, I can think of a zillion bands I’d rather “bum rush” up the charts. How about my son’s band, Wetbrain? Why shouldn’t a bunch of 20-somethings in Richmond who do original art-rock get bum rushed?
Incidentally, I did some research on this verb “to bum rush” yesterday, because I didn’t get that either. But it is a verb in somewhat limited slang usage. According to the Random House Unabridged (via dictionary.com), it started in the late 1980s, and means “to force one’s way into; crash.” I have to say, I’ve never heard it, but then, I’m a geezer.
How disappointing you would take this stance. The sad fact is, as long as we each have someone we’d rather “bum rush up the charts” we probably won’t ever succeed at making the point. And making the point that independent media, and podcasters in general, are a new force to be respected… was always the whole point of this experiment. This can only work if we all work together.
I suppose I could ask in regard to the stance you are taking… what’s in THAT for you? What do you (or anybody) gain from speaking out against the effort?
Not to mention the fact that the whole thing has evolved into a scholarship fundraiser, since the band itself never asked to be a part of this windfall. Personally, it’s the idea for me… AFTER THE FACT, I suggested an artist that *I* thought would be a good one to rally around, but the thing had already started to have wheels.
I personally would go with whoever was chosen to make the point. And if ONE band profits from the effort… Good for them! As a former band musician, I know they deserve it without ever hearing their work. Working bands work very hard for very little money… So big deal… if one of them has a single decent payday. How’s that hurt you?
But hey… if you’ve got something that you need to do with 99 cents that day, including keeping it in your own pocket, it’s your 99 cents.
PDub, here are my questions:
You wrote: “I personally would go with whoever was chosen to make the point.” Chosen by whom? Who decided Black Lab was the band to be so graced? I notice, incidentally, that Black Lab aren’t shying away from profiting from this. They’ve agreed to sacrifice 50% of their take for the famous “scholarship fund.” Fifty percent. Not all. Not even 90%. Half. They keep the other half. Doesn’t sound all that altruistic to me. (I have college-age children and I am a secondary educator. What exactly is this scholarship to which I would contribute?)
Let’s assume this thing works and Black Lab does make it to the top of the iTunes charts next Thursday. They’ll take 50% of a huge windfall created to make some point to somebody. (To whom? I’m still not clear on this.)
Is it not more effective simply to illustrate through real-world experience, through the actual deterioration of Big Music through the independent media (in which you and I and countless others have been engaged for over two years) by people actually buying music they want to hear?
This “Bum Rush the Charts” thing reminds me that we really still think things like The Charts are important. I thought things like The Charts were now irrelevant. I thought that’s what Adam Curry had been telling us for the past two years. I thought this was all about empowering unknown bands and unknown content creators to make their own media noise and create their own success. That is happening already, with or without this Bum Rushing campaign.
Instead, we are being encouraged not to listen to the RIAA’s version of Big Media or follow RIAA’s prescription, and instead pay attention to a Podshow version of the same thing. According to this argument, the Big Media will only truly get the message if we all listen to Mark Nemcoff and Todd Wachtel and C.C. Chapman and do what they tell us to do.
Sorry, I’m not buying it. The media revolution is not about doing what those guys tell us to do. It’s about listening to the music we want to hear. I personally would’ve chosen Jonathan Coulton as somebody worthy of Bum Rushing. Why not him?
And hey…you don’t need to assume I’m going to keep that 99 cents. I might just give it to a band I like. After all, you’re right: it’s my 99 cents.
Dave,
Just the thought that anyone is going to do anything that I ask them to do blows my mind, and is greatly appreciated. This includes family, coworkers, clients, and small animals.
“Bum Rush” had its pros and cons and I see where you’re coming from. This was a completely organic movement that certainly evolved like crazy from our first discussions to the day of Bum Rush.
Black Lab is one band of thousands that deserve support, and I went on the DSC the next day and tried my best to make my point that every day should be Bum Rush the Charts day.
I am a huge fan of Jonathan Coulton, and have played him numerous times on the show, as well as in my own car for friends and family. So, while I don’t know if you ever went and purchased “Mine Again”, I certainly hope that you purchased somebody’s music that day.
At the very least, the dialogue is a good thing.
Best
Todd