Hard News by Russell Brown

KEXP's a great station, loads of good stuff on it.

Yes, I was sad too about Ladi6 not getting a nod. She's been trucking along fabulously for years, and this album is her best solo effort to date.

It's definitely been Lorde's year, but at least one gong for Ladi6 would have been nice (and well-deserved).

The Guardian have published this beaut Albini piece on the surprisingly sturdy state of the music industry. Possibly a little too earthy for those on the funding gravy train or with a bee in the bonnet about radio play quotas, prizes etc but it's a pretty decent rundown.

I've often wondered what those awards mean to the artists concerned. As a music lover I couldn't give a flying one about them. Maybe it's my creaky punk values but they've never reflected anything I've felt or believed.

Ladi6's record is great and the withheld approbation of a bunch of jobbers doesn't alter that one jot. But does it matter to HER? Does it bug her that they didn't gong her? Because it shouldn't. It really, really, really shouldn't.

Aside from the brilliant Taite which is about giving out money rather than raking it in I can't see the value of these bunfights. I well remember years of the NZ Music Awards tipping the hat to Peking Man or whoever else was the most co-operative act of the year and it was inevitably pathetic and disheartening. It was always the industry saying "you are acceptable to us" rather than an acknowledgement of quality.

I know many of the people involved are well-meaning music lovers but the mean of their opinions is invariably compromise or cowardice. How many years and how much international mana did it take Flying Nun to get one act on the podium? "Ten" and "shitloads" in case you were wondering. The very fact that they felt obliged to give all the doorstops to Lorde this year shows how irrelevant they are in the face of actual power. Hats off to her for doing her bit when she could have easily decided to stay in LA and wash her hair. "Lorde can't be tonight so accepting the award on her behalf etc etc."

If there were no Vodafone NZ Music Awards next year, would one member of the humble music-loving public give a shit? I've got ten bucks says no. And how many artists would just breathe a sigh of relief? I've got twenty that says plenty.

I’ve often wondered what those awards mean to the artists concerned. As a music lover I couldn’t give a flying one about them. Maybe it’s my creaky punk values but they’ve never reflected anything I’ve felt or believed

My impression, and I know many of the artists, is that they very much like getting an award for their work. Jeez, who doesn’t?

Ladi6’s record is great and the withheld approbation of a bunch of jobbers doesn’t alter that one jot. But does it matter to HER? Does it bug her that they didn’t gong her? Because it shouldn’t. It really, really, really shouldn’t.

Did you see the way Ladi dressed for the night? I think she pretty clearly thought it was worthwhile. And it’s hardly like David Dallas was some feeble industry compromise in the “Urban” category – that’s a great record. I just thought Ladi’s record was special, and said so.

I know many of the people involved are well-meaning music lovers but the mean of their opinions is invariably compromise or cowardice. How many years and how much international mana did it take Flying Nun to get one act on the podium? “Ten” and “shitloads” in case you were wondering.

Well, if you’re going to hold a grudge for 20 or 30 years, there’s not much to be done about it, but the awards are very, very different to what they used to be. Even in the 90s, a group like the Headless Chickens would be up for a clutch of awards and still be told they weren’t important enough to all be allowed to come – now, the artists are actually treated like the stars of the show. The voting is now also completely different – it’s done by an academy of hundreds of people who make and work in music.

The year they switched to the new voting system, Dimmer won best rock album. This year, Tiny Ruins didn’t only win an award, she played the big stage. It’s not exactly X-Factor.

The very fact that they felt obliged to give all the doorstops to Lorde this year shows how irrelevant they are

Oh, cmon.

Repent Russell, they're the work of bloody Satan. I will say though on the list of winners the only one that sucked was the People's Choice which kinda fucks my populist thesis.

Repent Russell, they’re the work of bloody Satan. I will say though on the list of winners the only one that sucked was the People’s Choice which kinda fucks my populist thesis.

That's always the ropey one.

That wasn't the whole sentence Sacha. I think there was a very strong artistic case for giving the album of the year to Ladi6. Did we need another Lorde moment? (I do think she's great by the way, I just don't think that album makes the claim yet.)

She didn't get awards for selling big numbers - you'll note those went to others like Sol3 Mio. Judges clearly disagreed with you on creative/technical merit of this particular album.

And giving awards to anyone else would as sensible as snubbing the Beatles for a Grammy cos they were too popular to be real musos. And could play their instruments. Fails punk logic, for sure. :)

She didn’t get awards for selling big numbers – you’ll note those went to others like Sol3 Mio.

Biggest-selling NZ album of the past two years by freakin' miles.

Judges clearly disagreed with you on creative/technical merit of this particular album.

I was one of the many voters and it wasn't really possible to go past Pure Heroine -- it's just too important a record. Even the Taite Prize judges agreed!

I was one of the many voters and it wasn’t really possible to go past Pure Heroine – it’s just too important a record.

The Horned One has thee in his power! Admit it, you secretly prefer Ladi6 don'cha? I won't tell.

Here's where a real commercially-motivated American awards show heads.

KEXP has a good in-studio performance show: http://kexp.org/live/default.aspx

Even has occasional visitors from Christchurch ! : http://kexp.org/live/liveperformance.aspx?rId=34527

I don't know whether to love the AMAs for boosting Iggy Azalea over the pooh poohing of the purists or resent them for Imagine Dragons. Democracy is ever messy. Must say though, Katy Perry, "Adult Contemporary"? She turns 30 and suddenly she's Stevie Nicks?

Retro rock observation - Mick Taylor really made my night when he came on for Midnight Rambler on Saturday. Awesome. Having never bothered to see them before, the last minute decision to expose myself to the elements in the South Stand was vindicated. And great to see Hunters and Collectors again after all these years, even if they didn't play Towtruck...

Agreed about these awards - they did feel faintly embarrassing but then maybe I was not the target audience. I liked.Tiny Ruins and the opera guys were odd but that was about.it. The crowd seemed so muted and uninterested. Or.too.cool.to.get excited?. The.presenters seemed to have no real connection.with the.crowd.and.felt.flat.and.desperate. Maybe.it.was.more thrilling.if you were.there. Didn't do much.for me beyond feeling sorry for the.musicians.trying.to.be.amazed and gracious.against the.tide.of glitzy blah.

I seem.to.have a.full.stop.issue. Apologies to the punctuation watchdogs.

Perhaps. I need some time.in bed with a lozenge.

1010110111 dalmations

...what Katy did?

She turns 30 and suddenly she’s Stevie Nicks?

That's hardly cricket,
she still has a septum...

;- )

re: lax

I need some time.in bed with a lozenge.

or, possibly, a: colonic irrigation
for when all motions
are stopped ...

The crowd seemed so muted and uninterested. Or.too.cool.to.get excited?.

the crowd was the quietest they've been for years, well since the public element was added... def not a cool thing - there is nothing cool about music awards fullstop

not a fan of the TV show aspect - the media conglomerate presenting their presenters and now cross pollinating all their various radio and TV outlets in a PR stunt called the music awards.. which becomes an ongoing (not funny) comedy gag they've hijacked - the disrespect paid to musicians by the presenters fucks me off, ever so slightly

Saying that there are some very deserving awards and recipients, few whom get mentioned anywhere - now thats cool

Just spotted this online Pomplamoose 2014 Tour Profits (or lack thereof)

A minute or two late, but tuned into KEXP last night and then switched stations to Laid Back Radio (already a preset fav) and alas identical feeds!