Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site pyuxn.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!pyuxww!pyuxn!rlr From: rlr@pyuxn.UUCP (Rich Rosen) Newsgroups: net.music Subject: Re: Top 40 Radio Message-ID: <743@pyuxn.UUCP> Date: Wed, 13-Jun-84 13:08:24 EDT Article-I.D.: pyuxn.743 Posted: Wed Jun 13 13:08:24 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 14-Jun-84 00:22:32 EDT References: <1429@unc-c.UUCP> <2089@mit-eddie.UUCP> <1821@dartvax.UUCP> <2095@mit-eddie.UUCP> <1832@dartvax.UUCP> Organization: Bell Communications Research, Piscataway N.J. Lines: 27 > I'm rather curious, though. If Top 40 is such a bad form of music, > why are lots of radio stations playing it? Is it because, in theory, > the people of America have no musical taste? > I mean, I hear people caterwauling about what a bad form of music > it is, but don't offer any really good reasons for it's popularity > except "Bah! The masses wouldn't know good music if someone served > it to them on a silver platter?" > I have my theories as to why it is so popular. I'm just wondering > whether anyone else has any ideas, other than "People are ignorant > about 'good music', like {folk, jazz, classical, punk, new wave, etc.}" Aren't the reasons you've offered good enough? Actually, the second reason is somewhat less than accurate, but is often used by those who wish to promulgate the notion that their tastes are somehow superior to that of mere mortals. But the fact remains: the American public have been cleverly conditioned to be near perfect sheep. ("Benson, I'm going to have to turn you into a dog for a while." "Ohhhhh, thank you, Master!!!!") And there is general disdain by many people for "intellectualism" (which often means anything above the lowest common denominator). The fact that a large number of people who are tired of the crap out there still go along with it stems from the fact that they have been told that other music isn't right for them (classical music is for snitty snobs, rock music is noise for kids, funky music is for black people, etc.) You'd be surprised at the number of people whose eyes you can open up once you get them willing to be exposed to new stuff. But given the unwillingness of media honchos to take the chance to open things up, it's an effort. -- "Submitted for your approval..." Rich Rosen pyuxn!rlr