Well, that's the instant thought. But is that really the case? I'm not so sure. They've had their day in their current format, but could they be transformed?
The UK's Barclay's Mercury Music Prize has the right idea. We in the US need to take note. Perhaps the Grammy's should focus on music development? Well there aren't too many other vehicles left. How about if every presenter needs to have sold more than ten million tracks, ensuring that they were the hook for advertisers? Each presenter then introduces an act with genuine potential that has sold less than 500,000 tracks. They play two songs together, one from the new act and one from the established. Perhaps even with a nice link between the two?
Grammy Nominee Rob H with fellow Stoat, Vince
While I really quite like her entertainment factor and ballsy attitude, I just don't trust Lady Gaga to vote for Judas Priest's Dissident Aggressor (no kidding, the 1970's classic is up for best live hard rock performance this year!!!!!).
Wouldn't it be interesting if the process of the judges making their decisions could be webcast or televised leading up to the event. Perfect for Twitter too.
And then when it comes to the event, the main genre judges are televised at appropriate points in the show, or even better simultaneously on the web, explaining how they had come to their decisions - something we never get to hear about! If done right, this could attract not only music afficianado viewers, but also the Idol audience.
Social media will undoubtedly be shoe-horned into tonight's performances, but how about if the acts were given a budget to enable them to magnify their own outreach, and a brief to cross as many genre boundaries in the most creative ways? Surely this would be interesting to today's audience - a combination of credible creative marketing as well as good music. And it would certainly make the whole event much more credible. Perhaps it would also encourage more sponsorship which could be tied directly to acts rather than the show?It could mean that the event could be less glitzy and less contrived to attract advertisers. Not a bad thing.
And finally, in the light of these thoughts, the big question....did "the Tull" deserve the heavy metal Grammy a few years back? - Absolutely! Perhaps Hawkwind or Gentle Giant will win tonight. Good luck lads!
The (Mighty) 'Wind live 1972
Judas Priest Fans - Heavy Metal Parking Lot 1986
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4 comments:
Not only was the pacing dreadful, but all the presenters coming from parent company CBS' television properties had as much to do with music as I've got to do with the ESPY's. Christ, if it's 'music's biggest night' let's have it then. More spectacle please! I loved GaGa and Pink for their theatrics, but let's have a jam session with the greats and STOP subjecting legends to performances with neophytes. Last year it was Jonas Brothers and Stevie Wonder, this year Taylor Swift and Stevie Nicks. Be thankful Stevie Ray Vaughn is in music heaven or he'd be subjected to Ke$ha or some such travesty. I saw Eddie Izzard Saturday night and he had a brilliant use of social media in the show as people were Tweeting on giant screens next to the stage at the performance. It was dead funny and the audience was totally engaged. As Johnny Rotten once said “Don't accept the old order. Get rid of it" - Bravo. Roger....
Grammy's. Agreed - it needs a total rethink. The modern music business is so different now - much bigger and more complex. The self serving, self congratularory nonsense of handing out 'awards' to its own in-crowd just doesn't suit the reality any more. Having said that, a Grammy for Stacia please - what a girl! Is that guy in the DC/101 T shirt an early version of Andy Hunns?
Love the comments chaps. Really great. I think I'm going to put something "constructive" together and send it to Neil Portnoy.
As my good pal says in Northern England - "shy bare'ns get nout"
Translation...... dont ask (or make a point) and you won't get (change).
Love the Hawkwind video! Caught the atmosphere just right. Beer, sweat and cheap Moroccan hash. As a Grammar School Boy I saw them loads of times in the mid 70s in London and Southern England, but just missed the era of Stacia and the vats of acid.
Also saw Motorhead's first ever (?) gig supporting Ted Nugent in 1976-ish at Hammersmith Odeon, with the almighty Larry Wallis on guitar. Even more weirdly, came across Motorhead playing in a deserted bar in Hamburg's very dodgy Reeperbahn red-light district (don't ask) in the late 8os. Lemmy and Keef - two of England's finest.
Johnny Pig
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