Clear Channel (was Re: rock club question)

[manny at telerama.com]

Yes, 'mindshare' is a great term, thanks Brian.
It's very postmodern mediaspeak.

On Thu, 2 Dec 2004, Brian J. Parker wrote:

> On Thu, 2 Dec 2004, Mick wrote:
> 
> > Howard Stern was pulled for more than Bush bashing. The fines he
> > amassed CC and loss of sponsors was the number one reason. Yes, they
> > are a right-wing company, but
> 
> Well, you just acknowledged that CC is a "right-wing company," which was
> pretty much my point.  Stern's cancellation was just one piece of a huge
> pile of anecdotal evidence.
> 
> By happy timing, listening to Air America while I write this, they're
> talking about how Clear Channel is putting up billboards with George
> Bush's picture on it and the text "Our Leader."  Easy to turn up multiple
> stories on this via the magic of Google.  Pretty blatant.
> 
> 
> > What is Manny's vested interest here? They do not compete with him.
> > They do not stop his shows. They do not limit what shows he does.
> 
> I think they compete with him.  Not only is there a limited share of
> entertainment dollars (a few of which might go to some of his shows
> instead of, say, KMFDM or Ministry), there's a mindshare battle.  Clear
> Channel's domination makes it harder for bands without major financial
> backing to promote themselves, reducing the number of people who will go
> to indie shows (since most people won't go see artists they aren't already
> familiar with, much to Manny's chagrin).
> 
> Less tangibly, I feel they contribute to an atmosphere in which music is a
> soulless commodity produced by expensive studio wizardry, rather than an
> organic artform best practiced live.
> 
> Not that Manny's interests particularly concern me, but I support his
> endeavours much as I support live theater, fine arts, museums, independant
> cinema, poetry readings, etc.  Even if I don't directly partake, they
> increase the vibrancy of the city.
> 
> 
> Brian (long-winded)
> 
> _______________________________________________
> pgh-goth-list mailing list
> pgh-goth-list at listless.org
> http://www.listless.org/mailman/listinfo/pgh-goth-list
>