Why is most "chart" music crap and who buys it anyway?

[Arkless Electronics]

As I listen to the radio all day... everyday (radio 2), I can't help but be struck as to just how awful most of the latest release music is. When playing classics or oldies I guess they can pick and choose something a bit better, but all the stuff (90% anyway) which is newly released and on that weeks play list is dreadful beyond belief!

In what way is it so bad? My late father called it "nothing music", it will have only 3-4 chords which will all be so obvious, and the progressions so obvious, that these "tunes" sound almost generic and can be hard to tell one from another... lyrics.. well I have heard 3 today where the middle 8 consists of " oh oh o o oh" repeated several times....

There is obviously a "production line" for this fodder in which all that seems to matter is the song sounds like the last song by the same artist (or any of the others which are the same) and has a "current pop feel" to it.... One can almost imagine it being literally written by computer to a formula it's so predictable, samey etc.

Who the hell is so inspired by this crap as to want to go out and buy it???? It's pop "elevator music" and I can't imagine anyone listening to this stuff and their ears pricking up while they think "what a great tune, I must go out and buy that/download that", when there will be an equally tepid tune along in 5 minutes by another "artist" which will be almost indistinguishable from the first one How do they make money from this? It seems to be "music for people who aren't interested in music, have no appreciation of music and want something in the background"... in which case they are hardly likely to rush out and buy it!

Yes I know there are specialist jazz stations or classic rock stations but I'm talking about the generic fodder that is "this weeks new releases- category: pop"

And no I don't think it's an age thing... it really is that crap in a homogeneous all sounds the same boring formula way.... IMHO

Ah I feel better after that

[Arkless Electronics]

I was expecting that... not really the kind of debate I was looking for but I listen all day cos I can't stand silence, they play some good stuff, on a night it's excellent and other stations available on FM are even worse....

[The Black Adder]

Radio 2 is the pits for music but I'm not sure if the problem is the music or the DJ's. The DJ's are overrated and are paid to praise records even if they don't like them. I can't believe the amount of money the BBC must pay out for them to just rinse and repeat the same shows day in, day out. Talk about money for olde rope.

This morning for instance, Michael (autotuned) Blubble, Take That and Hanson in a row... I had enough of that so I switched it off.

Quite literally, each and every show is exactly the same every day since they were created and Radio 2 is becoming like Radio 1 when DLT and Simon Bates had the helm. It became stagnant and so, so boring to listen to.

The BBC has a crazed fetish for keeping things the same, no development on programs. Mostly because they are too scared of change as it's every overpaid producer's job on the line if the change fails. The One Show, Eastenders, Radio 2 (in it's entirety). Some say that they are the staples of British life, well that's utter crap IMO. I can't get my head around that and find it even more disgusting to pay for it too! New, original shows, new talent and films is where it's at.

6Music is best for music in general but on a Sunday morning it's dire.

[walpurgis]

Because it's for the undiscerning, clueless masses. For twelve year old girls who are starstruck by the pimply, wet behind the ears little gits that pass as 'bands'. For grannies who 'like a nice tune'. For morons in pubs who think anything that's on the juke box must be good 'cos it wouldn't be there otherwise innit'.

[Arkless Electronics]

You're interested in "celebrities"

The idea was not to discuss radio 2! What I'm on about is the homogeneous, all sounds the same, 3 chords, auto-tuned and computer generated crap that is the staple of all daytime FM stations.... and specifically in new releases they are given to play rather than oldies etc.
It's the fact that anyone bothers to make anything that bad and then someone in charge thinks "nailed it! we'll release that as a single and get it on the play lists" that was interested in discussing....
BTW on an evening I rate radio 2 as superb and during the day as the best of a bad bunch. I only use FM.

[Arkless Electronics]

Because it's for the undiscerning, clueless masses. For twelve year old girls who are starstruck by the pimply, wet behind the ears little gits that pass as 'bands'. For grannies who 'like a nice tune'. For morons in pubs who think anything that's on the juke box must be good 'cos it wouldn't be there otherwise innit'.

So, other than possibly the pimply gits I can't see any of the other categories being inspired enough, or even noticing the pap enough, to want to buy it

[walpurgis]

You're interested in "celebrities"

Not me sunshine.

[Arkless Electronics]

Not me sunshine.

T'was aimed at the black adder who has now removed it from his list of "where it's at"

[walpurgis]

So, other than possibly the pimply gits I can't see any of the other categories being inspired enough, or even noticing the pap enough, to want to buy it

Probably about right. Not much decent music on the radio these days.

On TV is better. At least Jools Holland does his bit for old established acts and new talent.

[walpurgis]

T'was aimed at the black adder who has now removed it from his list of "where it's at"

Ah, but not aimed well!