One Fret in the Grave
by
Stephen Wrench
Southern
Rock. When it was created there was only one genre it was called
rock, there were no sub genres like alternative rock, modern
rock , triple aaa, easy listening, folk, adult contemporary,
pop. Inthe 70's when southern rock was born and bred all the
above genres could be heard on 1 station the local rock station.
You would hear James Taylor on the same station you would hear
Jimi Hendrix or Joni Mitchell or Lynyrd Skynyrd. No more you
have to fall into a specific genre to receive radio airplay. In
the 70's if the music was good they would play it and it was all
considered rock. Those were the days if you created good music
no problem the radio would play your music.
Well
its almost 2004 and times have changed and I can't say its for
the better. Its not about good music anymore its about fitting
into a genre in order to receive airplay. If you don't get
airplay you can't sell records because noone knows who you are.
If your a southern rock band today looking to find a record
label Forget it . No major label will touch you no matter how
good you are or how good your music is cause they can't get you
played on the radio. You might find a small indie label but
wanna sell cd's forget it your performances are about the only
place you'll sell CD's. Back in the 70's you could start a
grassroots effort and if your following got big you could walk
into the local radio station and the DJ's knew who you were and
they would take your record and play it and you would be heard
and your following would grow and grow. Try to do that now and
the local Clear Channel station will explain our programming is
all done in NY for 10,000 stations that play the same 30 songs
every day no one at this station has the authority to play
anything but what corporate send us. HOW BORING, WHAT CANNED
ENTERTAINMENT. Now we are all sheep and we as the masses are
supposed to accept and listen to the same 30 songs somebody at
corporate headquarters picks and say we are supposed to like.
Variety is the spice of life. I want to hear something different
, something creative. Southern Rock , there are 10's of
thousands of people who love it, all ages. But if you want to
buy a southern rock CD then buy a classic rock cd in the bargain
bin or go on the net and find a new southern rock band who's only
outlet is the net for there CD's.
One Fret in the Grave. You must be a southern rock fan or you
wouldn't be reading southbound beat magazine. There are
thousands of southern rock fans out there. Let our voices be
heard write your local program director on your local radio
station, write record label execs, write your congressman about
radio monopolys. We do a lot of recording at a local studio
called Retrophonics owned by Jim DeVito where Skynyrd, Hatchet,
Petty, The Eagles have recorded. One late night a few infamous musicians
from Petty, Skynyrd were talking. The conversation was
about the new bands in the 70's bands went to a studio and
recorded there creations and didn't care who liked it cause it
was their music now bands come in and ask what do I need to
change to get a deal. they are willing to compromise it all to
get a deal and this is why southern rock has one fret in the
grave a dying genre, not by the fans choice cause you can't go
into any bar in this country with a live band playing and not
hear some fan yell hey play some skynyrd. Southern rock is not
dead but it does have one fret in the grave because of radio not
because of the popularity of the genre.
by Stephen Wrench Pres. Lou-Do
Music
18 yrs management for
Lynyrd Skynyrd
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