QUT for the Music & Sound discipline yesterday. Fascinating stuff, especially the academics trying to manipulate vocal soundwaves and physical performance. The first question out the gate was about the 100 Songs project -- a very laudable attempt to promote Brisbane music nationally and internationally, through use of an effective gimmick. "Who," it was asked, "is responsible for deciding what is included  in the 100 Songs project?" (I'm paraphrasing here.) Good question. Who indeed? "Are experts involved?" Good question, and surprisingly hard to answer, because first you have to set your parameters and, furthermore, "What is the value of asking music industry experts to contribute at a time when the music industry is crumbling?" as someone else asked. Another good question. If "independent" labels do not attempt to foster any type of counter culture then what is the value of calling them independent? And what is the value of awards attempting to validate same? I'm sure (in fact, I'm certain) the people behind the AIR Awards are good people and have good intentions... but I've often noticed that the saddest thing about good people with good intentions is that they often figure that having An Agenda is an Evil Thing when in fact It Is The One Thing That Matters. How can Brisbane ... how can Australia ... lift itself out of a slump of lavishly-promoted mediocre derivative independent music when a) the terminology around all these awards and events and support networks is aimed directly at mediocre derivative independent