From: pet@mullian.ee.mu.OZ.AU (paul eng-yi tan)
Newsgroups: aus.music
Subject: Re: Nu-Music and unsigned bands
Date: 2 Sep 92 01:25:26 GMT
Distribution: aus
Organization: Computer Science, University of Melbourne, Australia

neilex@brt.deakin.edu.au writes:
>   One thing I'm glad of is that AUSMUSIC was raised up in the 
>   discussion, and other avenues of promotion and help for unsigned 
>   artists.  I'm interested in hearing from people like Paul, who 
>   have an interest, and have personally explored some of the avenues
>   open to them.

I went to a seminar last night. It concerned the music industry and
lyrics in popular music, and was held at Melbourne Uni. Speakers from
Ausmusic and Mushroom and RRR were there.

The Ausmusic representative didn't impress me and I don't think she
(Sue Gillard (sp)) suits alternative and non-mainstream acts at all.
The RRR/Mushroom person had a fair bit to say concerning new music,
and didn't agree at all with the Ausmusic person. Here are my impressions.

Ausmusic looks for new bands after a fashion. However, they generally
only deal with established artists or new artists who are extremely
mainstream. I refer to the Daryl Braithwaite, Rick Price genre. Ausmusic
is not interested if you don't play live or if you don't sound middle
of the road. The Ausmusic speaker played Braithwaite, Sound Unlimited Posse,
Rose Tattoo, and a couple others. She was amazingly uninformed and said
that "people are going to get sick of this highly sequenced artificial
sound" (her opinion) and quoted Bono of U2 as agreeing with her opinion
in an interview!!! Apparently he said people want the "Human, real side"
of music as opposed to the dance/techno/sequenced/synthed sound. I felt
like putting my hand up and saying "Don't you realize that U2's latest
releases are dance, sequenced tracks?" She also played a thrash band's
song (the only American track she played), saying that she couldn't
find any Aussie thrash!!!! (the RRR person later put this comment down,
saying that she could think of 8 off the top of her head...)

I think all this points to Ausmusic's attitude towards alternative music.
It doesn't really exist!!! Yes, they are not too interested in anything
other than Aussie Rock. That's all my opinion of course.

The Mushroom (can't remember her name right now) person was interesting.
She works a lot with the bands, and since she deals with the non-commercial
side of Mushroom her budget is small and she herself (claims) earns less
than her Ausmusic counterpart (Sue). She played L7, Sonic Youth etc. and
spoke mainly about female lyrics.


>   We all want new bands to have a chance don't we?  How about 
>   getting this thread back on track and letting people know where 
>   they can hear/buy/see new talent either on radio or at venues and 
>   quit bagging Studio 52, who I think offer a service that, 
>   regardless of cost (thats a matter for the participants to deal 
>   with) is of value to anyone who wants to hear new talent.

There are quite a few net musicians. Do you guys think that you could
help to get us some airplay? I'm definitely going to send tapes to you,
and if you think them worthy of playing, I'd be very pleased. Could you
email me and let me know the time that they'll be played (if you do play
them). I encourage other net people to get involved too, and send your
tapes to our net friends who are also DJs. Perhaps a whole hour or so
could be devoted to net people's music? A special program?

>   Paul, why don't you send a tape to Brian at 3PBS, Geoff at 2NCR or 
>   myself at 3RPP.  I know that at least I'll be prepared to let the 
>   listeners decide whether they like it or not.\

Can any radio presenters please email me your postal address? Brian,
would I be able to drop by at work or is your are restricted access?
I have about 4 tracks which I think are worth playing.

Thanx guys!
Paul

--
Second Hand vinyl for sale: Depeche Mode, Indie, Severed Heads,
Beloved, New Order, Pet Shop Boys, Stone Roses, Inspiral Carpets,
Cabaret Voltaire. Also X1 as NEW $88US, $110AUS.
Newsgroups: aus.music