Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Out of the Groove

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  • Nick Melchior,

    Is there any need for a national youth radio network in NZ? Doesn't the b-net cover it nicely? Certainly I'd rather listen to any of the BNet stations than to JJJ over here and I'd also reckon that the community stations like RRR and PBS would be better off if they weren't effectively being poor brothers to JJJ.

    Melbourne • Since Nov 2006 • 36 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    Smack My Bishop

    Heh, big-ups to Heather for that one. Now, if she can just organise the mash-up for it I'll be truly happy.

    BTW Heather if you're out there. A great month for the Hammers (not MC) and a nervous weekend coming up, no?

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • hamishm,

    I can hear JJJ on my FM radio here. Is this normal? It sounds crystal clear and if it is normal how long has it been going on.

    Since Nov 2006 • 357 posts Report Reply

  • Mark Thomas,

    smack my bishop

    ooohh, that's a bit rude

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 317 posts Report Reply

  • Mark Thomas,

    where are you listening, hamishm?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 317 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Is there any need for a national youth radio network in NZ? Doesn't the b-net cover it nicely? Certainly I'd rather listen to any of the BNet stations than to JJJ over here and I'd also reckon that the community stations like RRR and PBS would be better off if they weren't effectively being poor brothers to JJJ.

    My main concern was the potential impact on the good regional independent and community stations. If you put in a dedicated youth network and it kills a great little station like Fresh FM in Nelson, I don't think that's a good result.

    I tried to develop ideas for a more co-operative model, where YRN programming was made available to independent stations. Neil and I actually had a meeting with Theresa Gattung (who was keen to earn cultural brownie points with the the government at the time) and it seemed it might be possible to build an IP network to distribute programming, and also help indie stations produce programming for the rest of the network. But the goalposts subsequently moved a lot on the kind of price Telecom would be able to offer for that kind of network. I was extremely unimpressed by that.

    There's a nice example of that kind of co-operation in the Public Radio Exchange in the US.

    The other thing that troubled me was how little of the cost of a monolithic network would actually go into what you'd hear on air. There was a lot of expensive iron involved.

    Anyway, I'm pretty sure that the voluntary targets put the kibosh on the YRN. The commercial broadcasters hated the YRN idea so passionately they were prepared to give an lot of ground on something they hated slightly less: local content quotas.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Nobody Important,

    but I suspect that Neil Finn didn't mean his diss of the Prime Minister to come out quite like that.

    Kind of you to say that. The prevailing opinion these days (esp amongst 'media' types) is that everyone should know that whatever they say will be reported and that someone like Finn should be more 'media-savvy'. Which is bollocks, because even here on PA ppl get theri comments misconstrued all the time. (No, I'm not talking about myself)

    I thought this comment from RB's Crowded House link was funny:

    Can't wait for Pitchfork Festival 2010 when a reunited Limp Bizkit plays three hours after a reunited Stone Roses, and Ian Brown has to cut the set short after being shot 27 times by Limp Bizkit fans.

    expat • Since Mar 2007 • 319 posts Report Reply

  • Nick Howells,

    I only picked up my copy of Real Groove last night so haven't had time to read the article - but its worth picking up the mag for the 'awesome feeling' cd that comes with it this month.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 20 posts Report Reply

  • hamishm,

    Mark, I live in the Manawatu. I can get it around the 106FM frequency. Surprised the heck out of me

    Since Nov 2006 • 357 posts Report Reply

  • Mark Thomas,

    Can't wait for Pitchfork Festival 2010...

    not to mention guns n roses selling out in auckland. whats up with that?
    west auckland has a lot to answer for

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 317 posts Report Reply

  • Nobody Important,

    I worked with him on an advisory group that developed ideas for a potential network, and I endured a long and rather difficult phone conversation with him after he deemed me to be insufficiently committed to the vision.

    Was this before you joined the Board of BFM, RB?

    expat • Since Mar 2007 • 319 posts Report Reply

  • rodgerd,

    On the "good little earners for NZ music" front, I see the new Vodaphone W200 phone bundle has a half gig flash card with local artists' MP3s as part of the promo for the new phone.

    Imagine trying to pitch the idea that a few hours of Kiwi music would shift product 20 years ago.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 512 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Yeah, I'm inclined to cut Neil Finn some slack too. After listening to the doco series about Split Enz, I came away with two questions:

    1) Why does anyone even try to make a living as a musician (or an artist, painter, writer etc. for that matter)? Masocihism, obsession, sheer bloody-mindedness or all of the above?

    2) And why didn't anyone in Split Enz - who I think it's fair comment to say are all very strong personaities - kill one or more of their bandmates?

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • JP Hansen,

    I wastched the live webcast ( http://www.attblueroom.com - New Orleans Jazz Fest streaming this weekend!) of the Crowded House Coachella set and didn't think the audience was as bad as the stereogum article made out. There was plenty of singing along, and the audience did OK at taking over Don't Dream It's Over while Neil's microphone was put back together after being taken out by the bottle.

    Waitakere • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report Reply

  • JP Hansen,

    not to mention guns n roses selling out in auckland. whats up with that? west auckland has a lot to answer for

    I'd say the shore kids will be giving the westies a run for their money at that show.

    Waitakere • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    I think the ship has already sailed on the existence of a Jon Stewart cult. I am such a dorky fangirl about him.

    One of the things I admire most about him is his ability to remain perfectly polite and approachable and funny during his interviews, yet still manage to ask reasonably tough questions. Tougher by miles than any 'real news' on US television. That's a really hard balance to strike on a show that's basically comedic, and he does it consistently.

    (And he actually made me enjoy an episode of Oprah, for the twenty minutes he was on. *No one* can do that.)

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Man. I grew up on the Shore and I live out west. I feel persecuted!

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    As you say Russell, Neil is both right and wrong but has never been shy in his views on anything. I guess 30 years of dealing with record companies and promoters does that.

    But there is no doubt that the local industry is not as healthy as it was a year or two ago....but only on one level. I'm not in NZ but I am privy to a lot of private correspondence which does give me a perspective of sorts...perhaps somewhat skewered, but so be it.

    I understand that the airplay percentage has slipped quite a bit under the 20% mark of recent which may explain why nobody is forthcoming with the figure this NZMM.

    I've always been of two minds over a quota anyway....generally I support the concept....radio will only play our music if they have a large stick pointed at them. But, inevitably, its been problematic with too much time and (major label) money being spent on trying to make radio friendly songs. The cart leading the horse. Radio (and record companies) are not innovators, they are by nature very conservative, even backward, and need to be pushed. But in recent years these roles have been reversed, which has led to a large investment in music, radio friendly, but with no legs outside radio and little international potential (that potential is there but it largely exists outside the NZOA / NZMM system as it always has...The Chills signed to Slash 20 years ago)...but it's not healthy, and I don't know if it's healthy to tout the international success of such when it's non existent...especially when NZOA funds are being diverted to fund acts like Breaks Co-op...signed to a major UK label, because they are good for airplay figures in NZ. Or based on airplay in NZ, rather than solid fanbases or the like, record companies invest large sums on clear non-starters and then cry failure when it doesn't work. Or to use that non-existent success for political flag waving....I guess that is Neils' point.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • merc,

    I hear old Mark put us down,
    well Westie man don't need him round anyhow,
    sweet home Waimauku
    where the skies are so blue...

    Disclaimer, I had to say "Westie man" because Westie person was plain wrong mmmmkay?

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    1) Why does anyone even try to make a living as a musician (or an artist, painter, writer etc. for that matter)? Masocihism, obsession, sheer bloody-mindedness or all of the above?

    because it's not about trying to make a living

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Heather Gaye,

    :) My fifteen minutes of fame!

    Now, if she can just organise the mash-up for it I'll be truly happy.

    The thought has crossed my mind.

    A great month for the Hammers (not MC) and a nervous weekend coming up, no?

    I refuse to feel any kind of excitement, dread, or nailbiting anticipation. I am as the water on a clear day. My fingers will not be bloody stumps.

    Morningside • Since Nov 2006 • 533 posts Report Reply

  • hamishm,

    Oh dear, are there others whose spritual home is Upton Park? We must be strong for one another, these will be testing times.
    The Zamora goal against Everton is on You Tube and provides sustenance.

    Since Nov 2006 • 357 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby,

    I'd also reckon that the community stations like RRR and PBS would be better off if they weren't effectively being poor brothers to JJJ.

    god i miss 3RRR, especially the 'high in the saddle' show.

    and PBS was... just great [sniffle]. "chant down babylon"!!

    you'll notice that both these names earned capital letters.

    nothing personal to the team at radio active, or even bfm... but, 3RRR was simply fantastic.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby,

    sweet home Waimauku
    where the skies are so blue

    actually... that would be the mushrooms.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • Heather Gaye,

    The Zamora goal against Everton is on You Tube and provides sustenance.

    OH! OH! Linky plz

    Morningside • Since Nov 2006 • 533 posts Report Reply

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