Rachel Verinder said:
A steering committee must be formed and every potential musician should be made to stand afore it and explain why they should be allowed to make music before they are permitted access to instruments or equipment.
To quote Freud,
have you lost your mind??!?
Firstly, any such institution would undoubtedly be government-funded and -run. As such, the majority, if not the entirety, of the "committee" would be doddering old egomaniacs with a reputation to maintain, an axe-to-grind, and a pocket to line.
Secondly, such a committee would eventually become, if not from the outset, a moral filter (Read: Censor).Yeah, they might get the job done, but would the likes of Robert Johnson, Elvis Presley, or Frank Zappa have been allowed to pick up a guitar.
Johnson: I want to make low-down dirty music about booze, women, and the volatile mixture of the two.
Committee: I’m sorry Mr. Johnson, but we cannot allow the public to be exposed to your juke-joint filth.
Elvis: Yeah, uh, I’d very much like to write stuff like Robert over there, but with more of a country flavour, all the time shaking my ass on stage. You know, bring it to the people.
Committee: I’m sorry Mr. Presley, but as with Mr. Johnson we cannot allow the public to be exposed to your juke-joint filth.
Zappa: Yeah, well I’d like to write songs about piss, shit and butt-fucking, all the while blowing peoples’ minds with unorthodox arrangements, instrumentation, and revolutionary studio techniques.
Committee: [stunned silence]
Thirdly, majors would “lobby” (Read: Bribe) members, and members’ families, dogs, budgerigars, etc. It would become a revolving door for them, while the independent so-called “little guy” would be shut out. Believe me, I've seen it happen. Instead of being rocky-road, music would become vanilla with an occasional ripple.
Rachel Verinder said:
Why is it ridiculous? There's more than enough music out there. Why do we need more musicians, more mediocrity? Anyone who has anything to say will get through anyway; it doesn't matter if you're John Lydon or Dizzee Rascal. Why should we continue this absurd encouragement of wannabe no-marks? Consideration should be given to the consumer, not the musician.
I understand where you’re coming from, Rachel, but it would backfire, and FAST. Some things should not be decided by consensus; artistic merit is one of them.
bassnation said:
i will be the judge of what i want to hear, not some arbitary steering group of aging hipsters trying to be down wid da kidz, thank you very much.
Amen, brother. Preach on.