Commentary Archive
How Far Can Bands Go for Publicity Without Alienating Fans?
September 4, 2015
Can I admit something? The very first time I heard The Vaccinnes, they were playing over top a commercial. I was holed up in a hotel room, sufficiently drunk on champagne and white wine during a training weekend. I was lying on the bed upside-down waiting for the vaguely interesting C4 documentary to come up.
What Killed the Video Star? MTV’s Abandonment of the Music Video
August 8, 2015
It’s an age-old complaint that MTV no longer seems to stand for its original moniker: Music Television. With a group of nostalgic music lovers longing for the days of back-to-back music videos and commentary from beloved VJ’s, MTV continues to plow forward into different programming waters. Occasionally, the network gives a slight nod to its
5 Worst Beatles Songs Ever
July 19, 2015
Ah, The Beatles. The mischievous, occasionally scandalous, quartet of modern pop music. A veritable One Direction for their age. But oh, I hear you cry, One Direction are terrible, and I hate every single one of their songs with a deep burning passion! And I agree, with you, dear reader — so much so that
5 Singers Who Could Stand in for Kurt Cobain in a Nirvana Reunion
July 15, 2015
Even contemplating a singer to replace Kurt Cobain is tantamount to treason in many corners of the music world. Finding another angst-filled, tragic grunge hero to fulfill the role of the genre-defining frontman is an oft-discussed topic online, with new and old fans debating the possibility of a (slightly altered) band reformation. But who, if
The 13 Secrets of Taylor Swift’s Massive Success
June 4, 2015
Whether you want to or not, odds are high that you can’t go a single day without seeing or hearing something about Taylor Swift (especially now that she has kicked off her 1989 tour). With current headline-grabbing artists such as Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, and Britney Spears clamoring to steal everyone’s attention, how
How Video Made The Radio Star
December 10, 2014
On August 1st 1981 MTV launched for the first time in the United States to the tune of “Video Killed The Radio Star” by The Buggles, the very first video to air on the station. The debut track acted almost like a statement of intent; music from here on in would now be a thoroughly
The Music World is Leading the Anti-Digital Backlash
November 24, 2014
The internet and our new technologies are such a colossal part of our lives its hard to remember a time when we couldn’t punch in a message on our keyboards to send to a friend thousands of miles away, or tap away on the ubiquitous touch-screen to order our weekly shopping. It’s a change of
We’ve Heard About Fair Trade Food, But What About Fair Trade Music?
November 14, 2014
Being an ethical music consumer in the 21st Century is by no means an easy feat. With high-profile artists such as Taylor Swift publicly pulling her catalogue from Spotify (among other less-covered defections) and the ensuing debate about whether or not this was ‘good for music’, it’s become clear that the morals of the music
The Silence Surrounding Barack Obama
September 18, 2014
Perhaps unlike any President in American history – certainly in modern times – Barack Obama began his tenure with hope beaming from the faces of a nation. That word “hope” had been emblazoned on the posters that filled up the nation’s streets, hoisted outside the houses of his supporters and waved during his glorious, historical
Beyonce is Exactly What Feminism Doesn’t Need
August 30, 2014
Beyonce is a woman who is unrivaled in the 21st Century in her fame and prestige. The Chief Executive Officer of World Pop Culture Ltd. Well, perhaps she shares this in part with her husband and co-icon Shaun Carter aka. Jay Z, another of the world’s rare popular titans. But when it comes to girl-town
