commercialism

[reptilian]

katy perry remix

nike tie ins

mtv adverts


what about the underground independent spirit of dubstep - has this been forgotten?? theres a massive worldwide underground interest in dubstep - is this level of mainstream commercialisation really necessary??

[promo]

'Necessary' isn't the word I'd use. It just happens.

[reptilian]

actually yeah i suppose you're right

as far as whether its necessary in a way its necessary if the producer in question thinks its necessary.

its their choice what they do at the end of the day.

not keen on it myself tho, guess i would have hoped it would be possible to make the scene grow without this kind of mainstream exposure

[akira kiteshi]

all types of music end up getting some kind of exposure eventually. You can't keep it underground forever.

Think of all the different genres of music you hear on adverts, games etc.....

I write music for media/games as well as my dubstep/glitchy stuff. Trust me there are guys employed by most of the media companies whos job it is to find out what 'underground' music certain target audiences are listening to, so that when they try and sell their product the backing music will appeal to those people.

I recently got approached by one of the publishing companies that I make music for asking for a dubstep track for a game that's coming out. I couldn't do it due to the very tight deadline, but if I was able to, do you think I was going to turn around and say 'sorry I can't as it would be detrimental to keeping the dubstep scene underground....please take your cheque for five grand somewhere else'........Sorry but I've got bills to pay.......

I'm not meaning to offend anyone, but I think it's a good thing that dubstep is getting the attention that it in my opinion deserves, no?

Asking a scene to grow without exposure is a kinda contradiction in terms.....

[promo]

actually yeah i suppose you're right

as far as whether its necessary in a way its necessary if the producer in question thinks its necessary.

its their choice what they do at the end of the day.

not keen on it myself tho, guess i would have hoped it would be possible to make the scene grow without this kind of mainstream exposure

I just veer towards the underground in my tastes because of that awkwardness in me so I know exactly what you're saying but I realise that things cannot remain the same for ever.

[skream]

all types of music end up getting some kind of exposure eventually. You can't keep it underground forever.

Think of all the different genres of music you hear on adverts, games etc.....

I write music for media/games as well as my dubstep/glitchy stuff. Trust me there are guys employed by most of the media companies whos job it is to find out what 'underground' music certain target audiences are listening to, so that when they try and sell their product the backing music will appeal to those people.

I recently got approached by one of the publishing companies that I make music for asking for a dubstep track for a game that's coming out. I couldn't do it due to the very tight deadline, but if I was able to, do you think I was going to turn around and say 'sorry I can't as it would be detrimental to keeping the dubstep scene underground....please take your cheque for five grand somewhere else'........Sorry but I've got bills to pay.......

I'm not meaning to offend anyone, but I think it's a good thing that dubstep is getting the attention that it in my opinion deserves, no?

Asking a scene to grow without exposure is a kinda contradiction in terms.....

here here

[reptilian]

a scene cant grow without exposure true but i was suggesting id personally prefer dubstep to grow without lame corporate/mainstream exposure. there are different ways of exposing your music to the world - its not all or nothing

[promo]

a scene cant grow without exposure true but i was suggesting id personally prefer dubstep to grow without lame corporate/mainstream exposure. there are different ways of exposing your music to the world - its not all or nothing

I mean this in the nicest way but the reality is that money talks and the rest is conversation.

[reptilian]

yeah

i guess the only reason mala doesnt make xbox360 soundtracks during the day is cos no-one has offered him enough cash

[kay]

I'd quite like to see (hear?) a few more dubstep tracks breakthrough actually. It's painfully difficult to describe what I like listening to to the uninitiated, which includes most of the people I know. And trying to describe the dubstep sound using "Night" as an example just doesn't quite cut it.

Just because a genre of music gets incorporated into mainstream commercialisation does not necessarily mean that the genre itself will become commercialised.

[dubloke]

I think its quite hard for dubstep to get properly mainstream because of the place you need to hear it, a club. The first thing I do when I listen to a tune is imagine what it would be like in a club with a sick sound system. To explain the actual way a tune feels is too difficult. I reckon if more people started going to clubs the music would get out more because people could appreciate what dubsteps really about?

[reptilian]

even in a club tho some people just arent going to feel it cos its not to everyones tastes and it shouldnt have to be

[dubloke]

and add vocals

yeah most of the people I've played dubstep to (and who dont like it) say its boring, and is "soundtrack music" My view is that alot of people like to be able to sing along to a tune (hence vocals or a catchy riff) to be honest some of the best dubstep tunes do have vocals, Skeng, Jah war, Poison Dart, In luv with you, to name a few. One thing I've really grown to like is dubstep with an MC who properly spits bars over the top (theres a Wiley and Kode 9 set from back in 2006 which never leaves my I pod)

[ovesen]

The mainstream is concerned about keeping things as they are. People gotta get EXACTLY what the expect, otherwise they ain't gonna buy.

The underground is not as concerned about money, hence the underground can afford to get moving all the time.

Gotta keep things moving, that way the mainstream won't know what happened until it's to late!

-and big up to all who manages to keep thinges moving, while pumping the mainstream for money on the other hand!

I would be sad the day you decided to leave the clubs and small labels to work fulltime for Nike though.....

[kay]

I think its quite hard for dubstep to get properly mainstream because of the place you need to hear it, a club. The first thing I do when I listen to a tune is imagine what it would be like in a club with a sick sound system. To explain the actual way a tune feels is too difficult. I reckon if more people started going to clubs the music would get out more because people could appreciate what dubsteps really about?

Agree there.

The only problem is persuading them to go to a dubstep club in the first place! I may have to invest in a taser or baseball bat soon.

[gars]

exposure or no exposure, there will always be good music and not so good music. it the same with every genre. take punk rock, for instance...there's commercial stuff and there is underground stuff. the choice is yours what to listen to and what to appreciate.

[reptilian]

yeah, its a shame when the underground stuff goes commercial though

well it is for the fans of those acts whether they are punk or dubstep - all their fickle new mainstream fans obviously think its cool but once you've sold them out it could be hard to win back their respect

whether its fugazi or digital mystikz i have a lot more respect for people who put the music first

once you sell your soul you cant buy it back

[thinking]

a scene cant grow without exposure true but i was suggesting id personally prefer dubstep to grow without lame corporate/mainstream exposure. there are different ways of exposing your music to the world - its not all or nothing

fair enough, but personal preference about who gets to listen to the music, and what exposure it should receive, is something that will have to remain personal - noone owns a music scene.

I've been a dubstep fan longer than most people, and perhaps personally I would have preferred it didn't get so big a couple of years ago and changed in ways I didn't like - but that's just the way things go, it's not mine to be precious about. Arts and culture can't exist in a vacuum, growth is natural, and noone wants to be a starving artist when they can earn a living from doing what they love.

[kidcazual]

one mans commercial is another mans underground , as long as people do what they want , be true to themselves and produce from the heart , wheres the problem ? the scene needs exposure , the true music makers will always follow their own paths anyway , and bandwagon jumpers will go on to their next leap in time . and as for nike tie ins , gwan my son , id be right there doin the same , kicks is kicks , as for mtv exposure , good music will always find its place

oh and the katy whatever her names remix , lol bablylon

[reptilian]

Speaking of fugazi/ian mckaye

this pretty much sums up the parasitic relationship between the likes of nike and the underground music scene:

"Nike Steals Album Art For Skateboarding Poster"

"Apparently, Nike has taken, without permission, the 1984 album design of Dischord Records artist Minor Threat and turned it into a skateboarding poster for the company's "Major Threat" East Coast Tour. When asked by Pitchfork Media if Nike had obtained permission to mirror the art, Dischord Records said, "No, they stole it and we're not happy about it. Nike is a giant corporation which is attempting to manipulate the alternative skate culture to create an even wider demand for their already ubiquitous brand. Nike represents just about the antithesis of what Dischord stands for and it makes me sick to my stomach to think they are using this explicit imagery to fool kids into thinking that the general ethos of this label, and Minor Threat in particular, can somehow be linked to Nike's mission. It's disgusting."

incidentally. they ended up being forced to apologise

why didnt they just pay them to use the image? dischord would have told them to go fuck themselves - no matter how much cash they offered