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Dear Readers,
Well, it's a new year, and what better
way to start January of 1999 than with the almighty "Award
Show." So far we've been treated to "The People's Choice
Awards," "The American Music Awards," "The
Golden Globe Awards" (which don't relate to this 'zine),
and tonight we have the "First Annual T.V. Guide Awards"
(another one that doesn't really relate). Still, it's February
1st and the Award Show circuit for this year is well on it's
way.
I guess the buying public dictates who
wins the "People's Choice Award," and they influence
who wins "The American Music Award," but who the hell
chooses which artists go in which categories? Have these award
shows become the musical equivalent of the Democratic and Republican
National Conventions to nominate the person that's going to run
for President? (No pun intended!) All I can picture is some corporate
type, locked away in a little room, who never actually listens
to the musical choices he sees on all those stacks of paper,
but with the power to decide who and what "the people"
listen to. Then he/she thinks up ways to eliminate the most likely
candidates for each award. That's the only explanation I could
think of when I saw who was nominated for all the categories.
Truthfully, I have to say I paid more attention
to what went on at the "American Music Awards" than
the "People's Choice Awards," but they both seemed
to follow (as in vote) "straight along party lines"
(Still no pun intended!) It appears we only have two kinds (parties)
of music these days - Country and Urban/Soul. At least these
were the only musicians I saw nominated, performing and winning
awards (with a VERY few exceptions). I was so floored by this
phenomena, that I actually sat and took NOTES so I would remember
what to write about!
Between the weird, (like Elton John and
Leeann Rimes at the "People's Choice Awards") to very
weird (Dick Clark's "brilliant" pairings at the "American
Music Awards," including Whitney Houston doing rap/reggae
with Babyface and Wycleff Jean; Blondie rapping with Coolio,
Wu Tang Clan and Mob D; Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello getting
mellow; and, of course, the traditional Garth Brooks and Trisha
Yearwood) duets performed, and the people who won awards in VERY
strange categories, I sure hope I'm not the only person that
thought this was all a big joke!
I was really stoked when I saw KISS come
out in full regalia to present the "AMA" for best rock
album. There were lots of good ones that came out last year,
including one by KISS. Then they announced the nominees: Will
Smith, Celine Dion and Shanaia Twain. HUH? I thought this was
supposed to be for best ROCK album! Pretty strange seeing Will
Smith get this award from KISS. Not that I have anything against
Will Smith. I like the guy and I like his music. But he is NOT
a ROCK singer!! Neither are the other two nominees!
Then we had Brandy, Celine Dion and Shanaia
Twain nominated for Best Pop/Rock Female. Talk about your "crossover"
performers. I must not forget N'Sync winning the award for Best
Adult Contemporary group. Hey, awards people, I think you got
your nominees mixed up. The females are more Adult Contemporary
than N'Sync. Again, I don't have anything against N'Sync, but
last time I checked, their prime audience is the teen market.
For your Pop/Rock Male choices, there was: Eric Clapton (okay,
that works), Puff Daddy and Will Smith. Puff Daddy??? Pop/Rock
Male??? How far off is that???
But, for all you Hard Rock and Metal fans
out there, we did get a token mention of Creed for Metal (but
no presentation), and Aerosmith (but no presentation) as Pop/Rock
Group for "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" - which I'm
sure was totally related to the success of the movie "Armegeddon,"
even though I was really hoping at least ONE band nominated in
the right category would win. Aerosmith fan that I am, and as
much as I like the song and the movie, there could have been
better competition for that award.
I could go on and on about this, but I
think I've shouted out enough examples. Now comes the opinion
part. There are TOO many Award Shows to begin with, and with
the addition of each one, the status of winning an award is diminished.
Then all this "crossover" stuff enters the picture,
and the lines between types of music have pretty much disappeared.
It's as if Rock, Metal and Alternative artists don't exist any
more, and their places are being filled with artists from those
two genres I mentioned earlier. Like I said, these awards have
really become a joke, but it's not fair to all the REAL artists
in the other genres, who put out great albums this past year,
to be snubbed completely! All we can do is hope that the "Grammy
Awards" are a little more fair!
This time, I would REALLY like your feedback
on the subject of my editorial - or anything else you have on
your mind regarding AMZ. We've incorporated a new section in
the 'zine, "Letters To The Editor," on our "Misc.
Page," to publish reader reactions, comments, complaints
and praise that we receive from you, our readers. The journalists
for AMZ do their best to be fair and objective in their reviews,
and I try to provoke a response from our readers with my monthly
"rants" about the music business. Now it's YOUR chance
to express your opinion about anything we publish and present
the other side of the story - if there is one.
As always, the opinions expressed in the
editorial are mine alone as Editor of this magazine. If you agree
or disagree with anything, please send your comments, keep tuning
in, and keep those letters coming. Without you, we wouldn't be
the fastest growing Music E-zine on the Net!
E-mail AMZ at: ACCESS to the MUSIC ZONE
at
marellg@music-reviewer.com
See You In Cyber Space! Mary Ellen Gustafson,
Editor |
