If you think Clear Channel (who run SFX Entertainment, the world’s largest promoter of big name live acts) are THE suck, here’s the place for you. Clint Sharp has set up clearchannelsucks.org, a site that aims to be the “premier source for information about Clear Channel, its corporate mentality, and its practices, on the Internet.”
From their F.A.Q.:
- Clear Channel’s programming is subpar, in our opinion, to programming pre-industry consolidation. It has completely lost its local flavor, at least on Clear Channel owned stations.
- Clear Channel, we believe, actively takes actions which are anti-competitive. Their ownership of SFX, the largest and most powerful concert promoter in the country, along with their assets in radio lead them to favor their own radio stations for promotional tickets over other stations. Allegedly, if an artist refuses to play Clear Channel controlled venues or use them for their concert promotion they with withhold radio airplay, including paid advertisements, for that artist.
I always have to address the complicated issues :o/…Anyway…Since when did radio ever really do anything GOOD for music? I’m sure CREED are VERY happy with the radio configuration…I’ve heard their singles every 30 minutes for the past 3 months. I just listen to the radio to stay plugged into weather reports, national news and the mainstream. What was that Bono? What did you say about the mainstream?…I read the Salon article about big bad clearchannel and it’s not NEWS. Sounds like some people got pissed for being fired and haven’t gotten over it.
I always have to address the complicated issues :o/…Anyway…Since when did radio ever really do anything GOOD for music? I’m sure CREED are VERY happy with the radio configuration…I’ve heard their singles every 30 minutes for the past 3 months. I just listen to the radio to stay plugged into weather reports, national news and the mainstream. What was that Bono? What did you say about the mainstream?…I read the Salon article about big bad clearchannel and it’s not NEWS. Sounds like some people got pissed for being fired and haven’t gotten over it.
I don’t have time to truly look into this right now and make a great point like karaoke did, but I want to get on my soapbox for a second and point out that the only two bands (besides Creed) that I’ve heard on Dallas radio constantly for the last year are Nickelback (blech!!!), and Puddle of Mudd(double bleech!!!)… Would these two bands be famous if they weren’t SO,… SO,… RADIO-FRIENDLY??? No friends, these two mediocre bands are catching the ear of some asswipe’s ear that decides what’s on the radio all the time!!! I just wanted to remind everybody to tune out the top 40 only crap radio of today, and crank the hell out of your U2 (or whoever else you decided for yourself that YOU like) cd’s!!! Not that I have to tell you, you are already on a kick ass U2 site, so you know what’s going on, obviously, I just feel better if I rant!!! Thanks!!!
I don’t have time to truly look into this right now and make a great point like karaoke did, but I want to get on my soapbox for a second and point out that the only two bands (besides Creed) that I’ve heard on Dallas radio constantly for the last year are Nickelback (blech!!!), and Puddle of Mudd(double bleech!!!)… Would these two bands be famous if they weren’t SO,… SO,… RADIO-FRIENDLY??? No friends, these two mediocre bands are catching the ear of some asswipe’s ear that decides what’s on the radio all the time!!! I just wanted to remind everybody to tune out the top 40 only crap radio of today, and crank the hell out of your U2 (or whoever else you decided for yourself that YOU like) cd’s!!! Not that I have to tell you, you are already on a kick ass U2 site, so you know what’s going on, obviously, I just feel better if I rant!!! Thanks!!!
I also wanted to say I might have liked those bands if I wasn’t pummeled by their omnipresence, but since I am so sick of them right now, I choose to pick on them, and use the word ass more than once in a post… Ass…
I also wanted to say I might have liked those bands if I wasn’t pummeled by their omnipresence, but since I am so sick of them right now, I choose to pick on them, and use the word ass more than once in a post… Ass…
They’re definately onto something, no news among the industry, and I’m sure no news to any fan that has tried to get tickets through ticketbastards (yes clear channel owns that too), but I guess it’s news to everyone else. Radio has done nothing good for music I agree, especially since Clinton had a brainstorm to derregulate it and now 2 companies alone own pretty much all the radios in the country (clear channel and Infinity).
What makes it news worthy is that clear channel is a slave driver, if you don’t use their promoter (sfx), their ticket agent (ticketmaster), and their radio stations to put on your concert you basically can’t cause they have contracts with all the major venues and they will refuse to put on the show (ask Pearl Jam how they liked playing cornfields).
Not to mention they book these little concert events for their radio stations like 6 months in advance with all these unknown bands, like nickelback, but since they own the stations they start to play their records 6 months in advance to make them seem like they’re good then announce the show 3 months later and create an unbelievable amount of hype to sell out the show. Works everytime which sorta of explains why U2 never got that much radio airplay in the US, as their concerts always sold out immidiately.
They’re definately onto something, no news among the industry, and I’m sure no news to any fan that has tried to get tickets through ticketbastards (yes clear channel owns that too), but I guess it’s news to everyone else. Radio has done nothing good for music I agree, especially since Clinton had a brainstorm to derregulate it and now 2 companies alone own pretty much all the radios in the country (clear channel and Infinity).
What makes it news worthy is that clear channel is a slave driver, if you don’t use their promoter (sfx), their ticket agent (ticketmaster), and their radio stations to put on your concert you basically can’t cause they have contracts with all the major venues and they will refuse to put on the show (ask Pearl Jam how they liked playing cornfields).
Not to mention they book these little concert events for their radio stations like 6 months in advance with all these unknown bands, like nickelback, but since they own the stations they start to play their records 6 months in advance to make them seem like they’re good then announce the show 3 months later and create an unbelievable amount of hype to sell out the show. Works everytime which sorta of explains why U2 never got that much radio airplay in the US, as their concerts always sold out immidiately.
Wait a min…U2 are not virgins when it comes to this type of commercialism. Did anyone attend the ZooTV show in Dallas in 92??? For 24 hours BEFORE the concert went down the local radio station for young and hip music listeners (like me..ha ha) played NOTHING but U2 music (from all their previous albums) AND commercials (on where to buy a nice car). Of course, hip me, had already listened to the “history of U2” before this massive music appreciation lesson was even thought up! I walked passed ALL the radio station motor trailors parked outside the arena with fans lined up in hundreds to get free t-shirts or something, straight to my seat. I even had my FATHER pushing t-shirts and caps on me. THEN, when we looked at the price tag for a measley baseball cap made out of thin cotton, he decided that it wasn’t worth the extra 30 bucks. That’s how much our ticket cost for both of us in the 20 yard high club.
Aaaaaah..the memories…I’ll cherish them forever. ;o)
Wait a min…U2 are not virgins when it comes to this type of commercialism. Did anyone attend the ZooTV show in Dallas in 92??? For 24 hours BEFORE the concert went down the local radio station for young and hip music listeners (like me..ha ha) played NOTHING but U2 music (from all their previous albums) AND commercials (on where to buy a nice car). Of course, hip me, had already listened to the “history of U2” before this massive music appreciation lesson was even thought up! I walked passed ALL the radio station motor trailors parked outside the arena with fans lined up in hundreds to get free t-shirts or something, straight to my seat. I even had my FATHER pushing t-shirts and caps on me. THEN, when we looked at the price tag for a measley baseball cap made out of thin cotton, he decided that it wasn’t worth the extra 30 bucks. That’s how much our ticket cost for both of us in the 20 yard high club.
Aaaaaah..the memories…I’ll cherish them forever. ;o)
Ah, $30 tickets… Those were the days!!!
Ah, $30 tickets… Those were the days!!!