Music quotas

There are several reasons why the Government's latest diktat - that 10% of the music on local radio stations should be Bermudian - is misguided.

First, according to ZBM programming manager Darlene Ming, traditional Bermudian music is not popular with most listeners.

Second, Ms. Ming said that much of the local music that is produced does not meet on-air production standards.

Third, a quota system runs the risk of promoting mediocrity. "There’s just not as much quality in terms of locally produced Bermudian music," said Hott 107.5 programme director Thaao Dill, himself a local artist. "Music should be on because it’s great, not just because it’s Bermudian.”

Fourth, the music produced by Bermudian artists may not fit with the music a station usually plays. “We would have to dramatically change the sound of our station if we went with the law," said Mr. Dill. "I’m sure we could find [the music] but some of it might be poetry or steel-pan music. I’m not knocking people making that music, it’s just not our audience.”

While I don't mind listening to well-produced local music by talented artists, I don't want to listen to second-rate stuff that sounds like it was recorded in someone's bathroom. If local radio stations do not play the music I want to hear, I'll switch off and subscribe to Sirius or turn on my iPod instead. If enough people do the same, this could lead to reduced advertising revenue and even damage the financial viability of the stations.

Local artists producing quality music that people want to hear ought to have no trouble getting that music aired. Those producing music for a niche market might consider using the internet to promote it instead. www.bermudamusic.com, anyone?

Comments

[Tiger Bay on 09.11.05 at 18:04]

Noble idea (the wording of the policy is ripped off from Canada) - but ... yellllllllow biiiiiiird up high in ba na na tree :)

It's probably the best marketing that XM and Sirius could ever want.

So the broadcast commission is willing to act on this but not say a peep about David Burch's controversial HOTT radio show?

[Jake on 09.11.05 at 18:15]

No, oh resident conspiracy theorist, it was the RG that has made a stink - not the Broadcast Commission.

This is one of the problems with Bermuda - everyone running to some board or the other to b!tch and complain about something someone else is doing (or in this case, not doing).

Who cares what they play? If you like it tune in, otherwise, in the immortal words of the famous Model to Jeremy Paxman: Sod Off.

[SmokingGun on 09.11.05 at 18:35]

Jake - I believe that would be: Pod off

[Full Fullish on 09.11.05 at 18:37]

No, this goes further than not likeing what's on the radio or TV. What it boils down to is "WHO IN THE HELL DOES GOVERNMENT THINK THEY ARE BY DICTATING TO THE RADIO STATIONS WHAT THEY WILL BROADCAST?!?" (It's in caps cause yes I was shouting!)

I have a serious problem with this as Government is setting a presidence by stepping into the runnings of a business that they really shouldn't have the right to do.

Don't get me wrong, I admire the local talent, however just cause you're Bermudian and can belt out a toon on an instrument of choice does not automatically give you the right to be on the air. Mix 106.1 gives exposure to the local artists, some are good, some I think are a bit on the tone deaf side (My personal opinion though). As in most places of the world, popular opion should dictate what you hear over the radio or not.

Once again, this goverment has it completely ass backwards. If they were seriously interested in helping out the local talent, they would subsudise funding for things like a recording studio or other means to get the artists recorded properly. After that, it's all up the the artists talent if they are going to be liked or not. But don't drill.

IMO, Limey is spot on with what he said. If the local talent want to be taken seriously, then they need to put some serious effort into their recordings. This is where Government can help....

[SmokingGun on 09.11.05 at 19:05]

Um Um Limey, I guess my earlier post that you decided was off topic in Burch's thread might have been better served up here. I should read your mind that you were going to bring up this subject. :)

[xc on 09.11.05 at 19:08]

So let me get this straight - Bermudian artists can now continue to produce music that is generally unpopular with impunity since their audience is guaranteed. Why should they be exempted from the need to satisfy their customers just as any other business is required to do? That is as much a disservice to the artists as it is to the radio stations and listeners.

Or - and this is even worse - do the government believe they know our musical tastes better than we do? I'm going to fall short of drawing historical parallels...

[Tim Taylor on 09.11.05 at 20:21]

Relax guys, this is obviously another example of Somebody got to Somebody and made a Stink. Like, back in the day when a Bermudian photographer tried to ban foreign photographers from working here, whilst spending most of his earning time off the island.

As someone who has written and recorded way over a hundred "local songs" (I stopped counting around 1994), albeit not ones the past or present Government would want on the air anytime soon, I can tell you, by sheer math, that this is yet another meaningless sop thrown to the voter.

If the average local radio station broadcasts valuable (i.e. AA or AAA time in advertisers terms) content four to six hours a day, and excluding news and those all-important ads, you're looking at about three hours plus, maybe, per day, of fresh content, which is, apart from the news, what advertisiers look at when they make their purchasing choices - content composed of music, discussion or whatever else your station elects to shove on the air.

If ten percent of the music on a predominantly music station has to be local, that's... wait for it...

About 18 minutes of airtime, every day!

So that may not sound so bad, if that's the way the Government chooses to interpret "10%" - but think about this - my entire output of songs, over twenty years, is about 500 minutes, so I'm good for about a month. My colleagues Chris, Fred, Bruce and Peter could add quite a bit to that, but we, collectively can manage less than a year. And we've been writing this stuff, as I said, for twenty years.

If the rules stipulate 10% of ACTUAL air time broadcasted, we would last about two months,tops.

I know there's a lot of local talent out there - but ALL of us could keep this iniative going, on those terms, for about two years. And that's using
EVERYTHING - good, bad and downright awful.

Not good for listeners, who only want to hear good stuff, and not good for advertisers who won't pay for crap.

All in all, this just seems to be another crowd-pleaser.

Instead, how about Government dictates that 10% of their own time is devoted to capping or lowering rents for ordinary people?

Or is that just a stupid idea which will make no difference to anybody?

[Nicolette on 09.11.05 at 22:33]

Boy is this a no brainer... all Hott needs to do is add a music background to Burch's show and other similar programmes and their 10% quota would be more than met...

[Adjustah on 09.11.05 at 23:44]

... all Hott needs to do is add a music background to Burch's show and other similar programmes and their 10% quota would be more than met...

Or play it at 0300HRS when they play XM radio and tapes anyway.

[Uncle Elvis on 10.11.05 at 00:30]

Here's a thought. How about the Government.. I don't know... supports the entertainment industry so that the quality of local stuff goes up? I mean instead of cramming stuff no-one wants down everyone's throats...

Oh.. wait.

[Ross Eldridge on 10.11.05 at 00:38]

Here we go ... One gets to a certain age (when children sometimes offer you a seat on the bus, and farting in public is forgiven)... So I'll throw in my few cents (not my towel), and they are: In my teen years (born in 1949, so all you accountants can figure out that one, or get your girl or a local kid to do it) I would spend days and nights listening to the radio when school was out ... here, I didn't come across many local acts. In the UK it was Radio Caroline, by the way. The atmosphere, with it being illegal somehow, was great.

I listened to ZBM (EDC was rather old even then) and to WABC out of NYC, and the last days of WINS. I first heard The Beatles and Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Who, at night, when the atmosphere permitted. ZBM would have the "latest" not too far after they debuted in the USA.

One night I was just starting to work my way through the static to WABC and there's a knock on my mother's door. It was [the late] David Gosling. David was looking quite carried away, he'd heard the new single by The Rolling Stones, it was "19th Nervous Breakdown", it was to be played again "later". David headed home on his moped, from Tamarind Vale to Shelly Bay, and our radios stayed on all night. What were those lyrics?

We had the music we were told represented life on the West Coast: Beach Boys, Mamas & Papas, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Loving Spoonful, and so on. And I was a youngish white boy longing for the next song out of the Motor City, which meant, in those days, politely, "black performers".

We had "Juke Box Jury" and I was on the panel that gave "Satisfaction" the thumbs up. I'd love to do JBJ again. VSB? ZBM? Colonel Burch?

One night recently, during a bus ride at night from Somerset to Hamilton, the driver played a cassette of the best of Marvin Gaye. I could have stayed on that bus for hours if it hadn't finished its rounds.

We had dances at school and at church halls and local acts would perform. They were fairly good because they were loud. One group had Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" word for word. We struggled to remember The Laws of Motion (That would be a great name for a band) which could be spoken in a minute, and the singer gave us six minutes of the best thing Dylan ever did.

If local talent performed or recorded, it tended to be covers. Someone sang "No-No-No" which didn't seem to offer anything but those words.

10% you say? Will this be original music? Or just loud? No-No-No?

Asking once again: Juke Box Jury as psrt of the local content? Call me.

[Curried Goat on 10.11.05 at 06:49]

So the government wants state television and to dictate the content of local radio?

Mind you just think of the possibilities? The political voice that could be voiced through the songs. Like Tim was saying NTUU has been doing this for 20 years. The PLP's actions recently have been begging for more political songs. Sounds like this could be the people's chance

Independence Day!

[loki on 10.11.05 at 07:13]

Personally, I think it's appalling that Government wants to dictate content of private enterprise broadcasts. If Government wants a say in broadcasting content, I suggest that it start it's own stat...um, uh. I'll shut up.

[Better Red than Dead on 10.11.05 at 08:03]

I rather look forward to listening to the likes of Ninja Cutty etc. as I relax in bed reading mein kampf!

I know - how about some loud speakers on Front Street offering us inspirational speeches from King Alex the Great - just think what that would do for productivity - and that way we could work hard to get our heroes newer cars!

[Tiger Bay on 10.11.05 at 08:06]

OK everyone - start recording songs that are critical of Alex Scott. As Bermudian content, it has a pretty good chance of getting airtime.

Come on TonyB!

[TJL on 10.11.05 at 08:08]

The Government is intervening in private enterprise to protect the interests of the Bermudian worker? What an outrage! What next, a requirement that companies hire Bermudian talent before attempting to hire overseas workers?

Workforce protectionism is nothing new on this island, and frankly there are lots of benefits to be had. Many of us who work in international business enjoy a comparative advantage, and as a result don't have to compete with our foreign bretheren for positions. Yes, you have to be competent in your position, but how does one measure the competence of a musician, since taste is so subjective?

I appreciate the subtle difference that companies are not currently required to hold a "quota" of Bermudians if none can be find who meet their needs, and you might be of the opinion that no Bermudian talent is remotely close to good enough to make it on the local stations. I myself rarely listen to the radio because I find the vast majority of the stuff that gets airtime to be crap (Bermudian or otherwise). But don't make the mistake that seems to be rampant on this thread and assume that there isn't already a precedent set for promoting Bermudian interests in the private sector.

[J Galt on 10.11.05 at 08:28]

By the majority of posts most (all)disgree with the 10% rule, some of the reasons:

"a quota system runs the risk of promoting mediocrity"

"I have a serious problem with this as Government is setting a presidence by stepping into the runnings of a business that they really shouldn't have the right to do."

"Bermudian artists can now continue to produce music that is generally unpopular with impunity since their audience is guaranteed."

"it's appalling that Government wants to dictate content of private enterprise broadcasts"

While I can agree with all of your points which really boil down to two train s of thought,

Government shouldn't be able to interfere with private enterprise and bussiness should be able to hire on merit not some other quota, I think mostly all of you that have posted these ideas disagree with them when they are presented to you in another context, ie: when governmeent bans smoking in bars, or when a business running here has to hire a bermudian for a job.

I'll play the devil advocate's in this thread and say government should beable to enforce the quota, its for the greater good of the island, anyone care to respond?

[loki on 10.11.05 at 08:31]

"I live in a shanty in the shantytown.
We have no money so we had to sleep on the ground.
I played the music. My father he dig a ditch.
My mother she do laundry life sure was a bitch.

But 'till we killed the white people. Ooh we gun make them hurt.
Kill the white people yea. But buy my record first.
Ooh yea. Why don’t you buy my record?

We sing of freedom and ooh equality.
But we really don’t care we just want money money money.
We want to drive in a big black limosine.
Get so high off ganja we cant even see.
and then we kill the white people. Ooh we gunna make them hurt.
Kill the white people. Yea. Ooh but buy my record first ooh.

When u go in the record store. We gunna wait outside.
We gunna hit them in the head with a bat and make them cry.
but 'till we kill the white people.
Yea but buy my record first." i

[Tiger Bay on 10.11.05 at 08:44]

Tyrone Green and His Reggae Band, live at the VFW!

(It's a skit from Saturday Night Live done by Eddie Murphy. It starts with a crowd watching. Bit by bit the white audience members look confused and walk out, but at the end there's just one black guy in the front row singing along happily. Come to think of it, I think it was Alex Scott!)

[loki on 10.11.05 at 08:50]

"Tyrone Green and His Reggae Band, live at the VFW!"

Bingo! Glad someone spotted it.

[silencedogood on 10.11.05 at 11:19]

Loki--Freakin' Hilarious. Great quote!

TLJ--I agree there is precedent and that is surely the argument the government will make, but talent and skills are not the same thing. No offense to any accountants, but until you get to the highest levels number crunching is a skill. Music is talent based and shouldn't be subject to the same rules.

There are some good musicians on the island (randy lambert played at my wedding and was loved by all) but not every musician is created equal and the radio play on the island is crappy enough as it is.

I lived in Canada for a time and let me tell you, the canadian content rule does them no favors in terms of quality programming. You just end up listening to Sum 41 trying to sound like Blink 182 trying to sound like Green Day all the freakin' time. It's annoying and you do turn off the radio.

I figure the government wants to tell us what to think (independence) what to watch (TV) and now what to listen to, how long until larger than life posters with Alex Scott's photo begin to dot the landscape? Chariman Scott?

[Wickering Banker :-) ----: on 10.11.05 at 11:32]

I assume CURE will get involved in this to make sure there's equal time for white and black musicians. 5% each.

:-)

[Ross Eldridge on 10.11.05 at 12:22]

CURE: You do mean the band by that name, don't you? The lead singer wih that heavy make-up. What else could be a CURE?

[Full Fullish on 10.11.05 at 13:01]

TJL Wrote:
"Workforce protectionism is nothing new on this island, and frankly there are lots of benefits to be had. Many of us who work in international business enjoy a comparative advantage, and as a result don't have to compete with our foreign bretheren for positions. Yes, you have to be competent in your position, but how does one measure the competence of a musician, since taste is so subjective?"

I'm all for workforce protectionism, as long as it's done wright. This isn't one of those cases. Government is affecting a business' end product, where they shouldn't be allowed to. They are taking away free choice as well as the ability to make their business competitive in order to attact revenue from potential advertisers. What might make this better if Government purchased an hour of airtime for the local talent on all of the stations. Once again Government for a popularity contest with local talent are attempting to fix this "problem" the easiest way possible, by getting someone else to do their dirty work. This "solution" was given absolutely no thought and is typical knee-jerk reaction again.

Music is very subjective, but only when it comes to style. If a local musician has a style that is popular and is in demand hell I'm all for it. However if a musician is playing/singing somethign that NO ONE likes then why should the radio stations play it? If that's the case, I've been known to belt out a case of "This old Man" to my daughter before night time and I'm a local, now would you like to hear that on the air? Aside from style, as I said before, if Government were serious about helping out the local talent they would provide either funding or means for recording etc. This way the musicians can make a product that would be ready for air time. Some musicians do this already of course.

[Long Live Indy Music on 10.11.05 at 16:32]

I'm not writing to say WHO CARES. The radio stations here all suck. They play commercial billboard top 20 crap. Bermudians are so bland and willing to be sheeps led by whatever MTV or BET tells them to listen to and like.

[Rob Berry on 10.11.05 at 18:02]

All that this will mean is that when a local artist's music is played the listeners will know it's because the radio station 'had to'. Same as when local bands were given gigs because immigration 'made them'.

It's a great feeling to know that your music is played because people actually LIKE IT. When they do this quota lunacy I will be taking my CD's away from the radio station, I dont want it played because they 'had to'.

[loki on 10.11.05 at 18:17]

"It's a great feeling to know that your music is played because people actually LIKE IT. When they do this quota lunacy I will be taking my CD's away from the radio station, I dont want it played because they 'had to'."

Yes, I can see it being one big celebration of mediocrity, which is a shame for people like Rob here, who happens to be very talented and plays a great gig. It'll be the mediocrities who'll welcome this ridiculous rule.

[Uncle Elvis on 10.11.05 at 18:46]

The problem is, for every Rob Berry there's a whole slew of guys cranking out substandard... scratch that... unlistenable garbage.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. If Government is so all-fire hot (or is that Hott?) on supporting local artists, how about... hmmm... maybe actually supporting them?
A lot of bars won't or can't hire bands because, well, it's expensive. If they were to perhaps subsidise bars if they have live entertainment, that'd go a long way. And it'd be a heckuvva lot cheaper than... oh, I dunno... $50 million. *grin*

[Tim Taylor on 10.11.05 at 19:17]

Well said Rob Berry!
If people were forced to buy tickets to NTUU because of some Government quota, I believe we'd stop doing it.

[Rincewind on 10.11.05 at 19:22]

Where does local talent actually show their skills to the public? Where is the live entertainment?

[Rincewind on 10.11.05 at 19:29]

I'm a big fan of Rob Berry's work, wish I could see him play again. Any chance of you coming out of retirment Rob?

[Ethiops on 10.11.05 at 22:59]

In France the quota is 60% French music and 40% for the rest. I'm sure many French artist will say they're more than grateful laws like this exist, as their precious editions have a chance of circulating, and, allowing them to continue in the loop of making music. 10% is really not much I find many a bit harsh on musicians, maybe a boost like this could infact encourage many to lift their standards, who knows?
Taking the road less travelled is hard enough as it is.
Cut musicians a little slack they sing and play music for us after all. Really though, again, 10% isn't much. There should be a standard though, I agree to that. Outside Bermuda major companies pay money to ensure their artist make it to the radio for airplay. Radio stations in a way are a public service, not that I think we should get into telling people what to play, but, it would be normal for the public that the radio station serves feel its represented to some degree by that station. It’s probably the desire of many musicians to get airplay, with a quota at least they’ll know if what they make is quality they have a chance. Why should we make it any harder for Lizard Lips and The Bay Leaf Band to be heard.

[Uncle Elvis on 10.11.05 at 23:19]

"Outside Bermuda major companies pay money to ensure their artist make it to the radio for airplay"

Um.. Eeth... this is called payola. And it's illegal.

[Ethiops on 10.11.05 at 23:51]

Uncle - As illegal as you say it is, it exist, and takes place all the time. When the radio is playing chart music all the time. Spots on it won't come cheap as major companies are always at war over agreements for time slots. This where quotas come in handy at least for France. It's such a reflex to play what’s being seen on TV. I can imagine it can be seen as a bribe to pay to play someone’s music, but, don't we do that for others that wish to sell their goods via the radio? Joe Blow that wishes to sell Authentic Organic Bermuda Cherry Jam through the medium of radio will have to pay for his jingle spot. In this light the artist that pays for a spot to make people hear his production can be seen as a client by the station too. This model has probably formed 80% of our favourite songs, maybe not for all of us of course. I don't know what the % is but, there is one when I say, many tracks make it not because they're good but, because their company paid x amount money to have it bombarded on the ears on people until they either loved it or of course hated it more.

[island dweller on 11.11.05 at 11:46]

Here is a shocker.

A group of people sat in a room and agreed to the following:

- Create a government operated tv station
- Enforce on private enterprise that they give 10% of their air time to locals

Either you are dumb or blind, but each day your appointed government is getting you closer and closer to becoming an island nation.

Since no one is holding their MPs responsible for the actions of this government, YOU should accept full responsible for what is being done.

YOU have the power to tell the Premier NO.
YOU have the power to tell your MP NO.

Back to our regularly scheduled bitchfest.