not a member? click here to sign up

The state of broadcasting discussed at the Music Show

There was talk on the future of broadcasting, nostalgia trips and pops at Louis Walsh

The Hot Press Newsdesk, 03 Oct 2010

"We are living in the middle of a revolution, an amazing time," reckoned Whizz Kid CEO Malcolm Gerrie on today's first panel. "There are two camps at the moment. The glass half full people, who are excited, and the luddites. Often it's a generational thing." Speaking about the massive success of U2's online video venture with their 360 tour, which he worked on, he commented on online broadcasting. "The whole thing has been democratised."

Broadcaster and musician John Robb was also on the panel, and he was quick to point out that the true challenge was breaking new acts, the next U2. He bemoaned the current state of conventional broadcasting. "They underestimate what people can listen to. I think everything's too sanitized now. 90 per cent of what's on TV is X Factor. There's a whole raft of music you never hear, you never see. It's a narrowing of what music really is."

He had much criticism for Louis Walsh, particularly his performance on yesterday's Music Show panel. Robb saw Walsh's argument that there was not enough of his Irish acts on radio as hypocritical. And of Walsh's acts? "I think it's a crime!" Robb said. "It's like robbing people's pocket money, he should be in jail!"

Renowned Irish broadcaster and The View's host John Kelly, dismissed the X Factor brigade from the discussion. "It's got nothing to do with music at all." Kelly spoke at length about his career, from the Mystery Train show ("We were literally getting away with it for twenty years") to Other Voices ("It wasn't the kind of music programme I would have made if I was let loose...I would have set it in a church, in the middle of winter!")

But he was particularly proud of The View and the exposure it gives new Irish talent. "A lot of the bands you don't hear about till they've been on The Late Late Show, actually started on The View," he noted.

The Music Show was also delighted to welcome Mark Cooper, the Creative Head behind BBC Music Entertainment and Later with Jools, to the panel. He discussed how they select musicians to appear on Later... "By falling in love, basically," he admitted. "The principle focus of it is to find new people. The beauty of TV is that it can make you see something and fall in love. Booking by committee doesn't work. If I believe in something, I'm going with it."



Page 1/2     <Previous 1 2 Next> 



The Hot Press Newsdesk

Artist Related Content

Latest Related Articles For This Artist

Out and about at The Music Show!

See if you can spot yourself in our photo galleries...


News: 2012-03-13

Business happens at The Music Show

The AMA Music Agency and FM Communications announced a new partnership at the event last month.


News: 2012-03-12

WATCH: Leaders Of Men @ The Music Show

Backstage chat with the Men of the moment...


News: 2012-02-26

The state of Irish radio debated @ The Music Show

The importance of airplay...


News: 2012-02-26

WATCH: Temper-Mental MissElayneous @ The Music Show

She spoke to Hot Press following her meeting with the President...


News: 2012-02-26

Latest Related Videos For This Artist