Re: "Tragically Hip a made-in-Canada success," July 9.
I am not mystified at all by the Tragically Hip's lack of success in the United States. Canadian content laws have given Canadians an overinflated impression of the popularity of this band. Cancon quotas and the conservative nature of the radio business have led this band and many others to receive disproportionate airtime.
Thus, Canadians begin to equate quantity for quality. Cancon has helped in the development of a thriving Canadian music industry, but it has also led to the stagnation of Canadian radio. It upholds the status quo, where we are forced to endure the same select bands playing the same select songs endlessly.
I don't like the Tragically Hip. I can't stand Gordon Downie's grating voice or their cheesy Canadiana lyrics. I have learned to recognize the first few notes of each of their overplayed songs and to switch to an-other station immediately. Unfortunately, I often end up on another station playing them, or Nickelback, or Matt Good, or OLP, or Big Wreck, or BTO, yet again.
Why do we continue to give morons like this a pen...er..keyboard? Listen you patchouli sniffing gerbil lover, this great country has given every one of us a right to our own opinion, but for some reason you get this kind of crap printed. Do you have any idea what Matt Good's been through fighting to establish himself? Any idea about the work history of Big Wreck's individual members? And calling yourself Canadian slamming BTO? Really, you're another idiot criticising mainstream radio by taking a shot at the artists that put some decent effort into production. You're just another spoonfed, hippie-raised 'artsy' pansy who probably thinks his best friend's garage band needs to be JUST LIKE Nickelback because they figured out how to distort their 110 dollar pre-amps (which they bought at a garage sale from a guy who needed weed). "...I often end up on another station playing them, or Nickelback, or Matt Good, or OLP, or Big Wreck, or BTO, yet again." Yeah, so the first station you listened to sucked. Then the second. And third...and so on! It's always someone else's fault these bands sound good on the radio? Hmm, perhaps you should read your article into a mirror before slamming this country, the artists who worked hard to get to where they are, and the people who work in radio barely making a living (just like your buddy's garage band). Now back to your "kick ass" (insert name of any emo-alternative band/artist nobody will ever hear of). By the way, the gerbil needs a breather!
While it's true - I'm glad I didn't 'name' the author as the 'ranting' fool who dissed our great artists, I would still present that scathing opinion of anybody who dares rip apart the fabric we build this country's music scene on. True music fans can appreciate any type of music. I really get worked up when these faux music fans continually rip Canadian Radio and the bands who work so hard to get to the top. Stop blaming tight playlists, great production, and great promotional teams for success. Embrace it. (I still can't believe I read that crap about BTO!) Oh, can someone post a 'good' story on our great bands? My apologies to Ryan Hauck for implying he was the source of that diatribe.
Stop any 25-54 year old on the street and see what percentage of music on their iPod/iphone is Canadian. Bring the Cancon down to 25%. And get rid of the 6a to 6pm regulation. Open it up from 6a to midnight. So what if the cancan gets loaded up at night time. It'll still get played and if it's good it'll get requested.
Great music is great music regardless of where it comes from and it's a shame some really good songs may get bumped because of a 40% quota.
Listing bands like OLP and Nickelback defeats the purpose of that entire article... both bands have sold MILLIONS of cdees in the United States. Not too shabby for bands that are "overrated" and only on radio because of the CRTC.
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