Post by Friendly Destroyer on Dec 16, 2010 14:55:48 GMT -8
I have always been on the fence with Cancon rules, and my negative views are as follows:
1) censorship. I just didn't like the government telling me (or more specifically radio stations)what I had to listen to.
2) This censorship led to limited music. Growing up I hated hearing the same old Rush song; or the Tea Party again. The radio stations I listened to (unfortunately I kept mainstream growing up), would never have played more underground music of the 90's, because of their limitations. So instead of Pavement and Jane's Addiction and Sonic Youth, we would hear equally abstract, but of lesser quality (IMO) Canadian bands like Bif Naked, Rainbow Butt Monkeys and the Killjoys.
Now I lok back and wish I could have been introduced to these American bands at an earlier age.
However, that being said, I look at the vibrant Canadian Music scene and have to attribute it's international success to CANCon of the 90's (and Government's (GoC) influence in promoting Canadian art). Many current artists grew up knowing it was possible to make a career in music by seeing all these semi-successfiul bands from the 90's. The Global influence has furhter made it easier, and the GoC continues to provide positive influence for these acts. CBC radio 3 and it's website is a clear indication of this.
Sorry Gramma, didn't want to keep inidating your thread with this topic.
Just wanted to clarify a couple of things from Brad's comments.
-Yes CanCon does "thrust" certain artists on the radio, but rarely are we deprived of "what's going on in music". If you were listening to Mainstream Radio you were still hearing all the popular artists that were on US radio. Unfortunately we got to hear every Britaney, Backstreet Boys, 'NSYNC, and what not in heavy rotation. We also got to have that stellar lineup interupted every now and then with some Jacksoul or Philosopher KIngs. Those canadian artists were not taking the place of Sonic Youth on Mainstream Radio. Even in the US you weren't regularly getting a healthy dose of SY on Big Rock or Alternative stations.
-In both contries these types of sound were available on smaller local stations or college radio. I would also argue that Canada even had it a little better with "The Wedge" being on Much Music @ 3:30pm every Mon-Fri (always a new show). That happened for years, the show has now been reduced to an hour once a week at some vampire hour on the weekend. But durring those years you could always get a major dose of wacky and weird on a mainsteam channel, pretty cool. We also had it better because weird canadian pop bands were on mainstream radio due to CanCon. I was glad to hear Bran Van 3000 next to "Backstreet's Back".
-I think the main problem was that you were (as many of us were at a certain time I suppose) only exposed to mainstream radio, and CanCon or no CanCon, you weren't gonna get any "%100" on those stations. Certainly a few underground bands (I am being liberal here) showed up on pop stations ( pop,rock or alternative) with their radio hits. I'm taling about The Breeders, Nirvana, The Pixies...
-My long point being, CanCon didn't prevent you from hearing Sonic Youth on the radio.
-Also wanted to mention that I am really trying to hammer this all out here quickly, in no way am I trying to attack you Brad. Your comment is actually very normal to hear, I just wanted to provide another side to the story. Thanks.