Fans Send Recording Industry Message: It's the Music, Stupid

Insight on the News, March 15, 2004

Byline: INSIGHT

Fans Send Recording Industry Message: It's the Music, Stupid

You need look no further than the now-infamous Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake halftime show at the Super Bowl to understand the precipitous decline in "popular" music sales ["Arresting Kids for Downloading Music," Feb. 17-March 1]. It isn't popular, so that's why it doesn't sell. It's that simple.

Music labels have cut back tremendously on their research and development and their feeder studios, and that means a poorer product for any business. Furthermore, Hollywood and the recording industry have been encouraging kids to break every other law in the book for years. Suddenly "thou shalt not steal" should be sacrosanct when it comes to downloading music, even as we burn down the rest of the structures of morality? Sorry, life doesn't work that way.

Christopher Manion

Front Royal, Va.

*

When I first started posting on a fan Website, Clay Aiken's fans were curious about why we could not get his music played on the radio. So we investigated and were amazed at the hand-holding and payola-type, behind-the-scenes schemes that go on in that area. Record companies are in bed with the program directors. Stores are given favors to promote the CDs of certain musical artists. This was a real eye-opener.

Most of Aiken's fans bought his CD, instead of downloading it, because we want him to have a long and successful career. We figure that a record label will never jettison a moneymaker.

The music industry needs a new business model that focuses on the quality of the music, not the "cool" image portrayed by the artist. And I believe the music critics and the executives who think they can dictate what music people should be listening to are dinosaurs who need to evolve or disappear.

Donna Scioscia via the Internet

*

In Timothy W. Maier's article about downloading music off the Internet, I totally agree with Dave Lory's theory that the recording industry needs to move away from oversexed stars and give the public the music that it wants. But I take issue with him calling American Idol singers Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard a "nerd" and a "fat guy."

Aiken may have started his American Idol journey as a self-professed "nerd," but he certainly no longer is in that category. Thousands of women worldwide, from teenybopper groupies to mature married women, now swoon over this handsome, irresistible, huggable hunk.

Let's also not forget that Aiken has unbelievable talent that puts "the icing on the cake," so to speak. Plus, he refuses to compromise his moral standards to become a cookie-cutter version of what the music industry thinks sells CDs.

Also keep in mind that both Luther Vandross and Barry White started out as "fat guys," but their wonderful R&B talents made them stars. I can see Studdard following in their stellar footsteps because I believe he has an equally beautiful and soulful voice.

Carolee Gross

New Jersey

Questioning the Character and Integrity of Sen. John Kerry

The immediacy and credibility of John Berlau's cover story on Sen. John Kerry ["Kerry Embodies New Left Ideals," March 2-15] might direct the political discourse in 2004 to a new level of comprehension about the grave cultural issues facing us. Perhaps the standards and archetypes of the sixties finally will be put to rest and a new model of integrity, morality and political ethics will come into being.

Julia Jones

Former state auditor of Arkansas and author of forthcoming book, White Boys' Club

*

It is interesting to note the increased attacks on Iraq coalition forces as tracking the increased rhetoric of Sen. Kerry and his verbal attacks on George W. Bush in regard to policy in Iraq. You would think a decorated veteran and U.S. senator would have an awareness of the sensitivity of this issue.

Kerry's indiscreet rambling provides much political fodder to the enemy and shows him to be a mercenary in his drive to win the presidency at any cost. In this regard, the actions of "Fallujah John" are identical to the actions of "Hanoi Jane" Fonda in pandering to the enemy and undermining the safety of U.S. service personnel.

James A. Ruggieri

Fairfax Station, Va.

Decision to Go to War in Iraq Was Backed by Common Sense

President George W. Bush's ankle-biters, from aspiring presidential rivals to writers of letters to the editor, are ubiquitously criticizing the war in Iraq and its necessity. But the testimony of CIA Director George Tenet on Feb. 5 [Washington diary, March 2-15] destroyed any argument critics might have had. As Tenet pointed out, President Bush proceeded prudently based on the best intelligence available.

The whole world knew Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and was capable of using them. Indeed, he did against the Kurds. It's also without argument that Saddam defied U.N. instructions to permit unrestricted inspections and to prove he had destroyed WMD. Granted, so far we've been unable to locate WMD, but it's easy to conceal a few ounces of anthrax in a country the size of California, or bury weapons or ship them out of the country.