Elvis Costello & Hubert Sumlin as seen in the film.
One of the biggest complaints I hear from independent musicians is how they can not receive any airplay on commercial radio stations. It is common knowledge that the corporate-owned radio stations do not support local music and only play pre-programmed playlists in certain genres to satisfy a mysterious demographic, a demographic that advertisers want to reach. In other words it is all about commerce and not about the music.
Well along comes a movie that hopes to spread the word on this particular state of affairs via a grassroots network. Portland plays host to the film on February 3rd, at 1:30 pm in the Whitsell Auditorium at the Portland Art Museum as part of the Reel Music Film Festival. This award-winning film is called Before The Music Dies and all the details are here at the web site.
“Never have so few companies controlled so much of the music played on the radio and for sale at retail stores. At the same time, there are more bands and more ways to discover their music than ever. Music seems to have split in two - the homogenous corporate product that is spoonfed to consumers and the diverse independent music that finds devoted fans online and at clubs across the country.”
If you can’t make the screening, and I urge all local musicians to see it if you can, then you can always own the DVD.
