Editoral: Australian Idol: Why It’s Ruining the Local Music Scene

So another year has almost passed, and with that another talentless pop star has been generated by the karaoke contest “Australian Idol”. For the past five years this disgrace of a so called “talent show” has been shoving countless commercial pop star after commercial pop star down our throats and I, personally, am over it.

Does anybody even remember the names of these people a year later? No. Any normal minded person stops paying attention after the auditions (which are always hilarious). I personally believe that “Idol” is destroying the music scene in Australia. Record companies should pay more attention to local acts and artist, rather than worrying about what’s going to be popular with 14 year old girls and start finding the real talent in this country!

What about “A Death in the Family“, “Dreadnught“, “Bronson“, “Orpheus“. These guys are out there every week putting their hearts, souls and bodies in the public light and they deserve more attention than some kid who shows up to an audition then three months later has a record deal!

Some bands struggle for years, lose money touring the country, get their equipment stolen, have their girls leave them because they don’t understand the life of a musician. What hardships do these so called “idols” have to go through? Have three judges, talentless judges tell them to go home? Big deal!

You try doing what local bands do, oh trust me it’s a lot harder than you think. You go through creative droughts where you feel that everything you write is terrible. With the creative downs comes depression. I doubt you have any idea what that’s like when you walk into a air conditioned studio with pre-prepared beats and your producer hands you the lyrics, along with melody guides.

I know I am repeating myself here, but please, please pay attention to what real musicians are doing! Ignore all this over produced, specially marketed, commercially safe pop and go out to a real venue with real people and real musicians and see some authentic talent!

Go out and support your local bands, wherever in the world you are. Be it, Atlanta, Melbourne, Iraq or even Alaska (I hear Sarah Palin often watches Russian bands from her house).

Peace and Love. Rob Ryles

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