Buh-Bye Old Stars, and Good Riddance

Independent music journalist Michael Kirk.

This morning I was having an interesting conversation with my friend, independent music journalist Michael Kirk. We were tossing around observations on how the conventional "star system," at least in the entertainment business, appears to be waning with the rise of the internet -- particularly with easy access to social and conversational media.

Anyway, with Michael's permission, here are some excerpts from our conversation...

Michael: It's amazing how people in the music scene can be so full of themselves.

Amy: No kidding. I'm not surprised you got frustrated with trying to cover the local Denver/Boulder music scene.

Michael: What I find ironic is that a band like Born in the Flood, which is not bad and are very popular on the Front Range and in Kansas, couldn't be bothered with me and wouldn't give me an interview. However, I have an in-person interview with a world-touring hip hop guy named P.O.S. tomorrow -- and it's 60/40 that I'll be interviewing Thomas Dolby.

Amy: Whoa! Dolby! I love his music.

Michael: Yeah, he's coming to Denver on the 4th with BT.

Amy: I know, everyone has their own egos. I think the whole focus on the star system has really screwed up the entertainment business in a lot of ways. One reason I really like about how the internet has opened up viable markets for niche performers is that I think the star system is gradually becoming a cultural relic.

The same with celebrity culture. It'll take a while, and it won't vanish entirely, but I think it's on the wane. And good riddance.

Michael: I caught an Adam Curry podcast about a week ago. He was pimping the new Podshow layout and features, and he was talking about this and said pretty much what you said.

Amy: It's an intriguing shift. Celia Hirschman of the On the Beat podcast hits that theme from time to time, too.

Michael: I'm just glad the technology is here. I wanted to do this a decade ago

Amy: Yep. It takes time for the world to catch up with you.

...So, that was our conversation.

Did we "name-drop" here? Yeah, we did. But what's interesting here is that we were discussing musicians with whom Michael is engaged (or will be engaged) in direct conversation. Notice how important their approachability is in determining their perceived "value." Also, notice how we assumed here that podcasting is part of a conversation -- unlike traditional broadcasting.

That's a big shift from the old mass-media "star system," where "value" depended on exposing performers to the widest audience possible while also setting them above the audience, out of reach. Back in the old star system, the best interview was not the most interesting one, but the one that was hardest to get. Oddly enough, it was a system based on perceived scarcity of access.

In short, I suspect that with the rise of conversational media and wide exposure for niche genres of all sorts of content and culture, more performers will enjoy success by building strong personal relationships directly with their fans and others. It'll be more about quality, authenticity, and resonance, and less about big-money marketing.

That's just my guess. But I hope I'm right, and I'm looking forward to the day when venues like People Magazine figure out that they'll end up increasing audience if they focus more on interesting people, rather than on individuals who are already considered "stars." 

These days, we're making our own stars -- and they're not unreachable.

Comments

[mike hall]

Hello Amy Gahran & Michael Kirk,

hey guys, my name is mike and I play drums for born in the flood... just read your column and wanted to sincerely apologize to Michael on behalf of the band. I talked to the other guys and we couldn't remember communication with you... (hope it didn't involve alchohol!) We honestly wouldn't knowingly do that.

I'm guessing the scatterbrained-musician-syndrome on our part was at fault. Sorry again, and we'd be honored to have an interview with you Michael.

mike hall