I really hope Sam Bailey helps change this ageist music industry
Barry_Clarke
Posts: 2,683 Forum Member
✭✭✭
It will be very tough to do, as people now believe if you are over 35 you are past it, don't deserve Radio Play and won't sell. It is really sad, I think you should be able to start a career at any age if your voice is good enough. Hopefully Sam gets the marketing, promotion and most importantly the songs that suit her. The Adult Contemporary Market is incredibly lucrative if tapped into correctly.
Thoughts ?
Thoughts ?
0
Comments
of course thats a joke, but id be surprised if she gets a real career.
That's not ageism, that's sexism. But you are right that image is an important part of pop culture. I didn't like the way it was assumed that Sam should be a 'Diva' because of her age and look. Adele is younger but is similar image wise. And for what it's worth, if guys like myself who like the fuller figured women would just say so, it might help a lot.
Yep, great voice but a bit clueless about how to use it. She didn't grasp the poignant, reflective nature of 'Candle in the Wind' when she performed it like a 'big' song. Not a good sign for the future. But she does a good job on 'Skyscraper'. I like her.
Different situation, these guys were successful when they were young men. This is a nostalgia trip not unlike the The Stones tour. The problem is starting out later in life...the Susan Boyle scenario.
Sometimes you have to win over a new audience but you start from a different place if you are Sabbath or Zeppelin.
Maybe it will be, well sorry you not in you teen's or 20's just go away. Will there be any effort put into marketing her.
Songwriters such as Sia and Diane Warren should be brought in to help her with her sound. The Adult Contemporary Market can be huge if the correct material is found.
But this to me is where the ageism often comes in in the music industry today. There is a place for older artists but they are categorized and sort of forced to do AC /BBC 2 slower softer ballads. Great if you enjoy that type of music and it's you. But what if it's not you? What about older artists who enjoy dance or indie/alternative rock? They are often ridiculed and told they are trying to hold onto their youth and be trendy, when in reality they are just being themselves. I don't like the stereotypes about what kind of music is appropriate for people over a certain age.
Totally agree with you! Music should be able to be listened by everyone
Tamar Braxton is a good example. Her career has only just taken off and she's 36. When she was in her 20s she released an album but it was a flop.
She came back over 10 years later with a hit reality TV show and her own spin-off and has now released a #1 album in the U.S. which has spawned a platinum radio hit single Love and War and earned her 3 Grammy nominations.
All that happened in her late-30s, so it's proof that age isn't a barrier if you have the talent.
Unfortunately, I don't think Sam has the vocals or the image to pull something like that off, but we'll see.
I've listened to her cover and from the perspective of someone who doesn't know much about her, her version sounds like a demo version or one of those fake covers that spring up for every chart hit.
I'd be amazed if she has a viable long term recording career but she may do well in theatre or cruise ship singing etc..
as i see it, (and im agreeing with you here) , sam needs identity. atm shes just won the countries biggest karaoke/talent show, she needs an image, an identity, because all she is atm is a middle aged woman who sang afew songs. i dont think she will make it big either, unless she can carve herself (or have it done for her) a niche. atm shes just ordinary.
I've got nothing against Sam personally or for that matter any if its other contestants. But the simple fact is these people are on the show in the first place because they have no talent for writing/producing their own material.
As a result of that they are therefore totally reliant on what they are given. And if that stinks or doesn't gel with people that is why they fail. Its really nothing to do with their age or how they look.
People mention Radio 1 being ageist and I would agree with that. Although their age policy can be very hypocritical and badly defined, one artist will fail to make their playlist, yet another of similar age and quality of music will be played. It doesn't make any sense at times.
To be honest in Sam's case I don't think Radio 1 listeners would be her target audience anyway.
She's a novelty act.
subo has a market, she has a ready made target audience, i cant see where sam bailey will fit in. too old to court the teen/younger market with raunchy pop (madge has just not dropped it, which is different to coming in 'old'). too young to appeal to the adult/classical/opera type of fan like subo.
you dont need a talent for writing your own material if you have the talent to use your voice to interpret a song... elvis, sinatra, etc etc etc did.
Of course she's a novelty act. She sell's music based on her appearance, her albums are just full of covers.
She's pretty much the very definition of novelty.