It's sad to think good artists like Paloma Faith are underperforming.
Just been reading a few of Paloma's recent tweets (and also an interview she gave a few weeks ago), she said she's more than aware that this could be her last album due to lack of airplay and just general lack of interest, which I thought was brave of her to admit.
It makes me sad to think that this particular artist (there are others but just using Paloma Faith as an example) are basically being pushed out for the generic claptrap that is only successful because of it's 'radio friendly' approach. In my personal opinion, artists like Tinie Tempah, One Direction, Pitbull etc etc are good at producing singles and stuff for radio, but that's about it.
I admit that maybe Paloma's new single 'Can't Rely On You' was a risky choice as a single from the new album but her first two albums are stunning, very artistic in approach. Mind you in all fairness she has always sold albums much better than singles but still.
I swear the music industry has gone down the pan.
It makes me sad to think that this particular artist (there are others but just using Paloma Faith as an example) are basically being pushed out for the generic claptrap that is only successful because of it's 'radio friendly' approach. In my personal opinion, artists like Tinie Tempah, One Direction, Pitbull etc etc are good at producing singles and stuff for radio, but that's about it.
I admit that maybe Paloma's new single 'Can't Rely On You' was a risky choice as a single from the new album but her first two albums are stunning, very artistic in approach. Mind you in all fairness she has always sold albums much better than singles but still.
I swear the music industry has gone down the pan.
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It was the 11th best selling album of 2012 so don't think it'll be her last album. As you say, she's a good album seller.
I'm a casual listener of Paloma and have to say I'm really torn over her new single. I like it but not enough to buy it. It's alright but it was meet stuck in my head so I'm not surprised to see it fall down the iTunes chart so soon. Will be interesting to see wherever album charts.
Her little rant about radio stations not playing her latest song sounds more of the same attitude.
What on earth makes her think this could be her last album due to lack of airlay and interest? By that comment, it suggests to me she is only releasing music so it can sell and chart well, not so she can release music she is passionate about and that her established fanbase will already like.
I'm still looking forward to the album though. I'm thinking they only went with Can't Rely On You because it was produced by Pharrell, and there's probably much better songs on the album.
I don't think it's fair to say that all she cares about is chart sales because I think every artist is the same (it just depends on how vocal they are on it).
I don't believe every artist out there. There are loads of artists who release music regardless of sales and chart positions. They do this because it's something they love and want to share with the world. Plus it's their job and their passion, and don't need to be dictated by positions and sales in order to carry it on. It's the same with quite a few Film Director's as well.
She sometimes comes accross as a little cocky/arrogant in my opinion.
However- that doesnt detract from the fact that she has talent. Talented people arent necessarily super nice.
I think the whole "this is my last album" thing is her being a drama Queen, her last 2 albums sold very well & I doubt that if her album performed less well than the previous 2 then she would be dropped. They'd probably allow for this album & the next before getting rid, unless this one bombed mega hard (wont happen).
The music "industry", when it was run by musicians for musicians, went down the pan when it became the music "business" and was then run by accountants only interested in profits.
Those at the top today only have one interest in music: How much profit will it make.
Oh wow I was there when that happened! But it wasn't actually a member of the previous band who went up to her, it was a member of the organisation team who told her to apologize for her rude comment about the previous band or get of the stage. That's why she was embarrassed I think, basically she'd been told off like a naughty school girl. And yes her performance after that was really ropey and she lost the crowd, I've been going to The Great Escape for the last 5 years and seen well over 100 acts in that time and she was definitely in the bottom 5.
As for the woman herself I'm not a fan. The first album was just about tolerable but for her second album she jumped on the adult contemporary Adele bandwagon and that made for an utterly boring set of songs. Now she's working with Pharrell for this new song/album it just feels like she sides with whatever is popular at the time. For all the quirky 'personality' her music lacks any uniqueness.
I see comments like this a lot and I wonder what labels/acts/eras you are referring to when you say it used to be all about the music. Because mainstream music has always tended to be easy listening genre, not particularly daring and calculated to win a big audience (and make large profits). The lyrics are fairly generic to maximise the audience being able to connect to them (i.e. heartbreak, falling in love, let's boogie). The Motown girl groups are clearly superior to most modern day girl groups e.g. Atomic Kitten, but there was also a lot of crap that was churned out and played on repeat on the radio. History has just forgotten about them. Things like making artists dress a certain way, hiring songwriters to write catchy songs (e.g. Burt Bacharach) and hiding anything outrageous (drugs, homosexuality) were de rigeur and very much based on ensuring profits (or just recouping costs). The formula hasn't changed very much except now album sales are down across the board. The listeners of Radio 2 actually buy albums, rather than streaming them on Spotify. But often what profits there are get funnelled into A&R and launching more exciting and risky acts. And labels have also taken risks and pushed artists they are excited about - for example, Nat King Cole had to wear heavy white make up in his first TV appearances but the label could have not taken him on at all. You'd be surprised how many contemporary artists wouldn't have had a shot at success 30 years ago (most female ones probably).
Same for movies - the profits made from World War Z enable Brad Pitt's production company to make many more 12 Years A Slaves. Air Force One funded Gary Oldman's Nil By Mouth.
In the 1950s, '60s, and '70s the major record labels were run by the musicians of the 1930s and '40s. They understood the indistry and knew it could take two or three albums to establish an artist but the long term rewards would more than cover their investment.
Today with the accountants running the indistry it is all about short-term, risk averse, success, there is no thought given to developing an act over a number of years for long term revenue generation. If an artist today, especially in genres like pop music, fail to deliver the expected returns from their latest single or album they are almost certainly dropped very quickly.
the thing is, if you are remember more for your image than your music, it's not a good sign for your music. to many she's the woman with the fruitbowl on her head and they couldn't name a single song. maybe her next record will change that
the thing is, if you are remember more for your image than your music, it's not a good sign for your music. to many she's the woman with the fruitbowl on her head and they couldn't name a single song. maybe her next record will change that[/QUOTE]
Thats what I feel like,but I thought Stone Cold Sober was a great single,and (I think) the follow up was something completely different (a torchy ballad about New York?). Now that`s years ago and not one of her singles have registered to me.and it`s only though the music press (regular monthly reader) that I know the titles of her albums.
It`s like she just thinks she`s a star and that`s it, and the music don`t matter! There`s been some posts about the music industry and how it`s changed,but surely nothing can beat an artist releasing similar-sounding singles that define her personality,and when she gets a chance to publicise them and the albums she focusses on that in her media appearances.
Marina and the Diamonds is a similar `of course I`m going to be a star,oh,now I`m a star,I don`t need to talk about the music,thank you!` performer. But they`re never as big as they think they are!
That long ago,huh?
She has an awful personality & attitude, rather off putting tbh
whatever happened to marina and the diamonds. i can't even remember the name of the "hit" track she did. it's like after florence and the machine the AR men went looking for other similar artists and those artists didn't have what made florence successful or they missed the point. just like history repeating itself
That first paragraph is so untrue it's not even funny.
this airplay comment is particularly baffling though, because she gets so much support in the media elsewhere.
A space cadet springs to mind . .
I for one won't be sad if it's the last we hear from her . .