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Post by chichi on Feb 11, 2009 18:04:38 GMT
I'm not American either so perhaps I am missing the whole emotional attachement to the KOL/America debate but I've often heard Nathan especially explaining the reason for their lack of popularity thus far in America as a lack of airplay rather than a lack of taste!! I am basing this on memory of intervews etc but I am open to being corrected!! This is from the interview they just did with Carson Daly: Carson: If I were in your band, and now with this great 4th record so many people in the States are taking notice, etc., how do you go to the Grammies and not feel a little bit of that, "oh, NOW my hometown country's finally coming around...where were you guys in '03 & '04?"
Caleb: I think you definitely have that attitude a little bit, but you try not to show it. |
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Post by kim111 on Feb 11, 2009 18:33:37 GMT
this is an interesting thread thanks chi chi. again not being an american maybe im not getting part of what this is about but isnt the point of mainstream radio that it plays what the majority of the public want? eg the most popular stuff?
im in the same boat as chichi and ticboo where i dont have loads of time to trawl the internet for a few hidden gems, i read mags but they can be soooo biased to whatever bands give good interviews that i dont take them hugely seriously.
buying every album is too expensive so for me the radio is a good way of hearing new music. i dont have to stop the rest of my life while i listen its easy to listen whist driving here there and everywhere and cooking and cleaning ad loads and loads of other things (you get my point)
i totally agree that the record company have to shoulder alot of the blame. after i stumbled across some stuff from ash on the radio i began to hunt around for more info and found most of it on here and o'dusty i started looking for tour dates i found almost nothing of use on the official site. so i guess without uk radio (which i believe is great) i may never have found kol.
anyhoo i dunno if iv made a point or just rambled a bit but hey ho good thread!
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Fully
Innocent Smile
Does anyone know of any good ways to get out of jury duty?
Posts: 157
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Post by Fully on Feb 11, 2009 18:52:18 GMT
I have to say that American radio mostly plays watered down, safe music that appeals to the masses. They don't take risks and pretty much everything is bland. Unfortunately, if you live in the US, you have to work to find good music. I too have a life that keeps me from being an expert on every new band out there. Luckily I live in TN and when KOL released Youth and Young Manhood, I read about them in the local newspaper. I listened to their music and I've been hooked ever since. But truthfully, most people around here have no idea who Kings of Leon are and they are never played on the mainstream Nashville rock stations. You can only find them on the alternative stations whose signal doesn't reach too far out of Nashville.
I might mention too that the Nashville Tennessean and the Nashville Scene don't really promote them. Nashville hardly mentioned that they were up for a Grammy. And the Scene has a huge grudge against them.
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Post by Savanna on Feb 11, 2009 18:53:45 GMT
Chichi, you're gettin karma for this!
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Post by Eden on Feb 11, 2009 19:00:07 GMT
isnt the point of mainstream radio that it plays what the majority of the public want? eg the most popular stuff? That's what I was about to post. If the public don't want to hear it/not interested in it, then it doesn't get played. I'm not sure where I stand on "blaming it on airplay or lack of". In all honesty, I'm divided. Radio stations will only play what they know the listener wants. However...Up until MCR released The Black Parade you would never hear one of their tracks on the radio, in spite of the fact that they had a huge fan base in the UK.  But then what does that say about music in general? I mean, Lily Allen's been number 1 for the past couple weeks here in the UK and they reckon her album's going to do the same...so my faith in where music is going is rapidly waning. Y'know, I think I'm even more confused than I was before I posted this.  I also think I'm rambling and not really getting anywhere. It's definitely food for thought. Excellent thread, chichi, really gets people thinking/talking. Karma when I can.  |
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Post by kim111 on Feb 11, 2009 19:18:10 GMT
awww i like lily allen. *hides from the throwing of stuff*
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Post by handsintheair on Feb 11, 2009 19:23:45 GMT
Okay, I have to get something off my chest. I read and hear over and over again how KOL doesn't understand why they are suddenly breaking out over here in the States with SOF and not any of their earlier, better stuff. The answer isn't because Americans have awful taste in music and didn't like your earlier music....it's because WE NEVER HEARD IT!!! The fact that you recieved practically zero airplay with your earlier stuff, and the fact that you weren't on SNL, and the fact that you were never nominated for a Grammy is because YOUR RECORD COMPANY DIDN'T PROMOTE YOU PROPERLY OVER HERE IN THE STATES!!There are thousands of us fans who have loved you from the beginning and for years have never understood why your record company wasn't promoting you better over here in America and getting you airplay. I mean, take a look at your website - until recently it was crap! And don't get me started on your fan club. I remember a few years back I sent an email to your PR guy asking if you ever planned on releasing a live DVD of your concerts. His response? "Um, no. No we don't." Nice, huh? That's your PR guy? That's the guy in charge of promoting you? So please, don't blame us American fans anymore for your lack of popularity over here.....get on your record company and raise some hell!!!! Love, Chichi AMEN, my friend But something tells me the band doesn't blame the fans for being so slow to catch on ... To be fair, Chi Chi and Chairlover, i think you're both right. Yes, American commercial radio is crap (which is why i don't bother) and you're far more likely to hear good music on WXPN, KCRW, MPR, etc. But if you don't live in a college town w/ a decent radio station or have access to online radio 24/7 it's hard to know what you're missing out on. From what i can tell, it's a lot easier in the UK to discover new/good music because the playlists on most major stations (compared to America anyway) are much more diverse. At the same time i think RCA could have done a lot more to promote the band before OBTN was released. I don't pretend to know the politics behind getting airplay on commercial rock radio, but it doesn't seem like the label made much of an effort until this latest release. Booking them on SNL was huge, and it does seem like the promo effort for the album and SOF single were a lot bigger this time (e.g., SPIN cover story, RS pieces, etc). Be interesting to know what bands RCA was pushing between 2003 and 2008, cos it wasn't KOL. |
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Post by schnucams on Feb 11, 2009 19:47:17 GMT
I'm not American either so perhaps I am missing the whole emotional attachement to the KOL/America debate but I've often heard Nathan especially explaining the reason for their lack of popularity thus far in America as a lack of airplay rather than a lack of taste!! I am basing this on memory of intervews etc but I am open to being corrected!! This is from the interview they just did with Carson Daly: Carson: If I were in your band, and now with this great 4th record so many people in the States are taking notice, etc., how do you go to the Grammies and not feel a little bit of that, "oh, NOW my hometown country's finally coming around...where were you guys in '03 & '04?"
Caleb: I think you definitely have that attitude a little bit, but you try not to show it. i cant see how that dispproves my point!! |
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Post by chairlover on Feb 11, 2009 21:21:52 GMT
this is an interesting thread thanks chi chi. again not being an american maybe im not getting part of what this is about but isnt the point of mainstream radio that it plays what the majority of the public want? eg the most popular stuff? im in the same boat as chichi and ticboo where i dont have loads of time to trawl the internet for a few hidden gems, i read mags but they can be soooo biased to whatever bands give good interviews that i dont take them hugely seriously. buying every album is too expensive so for me the radio is a good way of hearing new music. i dont have to stop the rest of my life while i listen its easy to listen whist driving here there and everywhere and cooking and cleaning ad loads and loads of other things (you get my point) i totally agree that the record company have to shoulder alot of the blame. after i stumbled across some stuff from ash on the radio i began to hunt around for more info and found most of it on here and o'dusty i started looking for tour dates i found almost nothing of use on the official site. so i guess without uk radio (which i believe is great) i may never have found kol. anyhoo i dunno if iv made a point or just rambled a bit but hey ho good thread! Maybe radio does appeal to the masses...but just because a band is popular doesn't mean they're good (and imo, most of them aren't!!) and yes, I am a major music snob LOL (and proud of it) I also must agree with the point made that it is better when you happen to just stumble upon a new band that you then come to love, instead of going out and searching for a band based on what reviews are said about them.. When you stumble upon a band, you remember where you were, how you felt and best of all can make a decision for yourself about a band and their music. Karma chichi!!!  I actually rarely discover music through mags..that was just one example of one way you CAN discover music. And even if you hear about a band through a magazine, you're still making a decision for yourself if you like them or not once you give them a listen. My favorite way to discover new music is by finding out who my favorite artists like to listen to. They tend to have good taste. |
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Post by kim111 on Feb 11, 2009 22:06:43 GMT
this is an interesting thread thanks chi chi. again not being an american maybe im not getting part of what this is about but isnt the point of mainstream radio that it plays what the majority of the public want? eg the most popular stuff? im in the same boat as chichi and ticboo where i dont have loads of time to trawl the internet for a few hidden gems, i read mags but they can be soooo biased to whatever bands give good interviews that i dont take them hugely seriously. buying every album is too expensive so for me the radio is a good way of hearing new music. i dont have to stop the rest of my life while i listen its easy to listen whist driving here there and everywhere and cooking and cleaning ad loads and loads of other things (you get my point) i totally agree that the record company have to shoulder alot of the blame. after i stumbled across some stuff from ash on the radio i began to hunt around for more info and found most of it on here and o'dusty i started looking for tour dates i found almost nothing of use on the official site. so i guess without uk radio (which i believe is great) i may never have found kol. anyhoo i dunno if iv made a point or just rambled a bit but hey ho good thread! Maybe radio does appeal to the masses...but just because a band is popular doesn't mean they're good (and imo, most of them aren't!!) and yes, I am a major music snob LOL (and proud of it) I also must agree with the point made that it is better when you happen to just stumble upon a new band that you then come to love, instead of going out and searching for a band based on what reviews are said about them.. When you stumble upon a band, you remember where you were, how you felt and best of all can make a decision for yourself about a band and their music. Karma chichi!!! I actually rarely discover music through mags..that was just one example of one way you CAN discover music. And even if you hear about a band through a magazine, you're still making a decision for yourself if you like them or not once you give them a listen. My favorite way to discover new music is by finding out who my favorite artists like to listen to. They tend to have good taste. i can only counter with just because a band is popular doesnt make them bad, most of the music snobs i know dont like kol cause they have had success here. also i never said i loved everything on the radio some of it is shit. maybe handsintheair is right and uk radio is more diverse? |
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Post by down_with_sleeves on Feb 11, 2009 22:34:40 GMT
i seriously think everyone makes good points but it really does sting a bit whenever the american issue is brought up in interviews..you can tell that the guys dont quite know how to respond to it and feel uncomfortable making any concrete assumptions..because that's exactly what the problem is!
there is no straighforward answer as to why the kings werent popular over here in the states years ago. i agree that the record label should take a lot of the blame..but the radio over here is totally different. im not even aware of any public stations where i am that would play "non mainstream" music. all i know are the handful of main ones. i dont even listen to the radio anymore because it is complete crap (at least the ones i listen to are). but i also don't have time to go hunting down music and researching stuff like that. people have mentioned earlier about having children, jobs, and just other obligations that by the end of the day..the last thing people want to do is stare at a computer screen hunting for new music. i agree with arlyn and whoever else said it that music is best when it's stumbled upon.
personally, i heard about kings of leon from word of mouth. and that's the main source of info about new bands for me. especially from my friends who have the same taste in music. and i'll admit..im that token american who heard SOF and got hooked because it's a catchy song..doesn't mean i have no taste or that im any less of a fan as anyone else. it just means that it was made readily available to me..i like it..i researched more of their songs..and i fell in love with them.
maybe i could have done the whole internet and magazine research and stuff back in high school when i had time..but nowadays..im more concerned about being able to make my rent, pay my bills, finish school, and still have a social life..somewhat. we just dont have the same resources made as easily available to us like the UK (meaning radio stations that play a wide variety of music and not just what's popular at the moment).
that's my 2 cents..read it or not..but it felt good to get that off my chest!
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Post by kim111 on Feb 11, 2009 22:39:38 GMT
i think thats a really good post^^ i dont think i was aware of how bad american radio was. maybe its simply a size think we are such a tiny place that a bit of word of mouth advertising goes a long way??? or i read one repoter who thought it was because brits were more facinated by their story/childhood whereas in america its not as unusual to hear stories like theirs?? (i though it was a bit simplistic but who knows)
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Post by Savanna on Feb 11, 2009 22:42:00 GMT
. personally, i heard about kings of leon from word of mouth. and that's the main source of info about new bands for me. especially from my friends who have the same taste in music. and i'll admit..im that token american who heard SOF and got hooked because it's a catchy song..doesn't mean i have no taste or that im any less of a fan as anyone else. it just means that it was made readily available to me..i like it..i researched more of their songs..and i fell in love with them. Me too Cass. I actually think the reason they didn't grow in popularity as quickly over here is due to a few things. It's probably a combination of them not being properly promoted, a lot of Americans not having interest in something unique, and, like they've said in many interviews, America probably wasn't as interested in the whole back story exactly because this is America. Maybe it wasn't that intriguing because it wasn't that foreign of a concept. (wow Kim, how bizarre that you posted that at the same time!) But we'll probably never know...and the guys can feel however toward us, there's not much we can do about it I guess. |
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Post by brhp3b10 on Feb 11, 2009 22:48:31 GMT
Actually, it is your fault.
And it has A LOT to do with the fact that KOL sounds absolutely nothing like they did 6 years ago when they released YAYM. Also, a record companies efforts to promote a band can't change anything if the public doesn't enjoy the music. Overseas, people listen to good music. Americans (in general) listen to shite.
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Post by Savanna on Feb 11, 2009 22:50:24 GMT
^^ Aren't you an American? By saying it's "our" fault who are you referring to??
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Post by whiskers on Feb 11, 2009 23:54:49 GMT
you've totally jst made that name up guy - but you do kinda have to give people the opportunity to make that decision in the first place, most people are a product of their environment to some degree. Fully, yr post made me really sad for them. Why is this paper the scene against them? from memory, they think they've sold out or something dnt they, almost like they accuse them of using their story and Nashville to promote themselves. is that right? Chairlover, yr not gna give up yr point are you. haha. I think alot of people in the UK found themselves almost hypnotised by that story! It was a little bit like a bomb going off when they appeared over here. I find it so strange how polar opposite their success in america has been. But something tells me the band doesn't blame the fans for being so slow to catch on ... with this i whole heartedly agree |
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Post by blackcat on Feb 12, 2009 0:37:48 GMT
okay this is just my opinion, so don't take it as facts ppl...
In numerous interviews and articles I have noticed both the Kings and the media admit that their back story is what initially caught the attention of people in both the U.K and Australia. I always found this interesting, because I feel that their "image" could have been a draw back here in the states, and I remember I think it was Caleb or Jared, stating the same thing. Coming from the "Bible Belt" of america with such strong southern accents and a southern look would make it hard for them to be recognized in a non-country/conservative genre. I think it was Caleb that stated that people assumed they were republican or something to that effect. So what caught the attention of other countries, might have been what turned off the U.S inititally.
However, by their 2nd/3rd albums I blame their PR/Management to an extent. They spent A LOT of time in other countries doing press/shows while not really focusing on exposure over here...
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Post by Savanna on Feb 12, 2009 0:48:02 GMT
You made great points Jenn.
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Post by rockchick26 on Feb 12, 2009 4:35:20 GMT
This thread has really stirred something in me. I feel like there is a big gaping hole somewhere and someone needs to fill it. By that i mean,there are so many different ways to discover new music,but most people don't have the time,so they are 'forced" to listen to the radio,and it's a vicious circle. If the public doesnt have time to research good music,they'll listen to the radio,which in turn tells the industry 'this is what we like'. So,we unwillingly bring more of it upon our bleeding ears And being an American,i hear it ALL the time about how everyone hates the radio so much! But we're stuck. So it's a conundrum,and I intend to find a way to fix it I've been thinking about what I want to do for a living,for years,ever since my job started getting slow,and now that i'm laid off,i have many doors of opportunity ready to open up for me,I just have to find which door I should knock on. Sorry this is a bit of a personal post,but i wish i could give you all karma for making me think about this. I really want to do something to help the state of the music industry these days,and to bring the best music FOR EACH PERSON,to everyone. |
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Post by down_with_sleeves on Feb 12, 2009 4:47:05 GMT
yea jen you are dead on!..i dont want to say that their story isn't unique..it's just not uncommon (if that makes sense)..and brhp or whatever ur name is..that is a very bold statement ya got going on there..watch it
it's not like we heard their music..REJECTED them..and then are giving them another chance..
once again..UK and basically everywhere else BUT the states have killer radio stations..im not gunna apologize for america not catchin on earlier..we are products of our friggin environment..what do u expect?
my take on all of this..americans are FINALLY giving them the appreciation they deserve..who cares what happened in the past..just because we caught on later than the rest of the world doesn't mean we're any less of fans than everyone else..personally i feel like i have loved them for years even tho i havent..and that feeling wont ever change
i just really hope that people dont think that they are anymore of a "fan" than the americans just because we caught on later..we're all fans..we all love them..that's all that matters..the past is the past..
live in the nowwww
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