I struck a blow for AC/DC and Metallica
Last night I went to a radio music focus group sponsored by some of Boston’s finest radio stations (hrmpf). Anyway, we were some 120 white guys aged 25 - 35 (that’s my estimate, at least), crammed into two conference rooms at a hotel in Cambridge (that’s Cambridge, Massachusetts).
This was not one of those touchy feely focus groups where people hold forth on why they like a slightly smaller purple box better than a slightly larger navy blue box. Nope, this was hard core. We listened to 600 snippets of more or less popular rock tunes, grading them as we went along. You’d be surprised at how taxing that is. I had a bleeping headache for the rest of the night and was barely able to properly enjoy my steak dinner later in the evening (I know, life is tough).
But I digress. What is improtant here is that I really stepped up to the plate and delivered big-time for quality music. There are, technically speaking, many kinds of rock, but as far as I’m concerned, there are really only two kinds: Stuff you want to listen to and stuff you want to torture Gitmo prisoners with.
Great examples of the latter is the God-awful, angst-ridden, instrument-torturing, non-sensical garbage that passes for “alternative” music these days. How I hate that crap. That CRAP.
But enough about Korn.
AC/DC and Metallica, on the other hand, were rewarded royally with the high marks they deserve. So with any luck, I’ll tip the scales of the programmers and fill the airwaves with the sweet, sweet sounds of “Sad but true” and “Highway to Hell”.
Or, more likely,I’ll be the statistical outlier who’ll serve as fodder for endless office jokes (”hey, why don’t we do like Respondent #CA46089 suggested and replace “System of a Down” with AC/DC, that should win over the 18-24 demo. Mohahaha!!!).
Fair enough. Just don’t blame me the next time you have to suffer through yet another hurt-a-thon by Staind. Staind, proudly brought to you by American Pharmaceutical Association. Staind, Now More Depressing Than Ever!
