{"id":9474,"date":"2015-03-10T16:44:00","date_gmt":"2015-03-10T16:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/?p=9474"},"modified":"2020-05-07T05:15:08","modified_gmt":"2020-05-07T04:15:08","slug":"a-new-direction-for-music","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2015\/03\/a-new-direction-for-music\/","title":{"rendered":"A New Direction for Music?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"music-sharing\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Olly Murs is about to take on a “major role” on the UK’s X Factor, and speculation is rife as to what exactly this means.\u00a0 With Dermot O’Leary hinting<\/a> that he may not return to the programme for a ninth year, could it mean Murs is about to step into the presenter’s role?\u00a0 Other suggestions are that he will be added either as a fifth judge, or a replacement<\/a> for Louis Walsh.<\/p>\n

A source told The Daily Star newspaper<\/a>,<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cSimon has been incredibly vocal that The X Factor needs to see some major changes.\u00a0 It is too early to confirm what they are yet but one thing is for certain \u2013 everybody wants Olly to be a part of the show.<\/p>\n

\u201cOlly\u2019s become a huge international star off the back of the show, he\u2019s well liked from his time presenting the Xtra Factor and is massively popular with the all-important younger fans. X Factor producers and ITV bosses are keen for him to replace Louis.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey think Olly would be a much bigger ratings hit than Louis.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Ratings for last year’s X Factor final were the among the lowest<\/a> for a final in the show’s 10 year history, with the entire series being beaten on a regular basis by such programmes as Strictly Come Dancing.\u00a0 Even before the final, Simon Cowell said,<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThe X Factor needs to grow and evolve or viewers will get bored.<\/p>\n

\u201cI already have a few ideas of changes we could do next year.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Are these low ratings a symptom of viewers’ tastes changing, or maybe a reaction the state of the music industry altogether?\u00a0 As we’ve said, X Factor has been around for ten years.\u00a0 During this time we have seen, not just in the UK, but on an international scale, commercial radio stations going from playing a variety of music to playing the same songs over and over, seemingly in a loop.\u00a0 And once those same, say 15 songs, have been heard for three months, a new set is playlisted, and so on.\u00a0 Established artists such as Robbie Williams, Madonna and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini have found that they are no longer automatically included in station playlists<\/a>.\u00a0 Williams and Madonna <\/a>have both been being branded “too old” for Radio 1, despite having massive fanbases covering all ages.<\/p>\n

Fernandez-Versini<\/a> made news recently when husband Jean-Bernard took to Instagram to put his point across:<\/p>\n

\n

“I would like an answer on how come people don’t push people who deserve it.<\/p>\n

“How come somebody as exceptional as my wife has to fight for being the best and even her own management, label and people that decide who goes on radio don’t move their a****?”<\/p>\n

“And being less lazy to promote such an amazing, singer, person and creative inspirational human being! Question of the day!”<\/p>\n

“Same goes for Capital. Marvin [Humes] is a great DJ but I am surprised I don\u2019t hear more Only Human remix when it\u2019s amazing.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He’s been scoffed at, and dismissed as being maybe a bit awkward, if a loving husband<\/a>, but might not he have a point?\u00a0 At first glance, all three, Robbie Williams, Madonna, and Cheryl might look to have it all, but so far as the music industry appears to be concerned, their time has passed – in spite of their many fans who still love and support them, and who would probably enjoy hearing them on the radio.<\/p>\n

Jedward found themselves in a position very similar to Cheryl, when their third album was neither promoted nor pushed to be heard on radio, despite the Dublin twins having a very loyal international fanbase.\u00a0 Rather than lay down and accept it as a message that their time was done, John and Edward instead parted with both label and management, and set up their own label, “Planet Jedward”, keeping management and all other areas of their music production, in-house.\u00a0 We’ve written enough on Jedward here for regular readers to know just what they’ve achieved since they went independent.<\/p>\n

More and more artists are finding themselves facing the same thing: “the powers that be” have decided for some reason that their music isn’t radio- or label-worthy.\u00a0 At the same time, more and more artists are finding new and exciting ways to keep following their passions, by producing the music that both they and their fans want.<\/p>\n

Amanda Palmer, set free<\/a> in 2010 from her contract with Roadrunner Records, launched a Kickstarter fund in April 2012, asking for $100,000 US to record and promote her new album, “Theatre is Evil”.\u00a0 Palmer consequently raised $1.2 million, becoming the first musician to raise over a million dollars with a Kickstarter.\u00a0 Amanda is now using Patreon<\/a>, a similar crowd-sourcing fund, except that rather than raising money all in one go, each completed piece of work is funded by patrons, who have pre-determined a specific amount they will contribute per piece.\u00a0 It’s exciting to see – because artists are taking control of their work, and (mostly) getting paid for what it’s worth.<\/p>\n

Last year we spoke about the effect of social media<\/a> on the modern musican, and how many are eschewing the traditional route and instead taking charge of their creative work.\u00a0 The days when boy and girl bands could be put together by managers who followed a strict formula of “what worked” and dominate the airwaves are still upon us, but their time is drawing to a close with the rise of artists who are not only talented, but also educated in what they can and are able to do on their own.\u00a0 Musicians, singer\/songwriters are no longer restricted to having to sign to a label to get their work out there.\u00a0 Social media and music sharing platforms such as soundcloud and YouTube means that artists don’t have to be played on the radio to know their music is being heard.\u00a0 Even better than that, artists can self-release CDs and sell them online or at gigs.\u00a0 It’s a grassroots way of doing things – and it works.<\/p>\n

And perhaps this is the real reason why Olly Murs is being touted as a replacement for Louis Walsh on the X Factor.\u00a0 With his reliance on a specific way of doing things, Louis isn’t speaking to the younger audience the X Factor wants to attract, who, let’s face it, don’t get their music from what they see on TV or hear on the radio anyway<\/a>.\u00a0 It seems people are listening to what music they want, made by artists who are doing it for themselves.\u00a0 It remains to be seen what part Olly plays in this year’s X Factor and what effect it has on viewing figures.\u00a0 In any case, with regard to what’s happening to music on a whole, we’re living in exciting times – we look forward to seeing what direction music takes next.<\/p>\n

*Legal<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s an exciting time to be a musician.<\/p>\n

<\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9521,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7],"tags":[803,576,804,276,12,512,520,157],"class_list":["post-9474","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music","tag-amanda-palmer","tag-cheryl-fernandez-versini","tag-daily-star","tag-louis-walsh","tag-music","tag-olly-murs","tag-radio","tag-x-factor"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/burned-cassette.png?fit=400%2C265&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5yMhl-2sO","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":42237,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2018\/11\/olly-murs-is-set-to-follow-up-his-previous-hits-with-new-album-you-know-i-know\/","url_meta":{"origin":9474,"position":0},"title":"Olly Murs Is Set To Follow Up His Previous Hits With New Album ‘You Know I Know’","author":"Lisa Hafey","date":"06\/11\/2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Olly Murs has released five albums so far, four of which have reached the number one spot, while his self titled debut, released in 2010, had to be satisfied with second place. Not too shady really! Olly's 6th album, 'You Know I Know', set for release this Friday, November 9,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Concerts"","block_context":{"text":"Concerts","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/music\/concerts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Olly Murs Listening Party 24 October - Photo Credit Lisa Hafey","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Olly4-1.jpg?fit=649%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Olly4-1.jpg?fit=649%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Olly4-1.jpg?fit=649%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49700,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2019\/05\/dance-with-me-tonight-olly-murs-wins-hearts-with-nottingham-performance\/","url_meta":{"origin":9474,"position":1},"title":"Dance With Me Tonight: Olly Murs Wins Hearts With Nottingham Performance","author":"Essentially Pop","date":"09\/05\/2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Olly Murs is currently touring the UK and Ireland, promoting his 'You Know | I Know' album. Malvika Padin caught his show on May 6, at Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena.","rel":"","context":"In "Concerts"","block_context":{"text":"Concerts","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/music\/concerts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/olly.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/olly.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/olly.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/olly.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27818,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2017\/05\/olly-murs-is-unpredictable-on-new-single-featuring-louisa-johnson\/","url_meta":{"origin":9474,"position":2},"title":"Olly Murs Is \u2018Unpredictable\u2019 On New Single Featuring Louisa Johnson","author":"Essentially Pop","date":"25\/05\/2017","format":false,"excerpt":"When Olly Murs confirmed Louisa Johnson as special guest on his forthcoming massive summer UK tour, his first thought was they should duet together. His choice of song was the sultry pop swagger of \u2018Unpredictable\u2019 so he sent this uptempo pop classic to Louisa. She loved it so much they\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Concerts"","block_context":{"text":"Concerts","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/music\/concerts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Luther-Redd-Olly-low.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Luther-Redd-Olly-low.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Luther-Redd-Olly-low.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Luther-Redd-Olly-low.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":46416,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2019\/02\/olly-murs-gives-fans-a-treat-for-st-valentines-day\/","url_meta":{"origin":9474,"position":3},"title":"Olly Murs Gives Fans A Treat For St Valentine’s Day","author":"Essentially Pop","date":"14\/02\/2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Olly Murs has played Cupid today, surprising six lucky fans who've been nominated by their friends.","rel":"","context":"In "Concerts"","block_context":{"text":"Concerts","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/music\/concerts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Olly-Murs-credit-Crowns-and-Owls-low-1.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Olly-Murs-credit-Crowns-and-Owls-low-1.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Olly-Murs-credit-Crowns-and-Owls-low-1.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Olly-Murs-credit-Crowns-and-Owls-low-1.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":47621,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2019\/03\/olly-murs-reveals-heart-wrenching-live-version-of-talking-to-yourself-acoustic-recorded-at-rak-studios\/","url_meta":{"origin":9474,"position":4},"title":"Olly Murs Reveals Heart-Wrenching Live Version of \u2018Talking To Yourself (Acoustic)’ Recorded At Rak Studios","author":"Lisa Hafey","date":"05\/03\/2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Olly Murs has released a beautiful yet heart-wrenching live version of his song, 'Talking To Yourself (Acoustic)' which was recorded at the legendary Rak Studios.","rel":"","context":"In "Concerts"","block_context":{"text":"Concerts","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/music\/concerts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Olly-Murs-credit-Crowns-and-Owls-low-1.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Olly-Murs-credit-Crowns-and-Owls-low-1.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Olly-Murs-credit-Crowns-and-Owls-low-1.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Olly-Murs-credit-Crowns-and-Owls-low-1.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44594,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2019\/01\/olly-murs-reveals-new-video-for-single-excuses-from-latest-album-you-know-i-know-and-announces-uk-and-irish-tour-dates\/","url_meta":{"origin":9474,"position":5},"title":"Olly Murs Reveals New Video For Single ‘Excuses’ From Latest Album ‘You Know I Know’ And Announces UK And Irish Tour Dates","author":"Lisa Hafey","date":"06\/01\/2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Olly Murs' latest and sixth studio album, 'You Know I Know' saw sales of close to 50,000 copies in its first two weeks, and hit the top 3 on the UK Official Charts. Now he's released the video for possibly his most heart-wrenching single, 'Excuses'. The track is available now\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Concerts"","block_context":{"text":"Concerts","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/music\/concerts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/PROJECTIONS_Q3A5224.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/PROJECTIONS_Q3A5224.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/PROJECTIONS_Q3A5224.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/PROJECTIONS_Q3A5224.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9474","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9474"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9474\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9521"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9474"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9474"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9474"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}