[Deep Freeze] Monday, February 09, 2009 11:52:16 AM
Well put, Soy. I have to agree there. It does not amount to much as far as we, the loyal fans, are concerned. I think HB hit it on the head, though. Marketing. I had really not considered it exactly the way he stated it, but he is correct. The Grammys, as with any "awards" show, is about selling the product. While Priest are certainly legendary, it is also true that they do not have the sizeable fanbase they had in the 80's. They are not going to help the record industry sell more product like a Metallica would. Very well said, HB.
Perhaps Uno is on to something as well? Maybe Priest did not "deserve" to win. Of course, we have to go back to exactly what it is that was at stake. Recognition? Maybe. Acknowledgement from peers? Possibly. Marketing power? Certainly. Metallica continue to draw a very large crowd when they play. Priest do not. At least not here in the US, from what I have seen. The Vegas show was OK.. maybe two or three thousand fans. The venue was small I admit, but we saw them in So Cal on the AoR tour and the Irvine venue had maybe five to eight thousand at most. Point is, they do not draw like they used to. Certainly not going to fill a large arena like they did in the "old" days.
My complaint is not really about Priest missing out on the award as it is the overall representation of the industry by complete nimrods. The Pop Music world has always been this way for me. The public sucks, plain and simple. People that buy this garbage are idiots. They would not know musical talent if it was drawn out and labeled for them. But it sells and industry officials go where the money is, no doubt. You may not care for old Clive, but that man is a friggin genius as far as marketing this crap. He has the kids by the short hairs and knows how to pull.
