And the winner for “Best Metal Performance” is…

Dissident Aggressor

Judas Priest

Track from: A Touch Of Evil - Live

[Epic]

But you wouldn’t have seen that award on the telecast last night. Nor would you have known that Judas Priest were competing against Megadeth, Ministry, Lamb of God, or Slayer. Surely a respectable crop of artists, but hardly one that screams the year 2010–or 2009 which is what this show is based on.

On the hard rock side AC/DC edged out veterans Metallica, Alice in Chains, Linkin Park, and Canada’s own Nickelback.

Poor categorizations aside, it was a dismal night for music. It was much less an awards show than a 3.5 hour concert featuring today’s heavy mainstream hitters. Thankfully Tivo saves the day by cutting out commercials and lip synching ordeals.

I do have to believe that we’ve reached the end of the road. We look for decade and century markers to signify new eras and times of hope. At this stage, we can only hope that the teen years of the 2000’s yield just that; a turbulent and experimental period in which art converges with the technological marvels of today. When distribution is free and accessible magic can certainly happen.

“To say the Grammys are a reflection of music today is akin to saying what airs on NBC defines America. It doesn’t. People have more passion for niche channels like Discovery than those trying to appeal to everybody networks.” - Bob Lefsetz

True enough that niche is the future. I hope though that niche doesn’t imply an over-abundance of choice as consumers are typically creatures of habit and influence on one another. Let’s settle on somewhere in between mainstream and the underground.

Filed under: Rants, The Future, Music Industry

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Taylor Swift wouldn’t win my vote for any award per se, but what Kanye West did last night at the MTV VMA’s happens to be one of the sickest things I’ve seen on the tube in ages. You’re likely to find more class from The Real World Cancun than from Your Man Kanye ripping the mic out of a young Swift’s hands.

But this is what it’s come to folks. Artists have become freak shows and celebrity divas and there’s no turning back. Give it up to Kanye for setting the global news wires ablaze, but don’t expect his Roc-A-Fella/Island Def Jam to drop him anytime soon. PR stunt be damned–Kanye went on stage to give props to Beyonce–a mighty tribute weren’t it for the fact that Beyonce is hitched to Roc-A-Fella’s own Jay-Z.

PR stunt or not? You decide. Either way, it wasn’t classy. Then again, do we really expect much anymore from the VMA’s?

Filed under: Rants, Television

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Robert Pattinson might be best known for his role in Twilight. From what I gather it’s a movie about vampires.

But it’s Late Night host Jimmy Fallon that makes the man shine in his ongoing skits called Robert Is Bothered. In the latest one, Robert is bothered by Snickers magazine ads. Pretty damn hilarious.

Jimmy’s always been known for being progressive online. He started doing webisodes before hitting the late night time slot at the National Broadcasting Corporation. And he’s on Twitter, for example. So when he mentioned that other clips were available for viewing at RobertIsBothered.com, I opted in to check it out.

But as usual, it’s only available to users in the USA. No problem. What irks me is though is that NBC is running geo-targeted advertising to users in Canada. (See below: Future Shop ad)

I’ve moved on. So I can’t see the video. Big deal it happens every day. But I shouldn’t be projecting my anger onto Future Shop. Which I am.

If you’ve ever wondered why online advertising is devalued? This is one piece to the puzzle. We, as consumers, agree to be served advertising in exchange for content. Simple terms, one would think.

Filed under: Rants, Television, Video, Television Ads

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