Generation X-factor

Generation X-factor.

I would like to take this opportunity to defend The X-factor.


The Rage campaign has irked me considerably for the number of people harping on about the fight against The X-factor and the fight for ‘real music’. Those same people who are vitriolically moaning about the state of the charts are undoubtedly the same people who download music for free ILLEGALLY. Now this has a huge knock on effect for the music industry. I admit that the music industry, in its current form, is in its death throes. It has been painfully slow to adapt to the digital age. However, following the standard model set by the record industry is still the only way for new bands (and old ones) to generate any sort of income. Now I don’t want this to turn this into a debate about illegal downloading. However, the more people download illegally the less money generated for the main music businesses. Now people are bound to argue that this is a good thing. That these money grabbing fat cat record bosses are finally getting their comeuppance. Well no. Most of the CDs I buy are on subsidiary labels of Sony BMG (because there are only two majors left). Now if Sony BMG is generating income then it can afford to run these more ‘independent’ labels. However, if they aren’t making any money then the first to feel the pinch are these subsidiaries and the bands on their roster. Meaning that many bands will never get a chance to produce any kind of music. Now because a lot of people feel it is fine to STEAL music, Sony BMG has a cash flow problem. They need something to fill the gap. Hence the X-factor. You want music you have to have the x factor.

I suggest that a lot of people supporting this Rage against the Machine campaign take a long hard look in the mirror. They are the reason X-factor has this monopoly in the first place. The answer is simple. Stop illegally downloading. Support new music. Buy CDs/download legally, go to gigs.

The argument that it stops people going out on a Saturday is completely redundant. It’s on early enough for people to go out afterwards. It’s not as if our rock clubs are standing empty! It also reintroduces the idea of event TV. In the good ol’ days, again pre-digital, people would sit down (as a family) and watch TV. It brought families together. However, in the age of the iplayer and the internet people no longer join to watch the box. Now we have a programme that gets peoples together like the good ol’ days. The X-factor.

In addition, there is more choice than ever on prime time TV. We have moved away from having to watch the prescribed prime time TV programme. If you don’t want to watch it just…well…don’t.

The only people who hate the X-factor are music snobs. Peoples who think that everyone should love the Animal Collective and that they should be on prime time TV. These are the same people who moan if their favourite band ‘sells out’ and becomes popular. (I mean, how many people had a negative opinion about the new Muse album before they even heard a note?). These people can quite frankly sod off. These are the kind of idiots who think their opinion is worthy. These are the idiots who are killing music with their snide blog comments, not the X-factor.

If people want to listen to the X-factor let them you music Nazis. When will these people realise and accept that the X-factor is not made for people like you and me. It’s meant for people who are not regular record buyers and there are plenty of them and always have been. Mum’s, aunties, Grans and teenagers (teenagers have always bought manufactured pop) that’s who it’s for. Music is meant for all. There is plenty of room for those that don’t like the X-factor. I have never seen one second of it but I have bought loads of albums this year and fallen in love with bands such as ‘A place to bury strangers, The XX, Silversun pickups, Monsters of Folk, Phoenix, Local Natives, The duke spirit etc. The X-factor means nothing to me. It has not affected my enjoyment in any way. I listen to the same amount of music. I still buy 4 or 5 CDs a month. I have the same love for music as I have always had. I still love the bands of my youth but I’m not caught up in a wave of nostalgia for the good ol’ days. That era has gone. I accept that.

People also seem to be under the misconception that the X-factor somehow blocks the path of ‘real’ music. Rock music has always charted badly. Form Pearl Jam to The Cure. Singles from my favourite artists never get anywhere in the charts. That’s never bothered me. I still love the songs. I still listen to the albums. There has always been some other populist crap around to keep it out of the promised land of the top ten. That’s the problem with nostalgia. You always look back with rose tinted glasses.

And I completely disagree with Tom Morello. Of course you can vote against the show. Just don’t watch it.