Why no Hype for the young Brothers?

[NickyBass]

Some of the guys in the OP are playing in the highest profile gigs of the day. Snoop Dog, Kanye West, Janet jackson, Mary J Blige, LL Cool J.

I cannot speak of race as it relates to the media in general, and BP mag specifically, but the good news is that these guys ARE getting noticed by the RIGHT people. There is no doubt that they deserve a ton of press, but I'm glad they are out getting gigs.

btw, I went to school with Adam Blackstone and he is one of the most genuine and respectful people that I have ever met. I knew that he would do well, and I'm so happy for his success.

 

[cowsgomoo]

it's a shame you can only be thought of as someone's 'brother' if you're the same race as them

 

[Dr_Funkdamental]

it's a shame you can only be thought of as someone's 'brother' if you're the same race as them

too easy...

I could see if it was a mag called Hockey Player

Humorous, but a very good point.

 

[Andrew Jones]

I could see if it was a mag called Hockey Player

HEY!!!!!!! Well.......... ok...


I'm a white guy who grew up in a very black neighborhood in Boston.I was "Bused" in the mid 70's into the Irish Catholic neighborhood of South Boston,where I played ice hockey.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

HEY!!!!!!! Well.......... ok...


I'm a white guy who grew up in a very black neighborhood in Boston.I was "Bused" in the mid 70's into the Irish Catholic neighborhood of South Boston,where I played ice hockey.

I feel you. I played hockey in the early 70's myself.

 

[beggar98]

Well, technically your facts aren't facts either until you state how many issues you "had lying around", and which issues they were (so your numbers can be verified by others). Just trying to help.

I did. Read my original post.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Please tell me what wasn't very bright about it?

The complaints are that there isn't forum showcasing the talents of todays young black players.

That's not what the complaint is, that's your oversimplification. There is a forum, it just seems to be missing the boat on a lot of players. If you don't see the difference, cool.

My suggestion: Create one!

Sometimes the best solution is the easiest!

And sometimes the simplest solution is just the simplest.

Of course, this is unless you think a magazine predominately featuring young black bass players won't appeal to a large enough segment of the market (IE: sell enough copies) to stay afloat.
If that is your conclusion, then I guess that answers the question as to why BassPlayer Magazine doesn't do it.

I have no doubt that you think both of these premises have merit. Instead of getting in the mainstream magazine, start a niche one. Again, I don't think that's very bright today, when there's no real reason why they can't get recognition in the mainstream mag.

As to your guess, my guess is you took no more time to scrutinize that than it took to write. Just an observation. Because a niche might not be enough to keep a niche magazine afloat, that niche shouldn't be in a mainstream magazine along with the other niches.

That just isn't very intuitive thinking. Maybe you genuinely believe what you're saying. I see the gaping holes in your logic.

 

[chicago_mike]

Hockey! We did hockey in school..I sucked. Lol! Now if youre talking kickball or dodgeball, well.......i sucked at that too!

Should bassplayer be larger in size, cover more people and charge more? I would happily pay/subscribe for more interviews and such, but I dont think that bp could really cover the cost. Hopefully, the ratio will one day not even matter.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Personally, I don't see one.

It's not like I thought you would.

I can read fawning gear reviews designed to appease the people buying ads in the Musicians Friend catalog or the manufacturers brag sheets - so I don't need that.

Nice bias. Shocking.

We're not talking about ad content but thanks for trying to shift it to that. We're talking about artist coverage. I thought that was pretty obvious.

So Anthony Jackson's columns were to appease who?

I'd say the number of people (in terms of sales dollars) who see "rehashing the most popular bassists" as compelling is orders of magnitude greater than those that don't.

You have numbers to back that up? And while you're at it, how about numbers of people who don't bother with it because of the typical artist coverage?

You know, what I find funny as hell is that you seem to know alot about a magazine that you say you've only read... well, let's use your exact words:

I don't support it.

Never spent a dime on it. Pretty sure I've never bought an issue in the entire 27 years I've been playing. May have read a grand total of two or three issues.

The only bass magazine I've ever supported is Bass World - a non-profit magazine put out by the International Society of Bassists.

So at best you know how you think things work at the magazine... but you really don't know squat about the magazine... other than what you might've gleaned from two or three issues. Did I miss something?

I wouldn't be surprised one bit if the the majority of BP dollars (not subscriptions, but actual profit) comes from people who barely if at all even play bass.

So? Think those advertisers would do so without subscriptions?

I don't find the magazine compelling, so I don't buy it... but if 10x as many people DO find those topics compelling - they've made the right decisions by not worrying about my opinion.

More numbers pulled from somewhere. 10x as many people as you is 10.

 

[dannster]

Yes! Yes! and I'd pay more! More Gear too!

Should bassplayer be larger in size, cover more people and charge more?

 

[Brad Johnson]

I think its interesting that a magazine that features 30-40% black musicians is being accused of being racially biased when blacks make up about 12-15% of the population of the U.S. Is it possible that perception is worse than reality? Jauqo estimated the ratio of white to black features in BP at 15-1. Someone else was complaining that they hadn't featured Esparanza Spaulding when in fact she had a cover in the last 12 months. I think we need to go back and look at the presumption that BP does not feature young black players and maybe back that up with some data.

What is your reality based on? Specifically?

 

[Brad Johnson]

They aren't estimated numbers. Those are the numbers from the issues I had lying around. Not estimates. Facts. Can you back up 15-1 with any facts? Of course not, because its exaggerated.

So what you have "lying around" indicates trends?


Okay.

 

[Andrew Jones]

Random thoughts.....

Since we have the mags attention in this discussion why not come up a list of suggestions and see if anything bares fruit?

I'd kind of be surprised if they didn't get the message for a young lions of gospel article.


Alot of bad ass players come from South Africa there has to be more.


How bout some of the soul/calypso players?


Afrobeat players? Who played in Fela's band?


Does anybody remember the article bass player did on Japanese Salsa bass players? There was four different guys. I think there was a "Chopper" bass (thumpin)feature as well.



Why are classical players never featured?

 

[Brad Johnson]

I did. Read my original post.

Yes he did. He picked five... out of how many years of magazines, as somehow representative of something.

There's the "proof".

 

[JAUQO III-X]

Yes he did. He picked five... out of how many years of magazines, as somehow representative of something.

There's the "proof".

 

[Brad Johnson]

Random thoughts.....

Since we have the mags attention in this discussion why not come up a list of suggestions and see if anything bares fruit?

I'd kind of be surprised if they didn't get the message for a young lions of gospel article.


Alot of bad ass players come from South Africa there has to be more.


How bout some of the soul/calypso players?







Does anybody remember the article bass player did on Japanese Salsa bass players? There was four different guys. I think there was a "Chopper" bass (thumpin)feature as well.



Why are classical players never featured?

When I did read the magazine, I always wanted to find out about things I wasn't already aware of. It's genuinely fun to get turned onto a new player, group, transciption, cd, gear, whatever. Now with the dearth of info one the web, I'd think it would be even more important to put compelling info out there. Just saying.

 

[beggar98]

Exactly the issues you have laying around.

I have over 20 years worth of issues.

So whats stopping you from pulling five that prove your point?

Lets take the current issue:
Phil Lesh on the cover
Meshell and large feature
Alex Bershadsky, George Porter Jr, Missy Raines, Jesse Ingalls and Caleb Followill small features.
Raphael Saadiq music

5 white musicians featured, 2 black, music from a black artist.

The precentages hold again.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Cool... now this subject is about this issue.

 

[beggar98]

Yes he did. He picked five... out of how many years of magazines, as somehow representative of something.

There's the "proof".

Generally when you're accusing someone of something the burden of proof falls on you. I'm just saying that of the issues of BP I have, those are how the articles are distributed. Its not necessarily exemplary of the entire history of the magazine, but I'm the only one who has even attempted to put some numbers to this. If you have facts to the contrary, please present them.

 

[beggar98]

Cool... now this subject is about this issue.

No, but I've gone through every issue I have and come up with the same thing every time. If you have something contrary I'm all ears.