I just got finished listening to the 2010 GRAMMY Nominees CD, and it was fine as far as it goes. If you like the popular music of the last year in pop, rock and country, then this album had something for you. I like catchy pop songs as much as the next guy, but I’m not the target audience for this CD.
As many of you know, I’ve been participating in the GRAMMY Community Blogger program representing the American Roots Field (folk, blues, Cajun/zydeco, Americana, Hawaiian, Native American, bluegrass), as part of a program to expand the reach of the GRAMMYs outside of pop music and help increase awareness of the GRAMMYs in the other genres in which they give out awards.
It occurs to me that one way they could reach out to fans of other areas is to put out additional compilation CDs. American Roots music strikes me as the logical first choice for expansion because these genres have loyal fan bases that are mostly older. Folk, blues and bluegrass fans actually still buy CDs. They are coming late to the download train.
Would you buy a CD that had a track from each of the following artists?
- Bob Dylan
- Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel
- Levon Helm
- Steve Earle
- Loudon Wainwright III
- Neko Case
- Lucinda Williams
- Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet
- Buckwheat Zydeco
- Steve Martin
- Rhonda Vincent
- Michael Martin Murphy
- Mick Fleetwood Blues Band
- Duke Robillard
- Mavis Staples
- Ruthie Foster
- Derek Trucks Band
- Bill Miller
- Masters of the Slack Key Guitar
- Maura O’Connell
I would want that CD even if it did not have the GRAMMY branding. A compilation like this, with GRAMMY branding, would sell a whole lot of records and create a whole lot of interest in the GRAMMY awards for people who have pretty much tuned the GRAMMYs out as an over-the-top spectacle honoring the flavors of the month in pop music. If NARAS seriously wants to drum up interest beyond pop music, then a good next step would be putting the music in the hands of the people.
