Artists or Entertainers? (jazz, metal, pop, rock, favorite bands)

Automatic Slim · 01-19-2009, 06:37 PM

Should musicians be 'artists', or 'entertainers'? Here's what I mean.

Some musicians would regard themselves as 'artists'. They believe they should maintain their 'artistic integrity', 'dedicate themselves to their art', and not care what the audience thinks.

Other musicians regard themselves as primarily 'entertainers', and create music that the audience will enjoy. After all, many other products are created to please the consumer: cars, food, etc. Why should music be different?

If you will, let me illustrate this dichotomy with an example from jazz history. Louis Armstrong played great jazz. Nevertheless, he was regarded by Dizzy Gillespie as merely an entertainer, who famously called him a "plantation character". I'm sure anyone here can think of examples in rock and metal.

Whatever floats the musicians' boat, I guess. However, I do favor the more practical 'entertainers' over pretentious 'artists'.

I'm not advocating that everything be bland pop, crooners, and Top 40. After all, I count the Melvins

and Tad among my favorite bands. Still, my tastes are fairly mainstream: Metallica, Megadeth, AIC, and a lot of classic rock. I do tire of people castigating a band when it achieves mainstream status.

Peace.

01-19-2009, 06:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
Automatic Slim Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 92	Artists or Entertainers? Should musicians be 'artists', or 'entertainers'? Here's what I mean. Some musicians would regard themselves as 'artists'. They believe they should maintain their 'artistic integrity', 'dedicate themselves to their art', and not care what the audience thinks. Other musicians regard themselves as primarily 'entertainers', and create music that the audience will enjoy. After all, many other products are created to please the consumer: cars, food, etc. Why should music be different? If you will, let me illustrate this dichotomy with an example from jazz history. Louis Armstrong played great jazz. Nevertheless, he was regarded by Dizzy Gillespie as merely an entertainer, who famously called him a "plantation character". I'm sure anyone here can think of examples in rock and metal. Whatever floats the musicians' boat, I guess. However, I do favor the more practical 'entertainers' over pretentious 'artists'. I'm not advocating that everything be bland pop, crooners, and Top 40. After all, I count the Melvins and Tad among my favorite bands. Still, my tastes are fairly mainstream: Metallica, Megadeth, AIC, and a lot of classic rock. I do tire of people castigating a band when it achieves mainstream status. Peace. __________________ "I say I can't but I really mean I won't."