The Oscars own the Grammys...again

It goes like this... at last month's Grammys the music industry trotted out the same "stars" they have been trotting out since 2003. The world press started to notice something many of us have known for awhile. When the music industry stopped developing artists years ago, it was inevitable that it would soon run out of "stars". In a perfectly ironic moment, the best new artist was Amy Winehouse, someone who figured out the industry before she recorded her first track. To be a "star" in this day and age, just skip the actual career part and go straight to rehab. As a matter of fact, make your first single about rehab. And in order to one up Brittney and Madonna in case they try to kiss on stage again and steal your thunder, be so messed up that you can't even get in the country. So what does the industry do? They lap it up like trained dogs and ship an armload of Grammys over the Atlantic, with not one person questioning the authenticity of this so called best new "artist". For an industry in need of rehab, Winehouse is the perfect last gasp.

So, what do the Oscars do? They give the award for song of the year to Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard for their excellent and heartfelt song "Falling Slowly" from the indie musical "Once". They also have them perform the song on the show. And oh yeah, after playing Irglova off the stage, they actually invite her back so she can give her acceptance speech. And what does she say? She says this: "The fact that we're standing here tonight, the fact that we're able to hold this, it's just proof that no matter how far off your dreams are, it's possible". Well, maybe at the Oscars, but I hope Irglova isn't hoping for a Grammy. Because neither they nor their excellent song were nominated, nor were they invited to perform. Because the music industry is still looking for "stars". Even if they have to look to a sensationalistic self proclaimed drunk as they pass by true artists who simply don't and never will have major label pedigree, whatever that means. As Hansard said in his acceptance speech "Make art. Make art." I hope the industry was listening.