You do not know that I may be one of the greatest singer/songwriters. You will never get to hear my songs playing out on your radio. Between your ears and my songs there sits an impassible object - the music industry. An industry that may perhaps select music on quality, but that selection is pre-filtered by image.

When I heard the promotion of the Rolling Stones latest record, and their world tour here in New Zealand, I had a sudden moment of wonder: How many other geriatrics could expect record companies to promote their music? And of that small number, I can't think of any that haven't been famous for what seems like an eternity. I suspect that the Rolling Stones had their first hit record before I was born.

So if record companies promote and sell the latest Rolling Stones records, and if the Stones can still fill stadiums on the back of that promotion, why aren't the record companies trying to find other undiscovered wrinkly rocker talent?

As an example of the of music that could be slipping past their promotional net, look no further than K.T. Tunstal. She was “too old” to be a star. She wasn't yet 30... Then she got a lucky break to make a guest appearance on Jools Hollands TV show. Music that we could have missed, brought to us only by a strange quirk of fate.

So it would appear that the music industry only chooses to promote what image they think they can sell. I claim that any drop in music sales is simply proof that they are getting their promotional choice wrong. It has nothing to do with piracy. After all, home taping has been with us since for as long as I can remember being aware of the Rolling Stones...

9:23:44 PM