We're trying out a new audio overview of our long-form essays this week in THE BEE using Google's "Deep Dive" podcast.
What do you think?
The Bee" examines the detrimental effects of music industry insiderism and current funding rules on local music scenes, particularly in Halifax. It argues that a supportive music scene organically fosters creativity and success through community and shared spaces, contrasting this with a top-down industry model that favors bureaucracy and connections over artistic merit.
The current system, exemplified by the recent turmoil within the East Coast Music Association, promotes competition for limited resources rather than genuine collaboration and ultimately harms the broader music community. The piece calls for radical reforms, advocating for audience-driven support and investment in infrastructure to empower artists and build stronger local scenes.
A supportive scene is an organic community where musicians, fans, and venues fuel creativity through collaboration, shared spaces, and direct audience connection. Success comes from talent, hustle, and mutual support.
Music industry insiderism is a gatekept system where success depends on navigating bureaucracy, schmoozing the right people, and securing institutional validation through grants, showcases, and industry politics—often favoring connections over creativity.
In short: Scenes grow music from the ground up. Industry insiderism picks winners from the top down.
ORIGINAL POST:
Grants, Gatekeepers, and Games: How Industry Insiderism and Funding Rules Are Killing Music Scenes
A supportive scene is an organic community where musicians, fans, and venues fuel creativity through collaboration, shared spaces, and direct audience connection. Success comes from talent, hustle, and mutual support.
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