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Home > Austin Music Source > Archives > 2009 > March > 20 > Entry
SXSW panel report: Slaughtering sacred cows
The gist: The “critic” part of rock criticism will be discussed in detail. Names will be named and exalted reputations will be savaged.
The panelists: Dave Marsh (moderator), editor/publisher Rock and Rap Confidential; Ann Powers, chief pop critic, Los Angeles Times; Jason Gross, Perfect Sound Forever; Jan Uhelszki, writer Uncut, Relics; Danny Fields, writer, 16 magazine.
The lowdown: No reputations were savaged at all. Apart from maybe Jim Morrison and the White Stripes - but they’ve never been music journalists. Fields said from the outset he “didn’t want to be mean to people.” Powers and Marsh said they did, but then weren’t very mean at all.
Quotes: “The music press today has become much more a part of the music industry process.” - Dave Marsh.
“I can repeat that Jim Morrison was a (jerk) but it’s a tired concept. I’ve stopped being a fan of bands anyway, unless they’re my friends like Jonathan Richman.” - Danny Fields.
“Hating the White Stripes has strengthened my soul. I felt they were affected and embraced as being innocent. I’m not comfortable with the idea of the hipness and cliquishness of indie culture. At the age of 11 I loved my Barry Manilow cassette.” - Ann Powers.
“Music journalists won’t come close and can’t compete with blogs and bulletin boards. And if you don’t think you’re competing with them, you’re delusional. They shape opinion whether you like it or not. Bloggers have much more influence than you think.” - Jason Gross.
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