JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Mentor Questions Forum Our Stage - New JPF Community Partner (Feedback!)

Actually we discussed the genre classification problems with them prior to going live with the community partnership. They are aware of it. This is the EXACT reason we do not allow artists to choose what genres they want their music in in our awards. Musicians are HORRIBLE as a group in determining or even understanding what genres of music they make.

This site is still new. They have been going through a lot of growth very quickly and I think they are contemplating how to improve things, without exerting undue influence on the process (i.e. keeping it democratic). I've always felt that all the digital sites fall short when music isn't classified properly. I get a lot of flack for that from people who say they want to do away with all "genre" classifications.. that's stupid to be blunt. Genres are aids to help people find music they are in the mood for and want to hear. We need to make it easy and pleasant for people to enjoy our music, especially when they don't know who we are to start with. Why make it a random and very unpleasant experience to people forcing them to hear music they may even hate, let alone don't want to hear. Anyone who things genres are a bad thing have a fundamental flaw in their entire understanding of how people consume music. When you have unlimited choice in music you need some help to find what you're in the mood for or what you like, and even more than that, you need help AVOIDING that which you don't like. If you hate rap, why should you ever be forced to hear it? If you hate country, why cram it down someone's throat?

I think we can actually help them over the course of time with the subject of genres. They have a lot of improving to make but the way I see it is that part of our partnership is to offer contructive feedback and suggestions for solutions to our partners. I do that often with our other partners and vice versa. It should be a two way street and when we partner with folks, I want to help them succeed because that only helps us in return in the short and long run. Let's work with them to improve on what they need help and enjoy what they're doing right. I agree, they have too few actual World Music songs in the system to overcome all the miscategorized stuff. Perhaps artists felt they could sneak in a win due to lack of competition, even though it's in the wrong category.. we all KNOW that musicians are capable and willing to do anything for attention and perceived success. I'll definitely ask them to check out these comments and I feel confident that they'll find a way to improve this one flawed area in their system.

Brian