I won't blame anyone for taking the opportunities they have in life, nor think less of them in any way for doing impersonation, covers, tributes etc. I didn't take this thread to be about lifechances, though.

Im just saying they won't get my money to do it with, and after all my opinion was what I was asked for in this thread.

I think we have enough of this, and that it is taking up too much space and resources in the markets for talent development and entertainment. Keep the best, Heidi you are probably a good one - and I do LOVE Cher, but to me it looks like the markets are flooded with this!

For me, it is a problem when copycat acts is all Im offered, when I want to lay my money down and have a good night out. I don't like to waste my time by scrolling down page after page at my music supplyer with reissue after reissue. I find it difficult when it is hard to find equal minded musicians and singers for orgiginal music in my local area, because they are too preoccupied with the next idol competition or rehearsal for their tribute band. I don't feel comfortable with people who train their music tastes by listening to radiostations who are playing the same 20-30 songs released between 1990-2005 over and over. I just don't.

But hey, why would songwriters even care about this. Covers and tribute bands are good business, right?

So, it might be so that I subscribe to this position because I suck at doing covers, fail to have a good taste, no talent myself, no understanding for artists survival strategies, no understanding of what drives a commercial market.

Even if all of this were true (the judgement of this is out of my hands), I will not support 'the tribute band' paradigm.

I rest my case love