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I dont know any other way about going about this so this is all I am gonna do I was thinking we need genre forums in here. It would deffinetly help people out who are looking for specifics and to anyone new coming here would be able to get a better idea or should I say more curiousity if they could see where their interest lies. I think its a good idea what about you guys? AppleJuice

I think we cover everything pretty well. We are all in this together and genre specific forums IMO are not necessary and would probably divide. Most of us are pretty eclectic. The forums are easy to navigate and scan through.

All anyone has to do is start a new thread to anything they want addressed. New ones are started almost daily.

MAB

All anyone has to do is start a new thread to anything they want addressed. New ones are started almost daily.

MAB

Big Jim's right. The reason that we don't separate genre's is that we're all the same. You're new, so look at the number of genre's featured in the last awards.

I'm not so sure that Aaron is not pointing to a new opportunity. While I love "schmoozing" on the general boards, it would be nice to be able to zero in on specific genres and find kindred spirits. That would tend to "unclutter" some of the highly used boards a little, I think.

In his own words, our founder, Brian... long ago indicated a preponderance of folks interested in the "Country Genre" here at JPF. While that remains of significant interest to me, I also like things like Jazz, Blues, Latin and Pop... (at least what I call Pop... being a child of the WWII era.)

Regardless, thanks for "running it up the flagpole" to see who salutes, Aaron. New thoughts are welcome.

Best wishes,

Dave

The only thing were genre-forums might work would be in the mp3 section. Sometimes, when I post a link to a song, the song is gone to page 2 or 3 or the board after a few hours...

But I think the forum covers everything...

I think Aaron is onto something. I like the idea of genre-specific forums. Threads get buried so quickly around here, it would be so much easier to connect with like-minded people in genre specific forums where threads wouldn't disappear so quickly, like in the Guitar forums, Vocalist forums, etc.

One part of me likes the idea...another part of me thinks the genres listed in the JPF Awards made for a list so long the scrolling alone could give you carpal tunnel syndrome.

Keep in mind, we have everything from Adult Contemporary to Zydeco, so the hard part would be deciding what gets a forum or not...or else create about 100 forums. Kind of a logistical challenge...

Yeah, Aaron is fairly new here but he's bringing new ideas.

Genre specific sub fora would certainly work in MP3 and Lyrics.
Though it really doesn't mean a hill of beans to anyone except me, I seldom drop in on either simply because the vast majority of what is posted relates to genres I'm not particularly interested in and there's just too much to wade through in the limited amount of time I have to spend on the forum.

While I don't spend a lot of time on the mp3 or lyric boards, my opinion is that dividing the boards into different genres would be doing many of us a disservice.

As it stands, Writer 1 could post lyrics that the writer considers to be Adult Contemporary, but Writer 2 may come along and and think it would be a great Country song. They get together and work on it, and possibly a great song is created.

If the boards are segregated, then Writer 2, who may have no interest in Adult Contemporary, would likely never even look at the lyrics.

Why keep ourselves in a box?

While I do like the idea in some ways, I think Kevin is right. I think some of the cowrites we've had would not have happened. We only have so much time and scrolling through a lot of different genres might not work for most of us.

Hey eevryone how it goes?? I am loving all the talk going on here its great. but I really think I am on to something to. The cowrites part probably would be affected a tad but I really dont think much cuz most people these days around my age anyways listen to everything seriously one day they might want to hear a rock song click bang done.. not so you have to go through 20 country songs first. I already see threads from others asking where to find this info and when they wouldnt need to waste that time asking or for someone else to answer. Its not like someone cant post in more then one forum right? I have already invited many poeple here and it seems to old school sorry to say but just looking at how this works here scares them away. I know JPF is huge already but how come I dont see and dean markley adds, or shure add? I think we could really use this change it would probably bring in many more people on the net if it wsa a little more eye catching and less reading. people dont read anything they dont want to or have to so I think more hands on clicks to the places they want to go would be a lot more accessible to everyone and lot more people might come visit more/ as for the too many forums we really wouldnt need a thousand I see it as ROCK/POP/BLUES/COUNTRY-FOLK/RAP-R&B/METAL-PUNK/WORLD-EXPERIMENTAL/JAZZ/CLASSICAL/ELECTRONIC-D&B. i think that would pretty much level out what you are looking for and I already see so many forums we already scroll through that never get used anyway so I dont know what do you think?
APPLEJUICE

I do understand Aaron what you are saying and while I agree with you to a degree I also like Kevins view:

---- quote ----
'my opinion is that dividing the boards into different genres would be doing many of us a disservice.'
-----unquote ----

To sanitise the forums would mean that I would miss half the stuff I read or listen too.

If I was only interested in a specific genre then it would be cool' but sometimes when I am surfing the forums (which I think is the way to find gems) I do get a real surprise.

JPF would maybe end up like a lot of other places already out there.

I have read some of your work Aaron and left good comments and vis-versa. If the forums were sanitsed, I may never have had that pleasure and we may never had met.

I think that soundclick or similar sites are genre specific from a listening point of view.

Anyway just my 2cents worth..

God Bless Roy

This comes up every so often, Aaron, but it doesn't hurt to bring it up again. I brought it up myself years ago. I thought having genre specific forums were a good idea. Brian Whitney didn't. 5 years later, I still thought it was a good idea. Brian still didn't. 9 years later, I decided Brian was right. Now I think it's fine the way it is. I have seen so many wonderful relationships blossom, so much learning and networking - all because we got to know each other. If we had had the pigeon-holes, most of that really would not have happened.

Some of us tried to include the classification in the title but after a few times, everyone forgot. Anyway, you could add the genre in the title. In the old days if you forgot, you couldn't change the topic title, but now you can.

Aaron, Brian doesn't want ads on the page. We do have some long-time sponsors recognized in the far right columns, but that is all he will allow. He wants this site to be about networking and wants to maintain integrity. (At least that's what I think his reasoning is, LOL. I don't mean to speak for him.)

Oh, by the way, you forgot Religious/Inspirational, Urban Gospel, Children's Songs, Singer/songwriter, Instrumental, Spoken Word, Polka, R&B, LOL, the list goes on.

Anyway, thanks for bringing it up. I think it's good to discuss it with the current groups.

Hey Roy

I have rebuttled some of those POV's already I know I would hit more then one genre how about you guys? and I know I would point out stuff to other genres that I see matching but I really dont think it would give a disservice myself it would only improve it. and I know what you mean about them othersite but they are strictly one direction this is not like that at all

Oh, one more thing, I forgot to mention, Aaron, and you being new don't really know about this. It's been a while, but Brian used to do JPF Roadshows all over the US. A lot of people belong to JPF but don't hang out on the boards. At the roadshows I attended, there were all kinds of genres represented.

Hey Jean

I dont see how this would stop people from networking isnt that the point of this site?? But yeah I believe you have told Brian that before. Do you think its better to see 18'000 users probably lets be casual with it 50% are steady regular users is better then seeing 1'000'000 users with only 2% being regulars?? whats better networking?? I understand the ad's part a lil bit but cross promotions sure help how about setting up special programs that will help other users use other forums these can be done kinda like incentives and such. I haven't been to the awards but what if you had a bigger budget to use for them?? or for the winners get a better production. It only makes sense to me. I saw the sponsors Taxi I am sure it is an awseome thing to use but how many people out there just wanting to have fun pass by that and say this is not for me. CD baby, how many people write but dont have CDs to release? and Discmakers??
as for the music I did miss RELIGOUS that could go up gospel would fit in there how many people that listen to gospel listen to other genres say country maybe R&B? singer songwriter is already a forum thats all I want to say about that one lol Spoken word could still be in the creative forum. Polka would be world. and I already have R&B its really not that complicated. everything would be covered really and once again WE CAN POST IN ALL FORUMS RIGHT?? How many Rappers do you think come in here and want to put down the lyrics or beats??? What do you think the crits might think of a heavy metal song?? It doesnt relate to me.. It doesnt make much sense. Lets try changing it into a country song.. I really dont see this being thew best way to bring in new people. am I wrong??
Juice

I am OK with having some ads from reputable places.

Like I said, it took 9 years to convince me that non-specific forums were OK. Nothing anybody said convinced me, it was time and experience that did that. I wouldn't hate it if we had genre specifics, but I think it would end up fragmenting us as a group.

When the lyric board was split up into 3 separate forums, there were a lot of people who tended to hang out at specific ones and the only time they interacted was to return the favor of a comment. I wouldn't mind seeing the lyric forums going back to one forum like the MP3 is.

(Of course, there were some who posted in all of them.) At another site I used to post at, they started a Worship forum. Hardly anyone visited it except for those who wrote that kind of music. Once in a while, someone would wander into it because their favorite boards were slow and they were bored, but really it became quite stagnant. So if this ever does happen, I would rather not see a Religious music forum, even though that is my main genre.

Anyway, I don't mind change. Change can be good. Keep talking.

Lol I will Jean thank you

I would really like more people to comment in here. Hopefully some people that aren't top 100 posters and I am sure we would see a major change in opinion. I dont think anyone outside of that even reads these forums do you?

Aaron is correct, in that a lot of younger people are scared away from the boards. The average age of the regular posters here is between 40 and 50, per Brian. I would like to see new blood, fresh ideas, and a more inclusive environment. A LOT of the songs posted here are country. I would like to see more variety in the music posted here. I think it would expand the membership and give the younger members more opportunities to collab on what THEY like. For this reason, I still support the idea of genre specific forums, but I don't think we need 100 of them....I think we could maybe get them down to 10 catagories that could embrace several sub-genres.

It doesn't take long to scare off the under 40 crowd when every big success under 40 in the mainstream is getting critiqued to death here.

<--Not a "top 100" poster and I did comment.

Why on earth would it make sense to discount the opinions of those who are most active on the boards? Of course, ALL members are welcomed to comments, but please don't get your feelings hurt because someone doesn't agree with you. It happens to me all the time and I've survived.

Hey thank you Polly, Ethan and Kevin

I didnt mean it like that. Everyone already steady here would be a biased sample no?? I am pretty sure I already know that most dont like change I have read it in many posts. If I have talked to you on here I have looked at everything you have to find on the net and its pretty apparent. I wasnt saying thier comments arent excepted. but hey the first hit from someone under 200 posts agrees. what about anyone who can look outside of what is going on?? Music is so much larger then even genres. And my feelings arent hurt sorry if you get that impression the joys of computers. I like debating crying has never gotten anyone anywhere ever I am pretty sure. ;] cheers thanx Kevin thats some good advice

"I think we should break it up into 'Crap' and 'non-Crap'. Now since there is so much crap out there, we might need to have more than one 'Crap' board, maybe 'Crap I', 'Crap II' and 'Crap III'. The non-Crap board might be pretty slow moving, though. The requirement for getting into the non-Crap board? It has to sound like it was written over 40 years ago." -- Giant Jim Merilly

"Never trust anyone with over 1,000 posts" -- Erin Johnson

"Get off my lawn!" -- Josey Wales

Hahaha pretty close to what I was thinking Kevin minus that lady me

Hi Aaron

I'd like to think that if there were genre separations that more people and young people would post and more importantly Contribute feedback... In my honest opinion though - I think that it will dispurse focus..... there are other places with more divisions - but not more traffic out there in cyberspace

I think we should have Just one lyric forum and one Mp3 Forum....

maybe ADD a Listen to New releases Forum -- seems a lot of people come for that only

then perhaps a Collaboration wanted forum - to replace the other 2 lyric forums....

WHAT could Really Help with Genres -- is a post code added to distinguish genre and a legend to explain P=pop, RB = R& B, B = Blues, J= Jazz ........... etc......

then each post will speak for itself.......

maybe.... : ) jm

Hey Janice

how does it disperse focus?? how much focus do you have to use right now without getting anywhere?? I know about that traffic thing but still I have metioned above about that traffic.

I know you like it the way it is but no of these address any of the above issues there really wouldnt be any change with these new forums people would still not like having to go through all the stuff they dont want before they got to something they did. Do you think the opionions you share would entice new users? how where the excitment in this site? Most the people I know in music dont even like computers does this make it easyer to use?? I dont think so. am I crazy??

Big Jim Merrilees would be board moderator for the Crap Board, since he is the expert in what is crap! Smiles to you, Big Jim)!

I can't listen to much music anymore or play it at all now, but I do like to read opinions of others, and about what everyone is up to. Readers here might want to know more about what the College bands are up to these days, for example. Or those bands might want to just talk with each other for the most part. Free world, right? But without a forum for "College Rock", or Alternative Rock", (just for one example), they're not likely here to read any question pointed toward them asked in the General Forum, by similar or someone just curious.

We don't know what any of the bands that enter the awards are up to now, or before. There's no forum that carries their call names. They labeled themselves, as told to do in business and for the awards, (which makes sense), but then they have no such label to identify with here. It can be one big musician place, sure. It can also, like the US, like Africa, like New Jersey even, have different titles, (states, countries and regions, respectfully), and still be in it all together! Like how people travel in those areas mentioned, so could the many bands and singers and songwriters of many genres, do here, if they had a place to call their own too.

I think Aaron is one smart young dude who we should take his advice as a calling card to more young energetic people. Put him with Brian and Jean in a think-tank, and look out!

The issue is, besides Brian wishing to change or add anything, is the costs and management of added forums. It's easy to say, "Put em up"! It's another thing to pay for and manage them all.

Keep thinking Aaron! Bring back those friends that have run off. They can say anything in a respectful way as you have.

Only around a hundred readers at one time. (for the world's music who has entered the awards?). Over 51,000 members? What's stopping them ALL from just saying a few words now and then?

There could be so much more info and opinions if bands who had something specific in common could converse here, (their genre). They would, at some point or another, hear some other chatter as well. If not, they would still be more active in the together idea than they are now, right?

Respectfully, to Brian most of all, (Get Well!)

Johnny

Hi Aaron

I'm Joice not Janice...... and I am not against genre forums... I just don't see more lists to go through (IOW) changing pages for genres ANY more efficient than reading through posts -- unless you are ONLY interested in One genre.... then yes you would click to the pop page and stay there....... but then forget about , rap, new age , folk, acid rock..... it's no faster to jump genre pages in the end --- is all I am saying

: )

You know what would be cool (if the software permitted it?) A sort by genre option. Like you see when you shop online. So a person visiting the site could select what they wanted and someone who was interested in multiple genres could browse at will.
Don't know if it would be possible, but that might let us have the cake and eat it too.

Hey Joice really sorry about that really I am

Weird cuz I have everything from Tom Jones to Cannibal Corpse to Bach in my music I think I would hit more then on forum and I still want this it would rid me of all the dusty tracks for sure. It would be faster if you had a plan new what you wanted to hear who you wanted to talk to should I keep going?

hi Jean

I think your on the right track see stuff like this you are looking at solving the problem not focusing on the problem like 95% of the pop. lol

Ideas like this need to keep coming forward and I am sure the proper programing will show itself. Look at any pg for any reason on any site and tell me how interesting this pg is to someone. So much potential here for more networking for more people for more genres if we did how is that not obvious?

I like Jean's solution! Go Jean!

I know some people that could spice this right up if it was me who could do it or with the budget of some new sponsors hmm hmm

Look at the POP hating thread in songwriter forum and tell me that what new users like to see

Howdy
I understand how being able to go to a genre specific forum would be an easy thing, but I think creativity is better served when we all meet listen and interact with everyone on the human level then create together or learn more about other genres. Who would have thought some of the duos from the past like bing crosby and David bowie, Merle Haggard and Jewel just to name two. My point is any suggestion of our differences helps us miss what we have in common in this case the Muse.

Keep in mind my opinion and 4 bucks will buy you coffee at Starbucks

Paul Gaines AKA Shooter

Hiya New Guy Aaron!

I dunno if Genre-Pigeonholing IS going to increase the Likelihood of Co-labs amongst us Mostly-Lyricists here. I've had lyrics end up with Bluegrass Music...Reggae..Rock..& Pop Melodies/Vocals..that I'd intended as "Country"..quite frequently-enough..over the last decade. Mainly because there are ONLY 3 Lyrics Feedback Forums here, presently..so a good deal of "Cross-Pollination" continually occurs.

However..IF what you younger writers want is a Just-For-Younger-Writers Scenario, it'd be pretty easy to focus-in on Just ONE Lyrics Board (Say Board One?) and post & critique Heavily-Enough so it'd BE a Younger Writers Scenario.

Waal, time for my nap..it's 6AM again!'

Best Wishes,
Ol' Stan

A lot of sites allow posters to add genre tags to their songs/lyrics and then users could look at a "Tag Cloud" and pick songs from that genre. Here's an example at FAWM: http://fawm.org/songs/tags/ -- all from one list, just sorted differently.

Kevin

Same thing again
see something kinda like what Kevin pointed out would help but there is to many on the list with if you look at all of them being able to fit in the sub genres of the more mainstream title.

Yeah, just add tagging to the forums. Then people can tag that their post is about Rock, for example.

But, it depends on whether or not there is a tagging add-on for this forum package (http://www.ubbcentral.com/)

Yeah for sure we need more library. Instead have to read in the forums oh this is country this folk this one is so on and so on
we could click on a link that would get rid of whatever you are trying to find. I like all music and I think almost everyone like more then one genere so still everything would only get better. Its really the next step to the online thing I think

Interesting issue regarding genres forums. I wonder if there would be enough traffic on each?

I actually was thinking that there are too many forums. Many of the forums has very little traffic. For example

- the industry and mentor forums could be combined -

- all of the technical forums could be combined.

- the success forum could be eliminated (post to general forum)

- all non-music creative forums could be combined.

Hey Tom

I totally agree with you on your ideas about merging those forums. we do already have so many forums we dont use. all the chapter ones could be hid behind a link too it really needs to be cleaned up and needs a new look and feel to it too. Thanx Tom

AppleJuice

The non-music creative forums shouldn't be combined. You would be doing to that forum what you feel is wrong with the MP3 forum.

yeah I didnt mean all in one but you could have a header link saying CHAPTERS you scroll on to it without clicking and the list appears kinda thing (library of everything)

howdy Aaron, Gus here. I have a fresh perspective, since I've
been on the boards less than Six months. But have stayed
real busy, interacting with as many folks as I can. The variety
of folk, the diversity of their interests, all mixed together,
enhances the flavor & texture, of the experience. Just like you
and me Juice. you would have missed this fine oppurtunity, to be corrupted by an old Geezer like me. I would never have found you
off in some rock pidgeonhole. Sure it takes a little more effort .
But if you hadn't been forced to spend all your time in the
"Old Fart" general forum with me. our chances of interacting
would have decreased greatly.....I'll come back & rant more later, sheesh I'm tired already........LOL... ......gus

If you want to view less forums, you can do so at any time by clicking the up or down arrow at the top of each main forum heading. Give it a try by going to the top Gen. forums in the gray bar area and clicking the arrow from down to up it will turn off all of the Gen. forums. You can do that with any subsection including all of the chapter forums if you are not interested in them.

In general, we have learned that having a genre subsections only result in making smaller genres feel unwelcome because no one were few ever use them. However if you are convinced that you can get people to use a large number of individual genre forums, then I challenge you to find at least 10 people who say they are interested in using each one you propose. Please don't use the same 10 people as that would defeat the purpose. For example if you think we need 10 different forums, then please find 10 interested users for each who promise to utilize them throughout each week. In that case I will be happy to add them. If there are less than 10 interested users then they should make do with the more generalized forums. Feel free to list the genres you want here and then list the user names of those wanting to use them here as well and we can keep track.

Thanks,

Brian

But Brian, what if some of us want to use more than one genre specific forum? Can't we list each one we personally would be interested in?