I got a wonderful surprise this morning when I checked twitter and discovered that this blog finds itself in some good company on the list of five shortlisted music blogs in the running for 'Best Music Blog' at this years Irish Blog Awards!
Best Music Blog
2uibestow.blogspot.com
nialler9.com
bbc.co.uk/blogs/stuartbailie
harmlessnoise.wordpress.com
state.ie
I'm delighted that fellow DSA organiser, blogger buddie and passionate music fan Nay McArdle is also glowing from the selection of Harmless Noise in this list.
News of the shortlist arrived within hours of a twitter debate on the role of a music blog. There were some sharp comments suggesting that many blogs and websites are frankly boring, poor on content, lack integrity and most importantly lack any passion. The worst criticism made of music blogs was that many are just advertisements. Many posts are simply 'copy and pasted' press releases with an embedded song or video attached! This sounds very much like a website I know and trained monkeys could easily do a better job.
There have been a few times where the time and effort it took to write about music didn't seem to justify the rewards. A years ago when a journalist claimed Irish blogging is dead it inspired me to develop the blog further while keeping it personal.
This blog is not about business. If I encourage a reader to see a gig, like a band or buy an album then I'm delighted for the artist who benefits. This is my hobby. If I write passionately about an album or artist it means I like what I hear and endorse fully. I'm not going to write about music based on what record company have signed the artist or what business plans they are following.
Which brings me to the role of this blog. What role does this website have for Irish artists?
I'm really proud that some of the artists I have written passionately about in the past are making great progress. These include Lisa O'Neill who is touring America with David Gray. I've written many times about Henrietta Game who have gone on to support Peter Green, Kila and The Walls amongst many others. I'm eagerly awaiting their debut album out this May. It's always a pleasure reading great things about an artist like Pearse McGloughlin who's 2009 album was wonderful to discover to and review.
My hope for the blog is that the artists I have a passion for continue their progress onwards and upwards. Getting signed up to a promotions company or good record label should still be the ideal scenario. Look at the benefits Ryan Sheridan is getting from being on the MCD roster! He's playing everywhere and is being managed very successfully. This doesn't guarantee that I'm going to like his album or give it blog coverage!
If the music sounds good I'm going to write about it here!
Just like a monkey I'm going to embed a widget where you can download yourself a free copy of Pearse McGloughlin's debut album 'Busy Whisper'!
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6 comments:
Congratulations Peter, tremendously pleased to see your passion and painstaking hard work being recognised. Your blog is a valuable resource for a great variety of Irish artists and stands tall with its own identity which is no mean feat. Best of luck, but you're already a winner as I'm sure you know :)
Yeah I feel it! Identity is the word and we can be proud that our websites or mini-communities have integrity while maintaining an individual stance.
Good luck to you too but as you said it's already a nice feeling getting the endorsement!
Love the Hot Press mention.
The "blogging is dead article" is even more bizarre looking back after having forgotten it. The idea that Rick O'Shea (no offence to him) retiring his Wordpress account heralded the end of blogging was mental enough at the time but it's even worse now. Spectacular lack of foresight.
Was that really only a year ago though?
Hi Dave, yeah I was amazed when I seen the article date that states it was Jan 2010. It must have been from before then!
Great post Peter, and congrats on your nomination - you're definitely one of the hardest working bloggers out there, it's very well deserved!
this blog, for me, is exactly what blogs are for - a chance to find new and exciting music, share opinion and get your music out beyond your immediate circle. Great stuff and congrats - Gavin Mulhall
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