17 October, 2005

Is this news?

The Guardian has finally noticed that the internet is a viable medium in which bands can promote themselves and build a substantial fanbase without having to begin via the conventional route of record companies, singles, press adverts, etc.
Amongst other examples, they cite the Arctic Monkeys, a Sheffield band which sold-out the London Astoria last week.  Those fans sang along fluently to a single which has yet to be released, because some 140+ live recordings featuring that song are already in circulation amongst fans, with the band's permission.

It's great that this sort of thing receives mass-market coverage at all, but it's hardly a brand new development, and it's not just sour grapes to complain that the jounalist didn't mention Marillion's pioneering role in internet-led self-marketing.