The services those gatekeepers provided: they were scouts, sure, but also agenda-setters who had impact on the discourse around music simply because they were highlighting/championing/”working” one record and implicitly de-emphasizing others, a form of curation for sure. they also marshalled the marketing/promo forces of labels to create awareness about artists. they were not indifferent! many of them were passionate crusaders!
This is the best thing I’ve read on this species altering issue.
As true now as it was then. I think the business was better with gatekeepers in place.
The services those gatekeepers provided: they were scouts, sure, but also agenda-setters who had impact on the discourse around music simply because they were highlighting/championing/”working” one record and implicitly de-emphasizing others, a form of curation for sure. they also marshalled the marketing/promo forces of labels to create awareness about artists. they were not indifferent! many of them were passionate crusaders!