NEW BANDS NEW MEDIA

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“Because I don't wanna work. I don't wanna go study, I don't wanna get married, I wanna play the guitar all day long, and for people to fall in love with my voice” The Guitar by Autenticos Decadentes (Rock band). People who are involved with music most all the time try to become successful. However, it is not an easy road.  They can be really good playing their instruments and creating lyrics, but the music business is controlled by radio stations. Sometimes songs that are played on radio are there because musicians pay a price to be in the broadcast. In Colombia a lot of musicians start playing in bars waiting for an opportunity to be recognized; however; money is the most important aspect in the music business if they want to be successful. “Payola in the music industry, is the illegal practice of payment or other inducement by record companies for the broadcast of recordings on commercial radio in which the song is presented as being part of the normal day's broadcast” (Wikipedia). It is not a legal action, but it is the key to be on radio, and to become recognized. Colombian  Radio stations handle the music business by making new bands fulfil their rules like payola or giving free concerts; nevertheless, Consulado Popular (a Colombian rock band) creates a new strategy to be successful without the Radio stations.

Payola by noisey

Radio stations in Colombia handle the music business because payola is not punished by Colombia’s law (El Tiempo). In other countries like the United States, payola is illegal, and it is condemned by the government. For Colombian  musicians, the main problem is Colombia’s radio stations make payola one of requirements if they want to be in the broadcast.  Radio is one of the most powerful medium because it is accessible in almost all the country. Radio stations act as a god in the music business, deciding what people need to listen to.  A lot of bands not only need to pay a price to be on radio, also they need to play free concerts and different events planned by the radio station. Most bands see these events as an opportunity to be recognized, and to bring them closer to success. Sometimes this strategy works, but they need radio stations' help promoting their music on air.

Consulado Popular by colombia.com

Consulado Popular by revista bombea

Thankfully, these new forms of media have existed since the internet appeared, and bands like Consulado Popular has seen an opportunity to become successful without the radio station’s rules in Colombia. In 2012, Consulado Popular (a Colombia rock band) was born with a music fusion between hardcore and cumbia (Caracol). They create lyrics about daily situations (mtres). They noted the difficult situation a lot of bands go through to become successful so they started to use  new media to generate other ways to show themselves. Social media is one of the most important tools to help them. They created their own radio station online, You Tube channel, and the most important project “El Circo del Consul”. This project is a truck stage traveling all around the country to provide new bands an opportunity to show their music. Consulado Popular broke the rules in the music business with “El Circo del Consul”, a stage not controlled by a musical company (Rolling stones magazine).

El Circo del Consul by caracol

El Circo del Consul by lmoficinistas

Colombian’s musicians need to follow the radio station’s rules if they want to be successful. Payola is used by the music business to earn money, generating a space for songs on radio. It is not a legal practice, but in Colombia there does not exist laws to punish this behavior, so a lot of musicians are affected. Consulado Popular rejected these kinds of actions using many different platforms like their own radio station online, their YouTube channel, and their project “El Circo del Consul”. With “El Circo del Consul” a truck stage traveling for all the country, they are giving an opportunity to new bands to play (Rolling stones magazine). The best form to be successful is looking for new ways, and not stop with the first problem. Any problem is an opportunity.