Blog Assignment # 2

Elements of a Good Story/Audience Analysis

Conflict: http://gizmodo.com/352762/riaa-wants-to-cut-artist-royalties-to-9-apple-wants-them-at-4-artists-just-want-to-eat

This short editorial really displays the type of conflict that I could see within a good story. Even though the story may be lacking in proximity, its subject matter directly affects the artists making a living off of music in the Chicago area. The article states that the RIAA would like to cut artist’s royalties from 13% to 9%. Furthermore, Apple, Inc. wants to lower the royalty rate down to 4%. The potential for this story is the fact that this affects the Chicago music scene, as well as every other music scene, directly. It will be an on-going conflict for quite a while and reaches many different audiences in and out of the music industry. In the article, the writer takes a very sarcastic tone at one point while explaining the situation. “Yes, the RIAA doesn't think the record companies are making enough and that musicians are clearly making too much. I mean, they get 13% now. Like they deserve 13% for writing and creating the music that people are paying for. Hogwash! Someone had to, you know, encode it. That's worth at least 40%. And hey, these shoes don't shine themselves! So they're pushing to get that rate cut down to a shameful 9%, giving artists even less of a slice of the pie than before.” This blog is definitely intended for a reader that enjoys a little humor in the stories that they read rather than straight fact.

Impact: http://nwitimes.com/articles/2006/12/29/entertainment/entertainment/e6921c283b6aaca286257251007209bd.txt

This article directly affects musicians within the Chicagoland area and the funds they receive for developing their products. In the article, the writer explains how the Chicago Music Commission, a non-profit agency, will be conducting a study to assess how large the music industry in Chicago really is, how healthy it is running, and how it compares to other cities. This article has a lot of potential because of how many people it involves, from the industry itself to the artists within. “The study -- expected to be completed by mid- to late-January -- will quantify the economic and cultural impact of music and music-related businesses on Chicago and compare Chicago's music community to that of other major American cities.” The CMC is also dedicated to preserving the well-being of the artists in this region. “Bruce Iglauer, CMC board member and president and founder of the Chicago-based blues label Alligator Records, noted, "Chicago's music community is second to none -- we have one of the most active and varied live music scenes in the world. But while other cities such as Austin and Nashville have touted their music to the world, Chicago isn't hailed worldwide as the music capital it truly is. The findings of this study will provide a full and accurate picture of Chicago as a music city." There is a lot of potential in this story because of how wide of an audience it can attract; artists within the business, music fans, concert goers, etc.

Currency: http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/chi-1214_c_allagesdec14,1,5344309.story

Even though this story is a few months old, it still holds a lot of weight within the Chicago music scene today. The concept of more all ages shows taking place within the city’s many venues is something that is very appealing to some, but not as desirable to others. Club owners obviously want to make more money, therefore more all ages shows are a plus for them. Local and national bands would most likely see this as beneficial too. Many bands have loyal followings that are under the age of twenty-one, which means more revenue coming in and more faces in the crowd. “In the last three years, it seems the scene has gotten a lot better," said Castro. Most of the shows I want to see are all-ages. Part of the reason it's thriving is because of kids doing basement shows themselves." These shows may add life to the scene as well. However, some may see this concept as kind of annoying. If you’ve ever been to a rock show to see your favorite band, you sometimes wonder why there are so many children everywhere. Many fans end up asking themselves whether the band they love is “their band” anymore. Others get quite annoyed by the younger fans, and at more abrasive rock shows, those “old timers” can lash out a bit. One could also question whether this is a trend or not. This issue affects all concert goers.
Prominence: http://www.indierockcafe.com/2008/02/2008-music-fest-news-lollapaloozas-line.html

This blurb may be hearsay more than anything, but it provides the local music enthusiast with some excitement over this year’s possible Lollapalooza line-up. With rumors flying around that Radiohead may be headlining on one of the nights, fans are beginning to become more eager for the official announcement. This is quite relevant to the current Chicago music scene because of the fact that a good number of local artists get to play the festival. It might be interesting to see what the process behind getting a spot on the illustrious bill actually encompasses. What does it take for a local band to get on the bill? Nine Inch Nails is also rumored to headline one of the nights. Rumors about all of these wildly popular bands are making quite the rumble within the local scene. “If the lineup is anything like last year's, there will be more lolla than looza.” As the summer months get closer and closer, more information about the festival and its talent will be revealed; only adding fuel to the fire. This blurb has a lot of potential for the future. An obvious route for showcasing prominence within this subject is focusing in on the bands themselves; finding out what compelled them to do such a festival. The article can connect to a large readership because of its content.

Oddity: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-drumcircles-both-12mar12,0,6381397.story

This story is a little odd and unusual. It is not the typical news story you hear about a nursing home. Chris Lavidas is a local Chicago musician who has played in bands around the area in the past and currently runs his own drumming school out of his parents basement. On this day, he was the “drum circle facilitator” at a Vernon Hills nursing home. About two dozen elderly folks gathered in a circle and were given drumsticks. Together, the group made a collective rhythm. Even though this story is a little odd, it is also kind of heart warming, and has the potential to give the reader a smile. Many residents in the nursing home enjoyed it very much. "It's hard, but we're trying to make our minds work, our legs work, our hands work, and I think this is wonderful," said Alberta Papini, 89, who has lived at Hawthorn Lakes for three years. An exuberant Maryann Bolek, 85, found the exercise challenging for a different reason -- she couldn't stop laughing. "I love it," said Bolek, a resident since May. "I'm glad to see the place get a little bit of pep." This is a lighter story that would work well in between others stories within my chosen subject matter, because it involves elements from the Chicago music scene. This article is also something that an older reader would be more inclined to read, but not limited to an older readership.

Proximity: http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/music/chicagomusic/835071,newside031108.article

This article places a focus on the current competition in the Chicago music scene. The music festival, Lollapalooza, that takes place in Chicago every summer, apparently steals a little bit of business from Chicago’s music clubs. Bands who sign on to play at the festival are prohibited from playing anywhere within a certain radius of Chicago before the festival takes place. This means club owners lose some business for a third of the year. Joe Shanahan, owner of the Metro, states, “It’s a very different summer now for all of us. I look at those Lolla bills, and I know they’re paying so many of those bands really well. It may not be the career moves that all of them should be making, but I’m not their manager or their agent. I’ll still be standing in the fall, and they’ll come back to work for us then or in the winter. But the shift has definitely been to the other seasons because of this.” This story is all about proximity, and it affects many people both inside and outside of the music scene. Many potential stories can come out of this issue. This is something that all Chicagoans can connect to in some sort of way.


Timeliness: http://chicago.metromix.com/bars-and-clubs/article/clearing-air-on-new/278982/content

This article is perfect for the time being. Large amounts of people have been affected by the decision to band smoking throughout Illinois. Smokers are being inconvenienced and many are choosing to stay home rather than go out. However, at concerts, there is no smoke to cover up the stench of hundreds of sweaty concert goers.
”According to Empty Bottle owner Bruce Finkelman, "I have friends who are hard-core smokers and hard-core music people who have basically told me, 'You will see me for 45 minutes, and then I will leave.' People have told me that they'll just spend more time at home." This is a hot button issue within the concert going scene, and the bar and club scene as well. “Will the air quality be noticeably better? Probably, and your hair and clothing will no longer smell like smoke when you emerge from a show. But there's something else. "I've been to a lot of shows in cities that ban smoking," smoker Tim Edwards says, "and the stale cigarette smell is not great, but it's not much worse -- or in some cases better -- than what a thousand sweaty people sweating out alcohol smells like.” This article reflects timeliness extremely well and has great deal of potential for future articles. The writing style caters to a younger crowd, but the issue is geared towards many. It not only affects the concert going audience,but smokers and non-smokers as well.






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