The AnswerBank Articles

Q 'Where there's a hit, there's a writ.' What exactly does that mean

A. This is a clever reference to the fact that as soon as a pop star has made enough money, someone somewhere is going to try and relieve him or her, or them, of some of it, and a popular method is to01:00 Mon 26th Mar 2001

My dad says that album cover art is dead. Is he right

A. He's probably harking back to the days when buying an album meant carrying home 12" of vinyl, which meant an album sleeve, and that meant a nice large space to devote to some artwork. Most of the01:00 Mon 26th Mar 2001

Q Are pop fans getting younger

A. If you check the facts, the answer is no, they are not getting younger. The thrust of the marketing machine is aimed at younger music fans, because that is increasingly where the money, and01:00 Mon 26th Mar 2001

Questions roundup

The range and diversity of questions placed here on the Music Section at The Answerbank continues to grow week by week. Grandi Tenori posed a question about recorded works by Giuseppe Campora, the01:00 Mon 19th Mar 2001

Classical music - made easy

Q. I've just started a new job, and my boss is a big classical music fan. I told him I was as well, now I'm panicking in case I get caught out, can you help A. Of course, that's what the Answerbank01:00 Mon 19th Mar 2001

Q Manufactured pop bands: What's it all about

A. The simple answer It's about making money. Its not called the music 'business' for nothing - record companies have always tried to find 'the next big thing' and sign it to a long-term contract.01:00 Mon 19th Mar 2001

Q Why haven't Nirvana released an album since In Utero

asks emberta. A. Click here for a full answer - the simple reason is the death of guitarist and songwriter Kurt Cobain. Q. So rock and pop has its fair share of untimely deaths then A. It does,01:00 Mon 12th Mar 2001

Q How easy is it to get a good disco for a wedding or a party

A. Anyone can set up as a DJ and charge money for doing so, but it doesn't mean you're always going to get value for money. In the disco game, you don't necessarily get what you pay for. Q. Sounds01:00 Mon 12th Mar 2001

Q Are there many songs that don't have the title in the lyrics

A. Loads! In fact, when you investigate, you'll be surprised just how many there are. Q. What are the most obvious ones A. The ones everyone knows are songs such as Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen and01:00 Mon 12th Mar 2001

Q What's the latest thing in music-playing technology

A. There is always a big noise made about 'new technology', but broadly speaking, the new formats fall into two categories - mini-discs, and MP3s. Q. So vinyl really is a thing of the past then A.01:00 Tue 06th Mar 2001

Questions of musical note

By Andy Hughes Another crop of curious questions to keep us on our toes here at The Answerbank, highlights include: emmalh7 who is a fan of Buffy The Vampire Slayer is curious to know where the01:00 Tue 06th Mar 2001

Q Where do pop groups and rock bands get their names

A. All kinds of places, from the simple to the obscure. Maybe something a band member saw just walking down the street. Perhaps it's something read in a book, or seen in a film, something someone01:00 Mon 05th Mar 2001

What can you tell me about music in TV commercials

By Andy Hughes Every time an advert comes on TV, there seems to be a pop song as a soundtrack, why is this Advertising is all about making people remember the product that's being advertised. If01:00 Mon 26th Feb 2001

Is heavy metal hip

By Andy Hughes Is there any truth to the rumour that Heavy Metal is back in fashion The term 'fashionable' might be stretching the definition somewhat, but if you said 'popular' you'd be right on01:00 Mon 26th Feb 2001

The greatest hits

By Andy Hughes Why do artists release 'Greatest Hits' albums Some cynics would say it's just a way of cashing in and getting people to buy material they've already got, but there is a legitimate01:00 Mon 26th Feb 2001

It's not just Napster causing musical waves

By Andy Hughes ANYONE who buys recorded music will tell you - CD's cost too much. It's been a familiar lament among music collectors for as long as recorded music has been commercially available. 01:00 Mon 19th Feb 2001

When is a band not a band

By Andy Hughes ROXY Music are re-forming for one last tour. Strictly speaking, Roxy Music never actually broke up, but the point is, will the concert-going public actually be seeing the band Roxy01:00 Mon 19th Feb 2001

You asked about Dido and her Eminem links: we fill you in

By Andy Hughes Mum121 asked: 'Which singer is sampled by Eminem on his single Stan and what was the song Eminem borrowed ' The short answer is Dido. Here is the longer explanation. Dido was born01:00 Mon 19th Feb 2001

What are those one hit wonders

By Andy Hughes What is a one hit wonder "That was me!" is a phrase that several dozen musicians can yell at their TV. sets whenever retro pop shows show their three minutes of fame. They are the01:00 Mon 19th Feb 2001

Start as you mean to go on

By Andy Hughes ANY composer will tell you the introduction is everything. Miss out on the intro and your listener is already off looking, and listening for something else. This isn't something01:00 Mon 12th Feb 2001