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Marillion popularity
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Why aren't Marillion more popular?
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Glad I got in before the inevitable 'Because they are c*$p!' which someone is bound to post! Marillion are a victim of musical trends - they were popular at the outset because the generation of music fans at the time appreciated their literary lyrical leanings and classically influenced music. Times change, and the trernds moved on, leaving Marillion with an extensive fan base which allows them to record and tour today. Because they singularly fail to conform to the popular trends today, their chances of the massive media exposure required to hike them into the popularity stratosphere are long gone, so they have probably levelled out in the 'popularity' stakes, and porbably aren't too bothered. As working musicians, they earn they living doning what they love - and not enough of us can say that.
I would agree with LeMarchand.
Radio play is absolutely vital to a groups success.
They can go a certain distance if the music press get behind them, but radio is still very crucial.
As for Marillion, I was never a fan, but they made some good records. They had their spell in the big time, but it ends for all bands after a while. I am sure they still make good music and still have a strong following. Also, in the UK, the charts and radio are so youth biased. Older groups no matter how good they are will struggle to get the airplay on radio and tv, and the teenagers (who have the more disposable income) would rather by Blue, Busted or the latest rapper. Not what they see as some sad old g*ts who should have hung up their plectrums when their mullets went out of fashion.
Well, Marillion are presently more popular than they've been for a while - no. 7 single, more sales of the Marbles album than the previous one, which in turn sold more than the one before that, a second single coming out in July, comparatively loads of press, radio (although not much airplay per se, admittedly) and TV.
I do think mainstream media support has a lot to do with it though - with the caveat that Marillion are never going to be most people's taste - most people use radio and TV to find out about music, and Marillion aren't perceived as 'cool' (and fair enough, they're not). Marillion are lucky that they have a very hardcore fanbase, whereas many other bands, equally deserving of a bit more recognition get none.
I do think mainstream media support has a lot to do with it though - with the caveat that Marillion are never going to be most people's taste - most people use radio and TV to find out about music, and Marillion aren't perceived as 'cool' (and fair enough, they're not). Marillion are lucky that they have a very hardcore fanbase, whereas many other bands, equally deserving of a bit more recognition get none.
Moog, there may not be a 100% corellation, but it's got to be a big factor. I always find it strange how a band/artist can be played to death for one release, but other releases of the same standard are ignored. (Maybe they could only afford a big enough back-hander for the first release). I like Sarah MacLachlan, and she is reasonably popular in this country, but rarely gets much airtime (though she gets on the soundtracks of a lot of U.S. shows). I strongly suspect that if her music was played as frequently as whoever the latest pop fad is, then she would have a much bigger following. Her music probably (like Marillion's) is not bland enough for the masses to lap up, but if more people got a chance to hear it...
Anyone who thinks that Radio doesn't have an influence on musicians exposure need only look at Terry Wogan, who's show single handedly brought Eva Cassidy to the atttention of the public....she was already dead by the time he started playing her music and no one else was doing anything to plug her.....Radio 2 as a station has the most clout in the Uk right now and has been able to get deeply unfashionable people like Gordon Haskell hits.
As for Marillion what's the recent fascination?? There has been a few questions asked about them.....an average band who more than likely do deserve a better run at things than they have, as they can all play well, but they ain't cute and aren't 18 anymore so they have to stick to their existing fanbase.
My facination isn't recent - it goes back to about 1987, and there's plenty who go back longer than that!
As for 'average', I'd dispute that all the way to the grave. It's the fact that their so special to so many people that means they've kept going without mainstream support.
Specifically, though, the recent fascination is probably due to the fact that Marillion are recognised as being in the vanguard of bands who are coming up with new business models that don't rely on record companies. They now own their own music, their own recording facilities and they are the band who's innovative harnessing of the Internet is the definitive model for anyone else try to survive without the record industry. With their latest album, they finded it via the fans, in advance. They asked people to pay �30 for a double album, and from this they have used some of the money as a campaign fund to publicise the new album. They've had press ads, telly adverts, articles galore, radio sessions etc etc. EMI apparently admitted they wouldn't have spent a fraction of the amount on the band.
They've had a top ten hit, leading to more publicity, and the sales of the album are significantly up. More importantly to me, the album is astonishingly good.
As for 'average', I'd dispute that all the way to the grave. It's the fact that their so special to so many people that means they've kept going without mainstream support.
Specifically, though, the recent fascination is probably due to the fact that Marillion are recognised as being in the vanguard of bands who are coming up with new business models that don't rely on record companies. They now own their own music, their own recording facilities and they are the band who's innovative harnessing of the Internet is the definitive model for anyone else try to survive without the record industry. With their latest album, they finded it via the fans, in advance. They asked people to pay �30 for a double album, and from this they have used some of the money as a campaign fund to publicise the new album. They've had press ads, telly adverts, articles galore, radio sessions etc etc. EMI apparently admitted they wouldn't have spent a fraction of the amount on the band.
They've had a top ten hit, leading to more publicity, and the sales of the album are significantly up. More importantly to me, the album is astonishingly good.
My point was that airtime doen't necessarily dictate the size of a band/artists fan base, I don't think that Gorky Zygotic Mynci have ever had any main stream air time but they do have a large and dedicated fan base. I think radio stations reflect their listeners tastes rather than the other way around, if you started playing Gorkys on Radio 2 then I doubt that it would increase their popularity hugely but may reduce the audience for R2 slighty so maybe the answer is that Marillion are just not the public's current taste in music rather than a victim of some music industry plot.
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