Solo Bass to the masses?
I've had a few conversations recently where the phrase "we need to take solo bass to the masses" comes up. I'm not so sure.
First - consider that my day job is in broadcast radio. The stations I work for are commercial radio stations and by all measures (ratings / revenue) are successful. I see first hand everyday what "plays" with the masses. In other words - what succeeds.
Some of it is very good. Most of it is mediocre - and a lot simply sucks. Welcome to MASS.
Mass is that area on the taste axis where the most people meet. It is the lowest common denominator. The 1 thing the MOST number of people find least objectionable.
The individuals that make up "mass" may each have very diverse and eclectic personal tastes - but the place where they all meet = Billy Joel, or today = James Blunt.
If Solo Bass were ever to play to the "masses" someone would have to do something very commercial sounding. I'm not saying it CANT happen. It can. It probably will. But it's not something that can simply be "taken" to the masses as a generic concept called "solo bass" and expected to succeed on a mass level absent a mass appeal song or artist.
It's mass appeal will have to exist IN SPITE of the fact that it's Solo Bass. See?
But isn't this really putting the cart before the horse anyway? The drive to be MASS APPEAL is what is on display on commercial radio everyday. Hundreds of new artists every year come out with new material - all designed to play to the largest possible audience. Most of it hits and is forgotten so fast it's not even funny. It touches no one. It offends no one.
This is FAR FAR different than the artists who created stuff for personal and even selfish reasons only to find that it connected with a large audience quite unintentionally. There's a purity of expression there that's absent from almost ALL mass appeal music these days - excepting for the unintentional hits I spoke about.
I think there can be solo bass pieces - maybe even solo bass artists like that. But I don't think you can build a movement around the concept of "Solo Bass" that's independent of great artists making great music written for and played on the bass.
In today's wired and networked world - the things that have true mass appeal are finding mass audiences - even if it isn't through the traditional mass media model.
But I firmly believe you don't need mass to win anymore. I'd rather play solo bass in front of 50 people who are passionate about the music - than 5000 people who are otherwise indifferent.
Quality is better than quantity.