Journalists and the musicians

The relationship between journalists and musicians should somewhat be ordinarily symbiotic. While in most instances such is the case, in other situations it tends to be toxic.

There might be a number of factors. I have heard journalists describing one musician of holding an inconspicuous talent that does not deserve any allusion in the space of a newspaper or a mention in broadcast. On the other hand, I have also heard musicians declaring that they cannot work with journalist X because he is full of himself and looks down upon them or does not know how to write.

Close to a decade that I have been writing about music, I have had a fair share of a not so gratifying relationship. Of course I am neither meant to be pleasing anybody nor maliciously demoralise anybody who is trying to make a name in music. However in trying to state facts as they are I have managed to ruffle some feathers.

In short, efforts applied by journalists and musicians on behalf of either's consumers is supposed to be synergetic because they basically serve the same constituency.

No wonder because musicians think they need journalists more, others have tried to buy their way to fame. However for those musicians that have made a name, it has been the other way round where journalists have jostled their way in just to earn the musician's attention in order to write something about them that will raise their professional bar.

Much as one finds that musicians will try their best to befriend DJs and VJs in radio and television stations respectively, they pretty much know that even this has to be turned into an entertainment story of some kind. This is the reason they will nevertheless turn to journalists next.

The musicians love to see journalists covering their live performances. It usually is meant to increase their fan base and appeal to potential patronage as this means if they failed to show up at their show, a better review will make people feel they lost out and would not exchange another opportunity for anything in the world as they will make a date with the artist next time she is performing again.

Talking about live performances, these are sometimes places where relationship between journalists and the musicians have also been built or destroyed.

There are several players at such events whose aim is to play different roles to allow for a smooth execution of the event. There are security people, the musicians, and show organisers etc. who want to be the in charge at the show.

The security personnel are the worst savages at these shows. They also feel validated with the authority handed down to them that they do not hesitate to rough up a patron they assume is causing trouble. I have attended musical shows where journalists who had arrived with their Cameras to cover musical shows were physically assaulted by the security people just because they showed an ID instead of paying the entrance fee.

May be once or twice I have gained entrance into a musical show based on my work but most of the times I pay using my own resources. Ordinarily, the mutual take between the musicians and journalists is that they need to use the live performances as an investment. This is why the musicians set to cover musical shows are given tour of the venue by the musicians or organisers just to appreciate it for better coverage.

Journalists are forced to explain to the security persons manning the gate, that they have different interests. But they still tend to be rude and brutal most of the times. Yes there are a number of imitators masquerading as journalists but it is not so hard to wait for organisers and the musicians to help such places.

Like political rallies, when the musical concerts have ended that's when the work of the journalists begin. The organising team ought to tell these ruffians manning venue security the importance of journalists in as far as the career of musicians is concerned.