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We live in two Americas (musically)

Published Thursday, September 23, 2004 by seanlmccarthy | E-mail this post

In one America, we listen to new, emerging artists and great musicians who remain underappreciated by commercial radio. These musical acts are embodied by The Shortlist of Music. The 10 finalists for the 2004 Shortlist prize were announced this week:
Air, Dizzee Rascal, Franz Ferdinand, Ghostface Killah, The Killers, Loretta Lynn, Nellie McKay, The Streets, TV On the Radio, Wilco

In the other America, we listen to The American Music Awards. Finalists in the pop/rock category announced earlier this month:
(favorite male) Josh Groban, Lenny Kravitz, Michael McDonald, Usher
(favorite female) Sheryl Crow, Avril Lavigne, Jessica Simpson
(favorite band) Evanescence, Nickelback, OutKast
(favorite album) "Feels Like Home" (Norah Jones), "In This Skin" (Jessica Simpson), "Confessions" (Usher)

The rules in the Shortlist world: Selected peer musicians nominate albums that have yet to go gold (read: yet to sell 500,000 copies).
The rules in the American Music Awards world: Listen to lots of crap, then pick the musicians most likely to get people to tune into the telecast. They're not called the "favorites" for nothing. I know I didn't listen to a lot of radio this year, but Michael McDonald is up for favorite pop/rock male in 2004? Don't you mean 1984? And Nickelback? Really....Nickelback??? No wonder the AMA's forced the round pegs of OutKast into that square hole.

I prefer living in the Shortlist world. But that's just me. What world do you live in? (or for you grammarians, In what world do you live?)