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Music snobbery has increased exponentially since the 90s. Yes, it’s always existed, but now it’s a fab to be a music snob.
But wait. Isn’t that a contradiction? Isn’t the point to stay out of the mainstream? But what if it’s mainstream to be not-mainstream?
Music snobbery is an art: it takes a discerning ear (or sometimes the lack of one), to fine tune ones taste to that which is completely outside the straight and narrow. Music snobbery is also a cult: if there are a few of you, and only a few, who like a band or artist, you’re on the right path. Once more than the myspace amount of around 10 thousand follows hit…shoot, it’s mainstream, we’ve got to move on!
It’s a challenge to leap-frog ahead. Run music snobs, run, the tweens are catching up! The media has caught on, and it just might be shown on MTV!
The question really is, why do we feel so violated when our favorite band makes it big? Don’t they need enough money to get by…? Because your favorite bands need to make money to survive in order to continue along the road to what….oh wait, fame! and fortune!
The contradictions are just mind boggling.
There are some that defy the rules somewhat; ironically, these bands largely seem to be from England. These include Muse, Coldplay, U2, and Radiohead. (Personally I would also add Motion City Soundtrack, but I might be stabbed because everyone else thinks they sold out.) They’ve got massive cult followings but people don’t necessarily stick up their nose if any of these are mentioned.