Announcing The First RFT Music Party

• Shocker. Haters gonna hate. Always.

• The line is already blurred for most people anyway. Most local bands that don't get the press they want, the bookings they want, or the attention they feel they deserve will cry foul and blame local press for only promoting their friends, whether it's true or not. So the RFT really has nothing to lose here, and for the writers it's damned if you do, damned if you don't. And frankly, who gives a shit if local bands get critical accolades or don't? It's not going to make them into anything more (or less) than they are. If a local band doesn't have the ability to draw a crowd or sell records, positive attention from the RFT is not going to magically bestow it on them, or take it away.

• We are already a presence at many music events around town, including LouFest and, of course, our own showcase. Inasmuch as we do call local bands "meh" (much more often we just say nothing) that has never stopped us, and it won't going forward. I hate to continue reiterating a point, but we will always care much more about the big picture of St. Louis music than any particular band, and that requires not giving free passes to mediocre music, even if it comes from people we think have made superior music in the past. I appreciate the conversation here -- I'm eager to explain our thinking and remain transparent about our process. 

• I think the point OP is trying to make here is that once the RFT starts promoting/sponsoring local shows, the readership can't really know whether a positive review of one of these bands down the road is truly a critical accolade, or merely a "support local music, damn the mediocrity" puff piece.  Not saying that would happen, just saying that once the line is blurred, there's no way for us to know...  You might lose the teeth needed to call a mediocre local band "meh".

• Seems like creating a fake organization would be disingenuous. We are obviously biased toward St. Louis music in general, but we don't have a particular agenda beyond that. We will always be happy to hear your suggestions -- if you know of a band or venue you think is worth spotlighting, we'd be happy to head in that direction next time!  And it's worth noting that we have no financial stake in these things.

• The debate about the integrity of music "journalism" or music writing aside, I think getting this involved with the local music community will essentially destroy the facade of unbiased journalism put on by the rft music staff.  I know you're fans - we're all fans - but at least create a fake organization and do this kind of cheerleading on the sly.

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