[OutVoice] OutVoice Top 20 CD chart

Thu May 26 12:26:46 CDT 2011

I am going to jump in this conversation because I think for the LGBT music community it's important and vital to make sure that 1) we have programs such as the ones Len and JD provide as well as the countless others on the web that give our community more exposure than anything else currently.  In my opinion it's just a basic form of GRATITUDE that as JD said is reflected for the work programmers put in for us to be seen and heard.  

I am THANKFULLY on play lists that I see the same people again and again responding in a positive way for the time and consideration.  I know a choice for a programmer was MADE for me to be played.  There is ALOT of GREAT LGBT talent out there cranking out amazing work, so if you show up on a play list, the very least one could do is say THANK YOU for the exposure.  If people are too damn busy being "STARS" to acknowledge that they have been played on a radio show, given time for an interview slot or have their video broadcast, then they are doing quite fine apparently and clearly don't need the exposure that so many other artists are seeking in a community they want to be a part of.  How are we gonna say that we don't have EQUALITY in an industry where we can't even seen support our own in COMMUNITY.

This is a wake up call really for us all to be cognitive of the efforts of all the people that make the effort to provide us a platform as INDIE LGBT singer/songwriting artists to be heard.  We all have different abilities, different levels of success and exposures, but if it means that there is gonna be less programming, then that means less for us as a COMMUNITY and to me that seems really sad.

In Music,
Terry Christopher

*I am not on some of the other lists so this is only going out via OutVoice.

The only thing from keeping any of us from reaching our own highest potential is us.  
Dream. Reach. Live. Do.

--- On Thu, 5/26/11, jddoyle1 <jddoyle1 at aol.com> wrote:

From: jddoyle1 <jddoyle1 at aol.com>
Subject: Re: [OutVoice] OutVoice Top 20 CD chart
To: "Len Rogers SWS" <len at stonewallsociety.com>, outvoice at outvoice.net
Cc: gayguitarists at yahoogroups.com, glbtradiohosts at yahoogroups.com, dramaqueens at yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, May 26, 2011, 1:02 PM

Len,
  I very much sympathize with your frustration, and wish I could offer a solution, or magic motivation wand to use. To a lesser degree I see the same apathy when I post my monthly playlists, here and especially on Facebook. Usually almost every artist I play on my OutRadio shows is on Facebook, and I "tag" every one, which places the link to the playlist on their own walls. You would think this would be great for them. It's more exposure and their fans and friends can see they are getting airplay.

For a three-hour show I am lucky if I get more than five artists acknowledging or thanking me. Fortunately I am not driven by "thank you's" and just want to support the artists and give them exposure. But hey, I'm human, it's nice to know if these folks care that I've done a whole lot of work for them, in that I also archive every show, with links to their websites and scans of the CD covers. There are not many of us radio folk exclusively playing GLBT artists. So, Artists, consider showing some support for those supporting you, and in the case of the Outvoice Charts, support for other artists. It IS a win-win situation.

JD Doyle
www.OutRadio.com
www.QueerMusicHeritage.com

In a message dated 05/26/11 11:10:01 Central Daylight Time, len at stonewallsociety.com writes:
    Thought I would send out a bit of information on the vote count for the top 20 CD chart for May so far. If the voter count is below 100 there will again be no top 20 CD chart. I made that determination, ( a minimum of 100 voters to make a chart. As well if any chart falls below 100 voters for three consecutive months that chart will close.), to establish a standard for the chart. Already the Top 20 CD Chart has been given an extra month. At the moment there have been under 40 voters for the Top 20 CD Chart. So not looking good for the continuation of a chart that has been online supporting GLBT musicians since 1996. I am AMAZED at the very small number of musicians, six to be exact,  who have benefited from the chart over the years, that have actually voted this month to help sustain the chart. Thanks to those six musicians. What to say to the others? Not my call that would be up to voters and other musicians. 
    As there are over 400 musicians in the SWS promotion alone I guess I need to interpret this as an artist statement that the chart is not needed? I get that artists cannot make fans vote. I get that artists are motivated to vote and request votes when they have a project on or geared to the chart. I don't get why many of you have not at least voted to support your fellow musicians and or the chart. Having spent a few months looking at charts to see if there was maybe a better area to promo I found charts are pretty much about what GLBT like rather than for GLBT artists. I actually found none, other than OutVoice that were specifically or even a larger percent geared to actual GLBT artists. So if that is ok with you artists then ok with me. Five days left in voting. From my point a view a huge disappointment in the GLBT music community. Why should fans support you if you do not support yourself? That last question would also apply to me. 
   In my last few emails with voters and SWS members who usually vote asking why where etc? I got an overwhelming response stating that voters have supported the chart with votes. If musicians want it to continue and they feel the chart is relevant then time for them to show that. If not then voters need not waste time voting. My hope is that musicians especially those which have benefited by the chart will step up and take the time. After all it costs nothing, just a few minutes of your time. I have over the years watched the GLBT music community spend way more, money and time, to efforts which ended up very negative and then go back for more. I am now just going to wait and see. I have spent enough time emailing to encourage votes and growing a voter base. 
Ball or vote in your court musicians. 
Len 
Founder 
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