‘Frontline’ looks at music industry
The music industry is in deep, deep trouble. and it can’t blame it all on Internet piracy, especially now that millions of tracks are being sold legally online.
Tonight at 9 on KSPS, “Frontline” looks at music biz woes in “The Way the Music Died,” an hourlong examination of how piracy, structural changes in the industry, the consolidation of radio and years of lousy albums from disposable bands have all combined to put the once-powerful record companies deep in the hole.
“It’s a classic example of art and commerce colliding, and nobody wins,” says Nic Harcourt, music director at Los Angeles’ KCRW-FM. “It’s just a train wreck.”
The program starts with Woodstock, when the entrenched music business realized there was gold in them there longhairs. It ends in the present day with layoffs, massive losses and industry consolidation.
And most importantly — or so we’d like to think — it looks at what consolidation has done to the artists.
On camera and in the crosshairs: Woodstock vet David Crosby; songwriter/producer Mark Hudson, a former member of the Hudson Brothers band whose daughter, Sarah, is about to release her first single; and the new band Velvet Revolver, made up of former members of Guns N’ Roses and Stone Temple Pilots.
Can any of them make it today? And what does making it mean now, anyway?
Highlights
“Coyote Ugly” (2000), ABC at 8: A flick about a bar at which the waitresses and bartenders like to pump up the customers and their tips with a little showmanship. Piper Perabo and Maria Bello star.
“Friends,” NBC at 8: Repeat of the one in Barbados where Joey and Rachel kiss, followed by repeats of “Will & Grace,” “Scrubs” and “ER.” Everything’s super-size, so the start times are funny.
“Pepsi Smash,” WB at 8: Debut of the summer concert series/product promotion, with performances from Limp Bizkit, Counting Crows, Lenny Kravitz and Hoobastank.
“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” CBS at 9: Repeat — the one with a murder in the jury room.
“Without a Trace,” CBS at 10: Repeat. A celebrity photographer vanishes.
Family Fare
“Joan of Arcadia,” CBS at 8: After giving away $1 million to Amber and another million to Rupert, CBS is reduced to running repeats of Friday shows in the Thursday “Survivor” slot. But this is a pretty good one if you haven’t seen it. Joan gets messages from a chameleonlike God and tries to act on his instructions. Tonight he wants her to take the school bully to the dance.
Cable Cast
“Queen for a Day,” Lifetime at 8: Mo’Nique hosts an update of the 1950s game show, in which good deeds are rewarded.
NHL playoffs, ESPN at 5: Game 2 of the finals, Flames at Lightning.
“28 Days Later” (2002), HBO at 8: Danny Boyle’s update of the handful-of-survivors-vs.-hordes-of-zombies genre, given a nice germ-warfare twist. Post-apocalyptic London has never looked so beautiful.
“Celebrity Poker Showdown,” Bravo at 9: Premiere of a new game, with Mena Suvari and Travis Tritt among the players.
NBA playoffs, TNT at 6: Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers, Game 4, from Los Angeles.