Weird stories and lesser-known genres that don't get covered by Pitchfork.



Bandsplaining

Never let a good scandal go to waste, they say. Well, China has been in the news, so here's a fun rollercoaster of a look into China's bizarre entertainment industry. Specifically, "The Big Band," which has indie bands ranging from math rock to Mongolian metal competing for nationwide recognition. Even though this video never took off like other Bandsplaining vids, I'm quite proud of it. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll feel the positive energy: https://youtu.be/PtMegg9TTfA

1 week ago | [YT] | 54

Bandsplaining

Pumped to share an episode of our Bandsplaining podcast (which is normally only on Patreon)! In this episode we got a chance to talk with the great ‪@JJMcCullough‬ about music and culture over the decades: https://youtu.be/NQEzKmucBEU

J. J. is a cultural critic and historian who makes addictively insightful videos about American culture. He recently coined the terms The Greater 30 and The Lesser 30 to describe our two most recent eras of history. Intuitively, many millennials and zoomers feel that the era they've grown up in has been less revolutionary than that of the baby boomers. We explore whether or not this is true (especially when it comes to music) and if it should concern us.

You can find more episodes like this on our Patreon. We recently did deep dives into Krautrock, and the musical influence of Beavis & Butthead: www.patreon.com/c/bandsplaining

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 14

Bandsplaining

As you guys know, one topic we like to get into on this channel is payola in the music biz. While we haven’t covered the modern era very much, I think it’s safe to say payola is rampant. There’s pay-to-play on Spotify, Tik Tok and Reddit. Music promotion companies price their services based on how many followers/streams you’d like to purchase, and 9/10 times they’re just scamming bands with bot plays.

I’ve long wondered to myself if there’s a better way. Should we quit acting like payola isn’t part of the music industry, and just start being more transparent about it? Should Spotify outright sell playlist placements the same way Google sells search result ads? Obviously within reason – a paying user should not have U2’s new album permanently added to their library. But at least in theory, it would give independent bands an affordable, transparent way to get their music heard, as opposed to the wild west they’re currently dealing with.

On that note, what about YouTube sponsorships? What if, instead of watching a VPN ad for the umpteenth time, you heard a song from an up-and-coming band? Their music gets played in front of thousands of real people, and you get to take a break from the same dozen companies advertising on YouTube? Or would the mere fact the band paid to promote themselves ruin it for you? Does the music discovery process need to be organic – or rather, *seem,* organic?

For the record, there’s no plans for Bandsplaining to start promoting bands. 😅 This is just a topic that fascinates me, and I'm curious about the ethics of it. What do you guys think?

3 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 97

Bandsplaining

**BANDSPLAINING HAPPY HOUR**
All are invited to join a live podcast recording this Wednesday on Discord! Editor Aldo and I will talk music stories, channel updates, and play some tunes. We'll also open the floor to questions and music recs. So whether you're an avid collector of medieval library music, a Kuwaiti post-punk guitarist, or just somebody who enjoys the channel, please drop in and enjoy some quality time with fellow 'splainos.
discord.gg/pHeJKgB9?event=1348549234022158416

Video/audio recording will be in progress, but mics and cameras will be OFF by default. If you want to chime in on a topic or ask a question, please say so in the chat and we'll unmute you. Event will begin at 6pm EST time, (10pm UTC) Cheers!

1 month ago | [YT] | 43

Bandsplaining

*SURVEY* What topic(s) would you like to see covered next on Bandsplaining?? docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeOd_OnSco0wkPq86…

I'd like to try something new and gather some feedback before diving into the next topic. Follow the link above to fill out a Google survey (no login required). There's also an option to submit a custom video idea, but feel free to leave that as a comment below as well.

Thanks ya'll, super excited to hear everyone's thoughts!

1 month ago | [YT] | 32

Bandsplaining

I just want to give my deepest thanks to everyone who has watched, shared or commented on the Library Music video. We've been so grateful to see the channel go viral again, and to see that our hard work has been paying off. For those who are newly subscribed, I want to recommend another recent video that—in a simliar vein— introduces a ton of really good, iconic psychedelic music from a lesser-known source. https://youtu.be/iMFWLNs1N3U

We are hard at work on the next video, but if you need an extra dose of Bandsplaining in your life, check out our podcasts on Patreon. There's a few available for free and the rest are $3/month to unlock. www.patreon.com/c/bandsplaining

Cheers!

1 month ago | [YT] | 63

Bandsplaining

**UPDATE: A few folks from our community have kindly reached out, so I should be all set!! Thanks all!** This may be a shot in the dark, but are there any statistics experts / stats majors who would be willing to hop on a brief zoom call to chat about Z-scores and such? Give me a shout at indiecelebritybingo@gmail.com

3 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 54

Bandsplaining

SURVEY! What do you think is the most “American” song of all time? I’m working on a data project comparing US vs. Global music charts, trying to determine what song ranked highest in the US while simultaneously ranking lowest (or not ranking at all) in other countries. Right now, I’d love to hear some predictions. The winner will be richly rewarded in bragging rights and a shoutout in the video.

Some criteria: The years are 1959-2023. The song needs to have spent at least 1 week on the billboard hot 100 (though ideally many weeks, since this will give it a higher base score). So please rule out patriotic songs/military marches that haven’t been pop hits. I’m also excluding Christmas songs since their rankings get weird.

Lastly, if anyone would be interested in joining a “focus group” on Zoom giving your prediction, please give me a shout at indiecelebritybingo@gmail.com

Cheers!

3 months ago | [YT] | 38

Bandsplaining

Hey friends, since we spend about 95% of our time on this channel listening to music from decades ago, we decided to challenge ourselves and spend a week reviewing the music of 2024. Last year we did a live stream, but this time around editor Aldo ‪@sedatefobia‬ and I recorded a podcast: www.patreon.com/posts/podcast-15-best-119941100

Normally our podcast is for paid subscribers only, but this one is available to anyone who joins, even with a "free" account.

Special shoutout to Macrophonics ‪@JayDubyuh98‬ and Captain Mixtape ‪@Ramierez100‬ ; two Bandsplaining followers who submitted music featured in this episode. Also, a huge thank you to everyone else who shared tunes in the last thread. We weren't able to play everyone, but we put together a Spotify playlist with a few more favorites: open.spotify.com/playlist/5id9sopxJDp8RYlwMEbVJU?s…

SUPPORT YOUR FELLOW 'SPLAINO, GIVE IT A LIKE!

Cheers ya'll. Much more coming soon!

3 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 65

Bandsplaining

Hey friends, are you a musician who released an album in 2024? Drop a comment telling a little about your project with a link to a song (Spotify preferably, YouTube or Bandcamp begrudgingly). I’d like to check them out and pick out some faves for another “best of Bandsplaining followers” playlist. Cheers!

3 months ago | [YT] | 97