KVR Audio

Warmonger · Post by **Warmonger** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 4:31 am

As I've been home for the last three weeks on winter break, I've had a chance to watch a lot of TV. One thing I've noticed is an increasing amount of electronic music used in commercials and shows, and in particular, uptempo breakbeats. I saw one just now for... wait for it... the freaking Weather Channel. Another place was on a talk show on ESPN called Cold Pizza. I've noticed it in other places, although nothing particularly memorable. But anyway, this brings me to my question: is jungle/breakbeat/d'n'b (and any other related genres) becoming mainstream, or is this just my imagination?

The Chase · Post by **The Chase** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 5:31 am

Warmonger wrote:As I've been home for the last three weeks on winter break, I've had a chance to watch a lot of TV. One thing I've noticed is an increasing amount of electronic music used in commercials and shows, and in particular, uptempo breakbeats. I saw one just now for... wait for it... the freaking Weather Channel. Another place was on a talk show on ESPN called Cold Pizza. I've noticed it in other places, although nothing particularly memorable. But anyway, this brings me to my question: is jungle/breakbeat/d'n'b (and any other related genres) becoming mainstream, or is this just my imagination?

I noticed it too. It was worse 2 years ago, when there were 3 commercials with the Amen Break airing at the same time (All car commercials). It just comes and goes.

kritikon · Post by **kritikon** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 5:53 am

Not mainstream exactly...I suspect it's more that it's cheaper to get somebody to make a breakbeat track than many other styles. Using famous tracks can be costly, whereas they'll probably pay a one-off fee to somebody who does breakbeat on their own setup, no studio costs etc. Breakbeat is a bit easier to get decent results with, depending on the style - less instrumentation, therefore less complicated mixing etc, therefore cheaper. Even I can get a handful of beats and a bassline to sound OK, whereas I fight alot harder to get a fully instrumented track sounding good enough.

I guess it's also the "first impressions" thing going on...producers presume that putting a fast paced and energetic intro track will fool the viewers into believing they're watching a cool program. Why they feel the need to spice up the weather forecasts is beyond me though

suburban grilla · Post by **suburban grilla** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 5:53 am

same thing here in oz. THer was an ad for a floor cleaner with an easy listening, loungey sort of beat.
Cheezy melody but nice beats.

Also ssaw a BBC documentary about spiders and scorpions that had some very cool sinister jungle in the soundtrack.

But to answer your question I think dnb/breaks and electronica in general has been "mainstream" for quite a while,( at least in oz and the uk anyway )

doesn't mean that there aint no cool experimental and underground stuff going on tho'

Warmonger · Post by **Warmonger** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 5:56 am

I should clarify something here. I don't mean mainstream as in watered down for the masses. I just mean that mainstream acceptance is growing. I know that there are plenty of people who listen to this music, but a lot of people just don't know that it exists, and wouldn't know it if they hear it.

suburban grilla · Post by **suburban grilla** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 6:00 am

Warmonger wrote:I should clarify something here. I don't mean mainstream as in watered down for the masses. I just mean that mainstream acceptance is growing. I know that there are plenty of people who listen to this music, but a lot of people just don't know that it exists, and wouldn't know it if they hear it.

Yes, this is how I understood your meaning of mainstream, just added the last line as an afterthought really

ModuLR · Post by **ModuLR** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 6:08 am

Car commecials have definately abused breaks to death... especially dnb. As mentioned, a few years ago, it seemed at it's height. When I heard something from Panacea's "Low Profile Darkness" in a Tampon commerical... I was like

(j/k)

nibbzious · Post by **nibbzious** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 6:43 am

I've noticed an excessive amount but it's probably just a fad. I hear SOOOOO many Stylus breakbeats. They're all over the edutainment channels like Discovery Channel, History Channel, and stuff like that.

I caught some medical show on Health Channel, they had some sickly twisted darkcore reeses going on. I heard that Absynth Portamenthol or whatever preset used on there too :p

I hear lots of fast breaks on commercials, like on cell phone commercials and stuff. Even though the genre has seen better days.

I don't think it's a good thing. I don't feel right when the music genre I love and pour my work into is nothing but background music to a sales pitch. That's only one step up from grocery store music.

Massive · Post by **Massive** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 7:08 am

[/quote]I don't think it's a good thing. I don't feel right when the music genre I love and pour my work into is nothing but background music to a sales pitch. That's only one step up from grocery store music.

I disagree with you nibbzious........

When a style starts to become mainstream, it means its time to evolve.

VitaminD · Post by **VitaminD** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 7:09 am

hehe

many years ago I had channelM(marketing firm) interested in some of my more dark/breaky songs. They were planning on using them in movie theatres and arcades around North America.

for some reason at the time I thought it was a good thing (even though they werent planning on paying me squat)..

Luckily they never used them (at least they claimed to not have) and instead told me they bought Acid instead

oi!

hmm.. LadyJ (aka 1.8.7.) had some of her songs used on scifi channel several years ago.. you know.. the dark BOOOMCHICKA stuff during trailers and stuff.. it was great.

suburban grilla · Post by **suburban grilla** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 7:18 am

Massive wrote:

I disagree with you nibbzious........

When a style starts to become mainstream, it means its time to evolve.[/quote]

well said dude

Breakbeats everywhere