Ageism sucks in music. As James.T.Orr says, often a performer is better past the 30 mark than when in their 20s. I have suspected that the great Peter and Rita duo suffer from ageism in karaoke competitions (this is the aged couple some may recall from Australia's Got Talent and who are usually better performers live than they were in the semi finals of that show and even individually, they're great). Even when they sing way better than the rest, they get shirked in favour of the younger singers. Sometimes, it may be due to the fact they're a duo rather than a solo act but other times, I do wonder.
Why does the music industry frown on the over 30s? Perhaps because it is the youngsters who have all the drive and energy to get to the top and will put up not just with hype but gruelling tour schedules whereas most 30+ folk seem to like to take things easier and will actually stand up for themselves to get what they want because they have life experience on their side.
Another point may be insurance. The older you are, the closer to death you are, the likely less potential market time for the record label to make money out of you.
I think the Eye Candy factor probably does play a part but I really don't see why. Look at Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt, Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, Liz Hurley and Sharon Stone - all over 40 and yet the teens still go ga ga for them in the movies. Even Jennifer Aniston is pushing 40 now. Sure, they all got their break when young but the fact is, they can still draw crowds now and they're not alone there. Sean Connery and George Clooney spring to mind. Patrick Stewart became something of a sex symbol when he took over as captain of the Enterprise in Star Trek: The Next Generation and he was no toy boy. On that same show, Doctor what's-her-name (Gates McFadden) had that older mystique about her too EC wise.
These examples are film and television actors obviously, but then Jon Bon Jovi is still a poster boy for the youngsters today despite having been around some 20+ years in music and who could forget Cher's If I Could Turn Back Time music video clip from the late 80s on that naval vessel strutting her stuff amongst the sailor boys and sitting astride an enormous cannon? She was no spring chicken, yet she smouldered sexiness. Not my type but I know plenty of guys who have those images permanently etched in their mental fantasies. LOL
A few weeks back, some would have observed in the NSW forum talk of marketability. Whenever I hear of someone being considered unmarketable, it smacks to me of marketers unable to do their job. I think that's the only reason we see the 30+ folk discriminated against in music. Marketing people today find things way too difficult. They are afraid of taking risks and so follow formula as though that is what their job is. It's ridiculous. The whole point of marketing is to MAKE something marketable, not just take on board something that could sell itself.
However, the world isn't changing any time soon in that regard, so we will continue to see the trend of teen stars for a while, I believe. Someone is bound to break through the age barrier - maybe even yours truly - and if they become successful, we will then see a new trend of older folk getting a fair go. One thing about marketing people is that they all copy what works. The innovators get in first and the rest follow. Think Hollywood and TV scripts: Doctors, detectives vs serial killers; martial art experts seeking revenge etc are all normal fare. What have we seen since M. Night Shyamalan came out with The Sixth Sense? Stories with weird twists at the end! What about since The Matrix? Lots of wire work martial arts being performed by actors instead of stunt people and next generation slow motion scenes. How about since the WB network took a chance on the Buffy The Vampire Slayer series? Lots of strong feminine characters suddenly came to the fore! Charlie's Angels, Sidney from Alias, the Charmed ones and it paved the way for bands like today's Pussycat Dolls although I think such women have taken feminism a huge step backwards.
Yep. Gotta hand it to those marketing folk. They sure know how to copy things. It is a pity most of them lack any originality or courage enough to try something new.
Submitted by Johnny Burrows on 04-10-2007

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