Just a guess, but some of these artists that seem like overnight sensations have been working it for quite some time. I think the guys from fun. said they've been doing it for more than 10 years.

While there may a certain amount of luck involved in getting the national hype machine going, there is still no substitute for hard work—as Branch Rickey once said, "Luck is the residue of design."

And for every flash in the pan, there are thousands of highly talented regional artists that are plugging along with not much to show for it but the love of their craft.

I have been in bands for many years- been the foundation for many good, bad and GREAT musicians- some have made it/ some not.... as for me I'm a drummer....so I'll be a foundation player for life and love it- I don't want the footlights...I'm currently recording and loving that more than the LIVE situation with young 'wannabe's' who THINK they can play better..(and CAN'T)...Oh well- time marches on... and the days of Hendrix, Morrison, Joplin, Clapton, Baker, Beck, Peart, and Page are all long gone.......the state of MUSIC as we have known it is gone. A NEW era has begun...........

someone that has moxie, a front man one who sings/plays with emotion, someone with charisma, one who can transcend this dimension to the next, and take you there,

and being in the right place at the right time with a great agent ....

I think it is all right place, right time. There are guys on this forum who could bang it out for about any band out there, any genre, and the average person listening to the CD would not be able to tell the difference.

Plus, lot's of front men/women are pretty much the product of the music-industry-make-money-factory. Dance class, vocal lessons, nip and a tuck, fancy wardrobe, some good publicity, and instant superstar. The lady who sings the national anthem at our pee-wee football games has a voice better than half of the voices I hear on the radio..................

Plus, although I try not to fall prey to this notion personally, I think the industry somewhat dictates what we see as being good, musically. They use their PR machine to plant positive vibes into our grey matter.

+1 well said

seems alot of the new stars are singers but the bands today IMO have very little talent... I do love Carey Underwood singing but like the Rock N roll hall of Shame.. the Grammys have lost their way...

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/Magwa/thisisamusical_zpsefceeeff.jpg[/IMG]

Here is a good link to a movie about rock and roll the state of music today and the fifference between analog and digital

Personally Carrie Underwood and most of what passes for Grammy-worthy to me are boring. She's cute, looks good all dressed up, but otherwise bland and not very memorable. Unfortunately, in pop/rock/country music today it's just rehashing of old ideas. The only artist that capture my fancy are ones doing something unique and different while writing good music etc. Over the last 5 years I can think of only a few who have really caught my attention, including The White Stripes, Neko Case, Though thanks to cheap vinyl stores I am discovering for the first time a bunch of 1960s and 1970s country artists that flew past my radar at the time, like Jerry Reed, Patsy Cline, etc. That's gooood music there. just my opinion :)

To name a few that my old man's band used to play: Merle Haggard, George Jones, Conway Twitty, Waylon Jennings, Bellamy Brothers, etc. All played well written music with probably Old Hippie being amongst my favorite songs of that genre. If you're not familiar with it, check it out. It's pretty solid.