Nothing Is Real - Pop's Struggle With Authenticity

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

Living The Life

20171211

Author David Hepworth reflects on pop music's struggles with authenticity.

Author and broadcaster David Hepworth reflects on pop music's struggles with authenticity.
1/5. Leadbelly's managers wanted him to perform in prison stripes. He preferred his best suit. When Dylan arrived in New York he pretended to be a hobo. Seasick Steve was a producer of disco records. Why do rock fans care that their heroes have lived the real lives their songs describe?

A Trevor Dann's Company production for BBC Radio 3.

The Terminology

20171212

David Hepworth discusses pop terminology - a trap for frauds and a charter for pseuds.

Author and broadcaster David Hepworth reflects on pop music's struggles with authenticity.

2/5. From the elementary pop-rock schism of the '60s to the bewildering array of compounds mapping the contemporary musical landscape, pop terminology has been a trap for frauds and a charter for pseuds. there's only one term that works.

A Trevor Dann's Company production for BBC Radio 3.

The Importance Of Noise

20171213

David Hepworth on the importance of volume and the difference between signal and noise.

Author and broadcaster David Hepworth discusses pop music's struggles with authenticity.

3/5. Teenagers flocked to see The Blackboard Jungle in 1956 because it was the only way you could hear Rock Around The Clock loud. High volume drives distortion which is what makes rock music exciting. What's the difference between signal and noise?

A Trevor Dann's Company production for BBC Radio 3.

Are Djs Doomed?

20171214

Writer David Hepworth on pop music's struggles with authenticity, asking 'Are DJs doomed?'

Writer David Hepworth on pop music's struggles with authenticity.

4/5. Streaming music means that the people listening have just as many records as the people running the radio stations. So is the radio DJ is going the way of the blacksmith while the club DJ flourishes?

A Trevor Dann's Company production for BBC Radio 3.

05 LAST

The Rock'n'roll Funeral

20171215

David Hepworth asks if pop music has any place in the great ceremonies of life and death.

Writer David Hepworth on pop music's struggles with authenticity.

5/5. Recently David was asked to programme the music for the wake after the funeral of a colleague. Now he wonders whether, despite the public demand for Robbie Williams' Angels and Frank Sinatra's My Way, pop music really has any place in the great ceremonies of life and death.

A Trevor Dann's Company production for BBC Radio 3.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
01	Living The Life	20171211	Author David Hepworth reflects on pop music's struggles with authenticity. Author and broadcaster David Hepworth reflects on pop music's struggles with authenticity. 1/5. Leadbelly's managers wanted him to perform in prison stripes. He preferred his best suit. When Dylan arrived in New York he pretended to be a hobo. Seasick Steve was a producer of disco records. Why do rock fans care that their heroes have lived the real lives their songs describe? A Trevor Dann's Company production for BBC Radio 3.
02	The Terminology	20171212	David Hepworth discusses pop terminology - a trap for frauds and a charter for pseuds. Author and broadcaster David Hepworth reflects on pop music's struggles with authenticity. 2/5. From the elementary pop-rock schism of the '60s to the bewildering array of compounds mapping the contemporary musical landscape, pop terminology has been a trap for frauds and a charter for pseuds. there's only one term that works. A Trevor Dann's Company production for BBC Radio 3.
03	The Importance Of Noise	20171213	David Hepworth on the importance of volume and the difference between signal and noise. Author and broadcaster David Hepworth discusses pop music's struggles with authenticity. 3/5. Teenagers flocked to see The Blackboard Jungle in 1956 because it was the only way you could hear Rock Around The Clock loud. High volume drives distortion which is what makes rock music exciting. What's the difference between signal and noise? A Trevor Dann's Company production for BBC Radio 3.
04	Are Djs Doomed?	20171214	Writer David Hepworth on pop music's struggles with authenticity, asking 'Are DJs doomed?' Writer David Hepworth on pop music's struggles with authenticity. 4/5. Streaming music means that the people listening have just as many records as the people running the radio stations. So is the radio DJ is going the way of the blacksmith while the club DJ flourishes? A Trevor Dann's Company production for BBC Radio 3.
05 LAST	The Rock'n'roll Funeral	20171215	David Hepworth asks if pop music has any place in the great ceremonies of life and death. Writer David Hepworth on pop music's struggles with authenticity. 5/5. Recently David was asked to programme the music for the wake after the funeral of a colleague. Now he wonders whether, despite the public demand for Robbie Williams' Angels and Frank Sinatra's My Way, pop music really has any place in the great ceremonies of life and death. A Trevor Dann's Company production for BBC Radio 3.