Radiohead Makes Time 100 (And Why Time Sucks)

Radiohead has made it on this year's Time 100 list which features the world's 100 most influential people.  Although this should be cause to celebrate the greatness that is all things Radiohead, I would prefer to take this opportunity to offer Time Magazine a big F U.  Why such hostility toward a publication bestowing this recognition on my favorite band?  

Well, the first strike against Time is that it is completely focused on Radiohead's ground-breaking "business model."  The second strike is that the band is listed under Builders & Titans rather than Artists & Entertainers.  And the third is that Hannah Montana is featured on the list under Artists & Entertainers.

I agree that Radiohead's release of In Rainbows was a bold and exciting move that did shake up the music biz.  However, for the band, this non-traditional release was an artistic statement, rather than a new "business model."  In interviews following the album release, guitarist Jonny Greenwood pointed it's that the purpose of the release was two-fold.  The first reason was for everyone to hear the album at the same time, rather than critics getting the first listen.  The second reason was to ask the question, "How is music valued by those consuming it?"  Recently frontman Thom Yorke has indicated that Radiohead won't be releasing future albums in this fashion stating "...it was a one-off response to a particular situation."  

And what about the music?  In Rainbows is an excellent album featuring beautiful songs and further experimentation from a band with a long-history of genre bending and envelope pushing.  Does anyone at Time care about that?  Nope, Radiohead are completely ignored as artists and are stuffed into the vague Builders & Titans category.  But everyone's favorite Disney star did make the Artist &  Entertainers category.  Hannah Montana!  Yeah!

Again, I say F U Time Magazine.  First of all, if any recognition is to be given to Hannah Montana, it should go to Disney instead.  In addition, Disney should go into its own category called Corporations With Their Grip On The Balls Of Society.  (Starbucks and Walmart can be added to that list.)  

Apologies for the hostile nature of this post, but I felt I couldn't just stand by and watch while some self-important magazine attempts to homogenize art that I hold so near and dear.  For any first-time readers, be advised, this post is very uncharacteristic of Airbag Radio.

BOYCOTT TIME!