Comments on On An Overgrown Path: Soli Deo Gloria off the Grammy Awards radar

Anonymous said: Gardiner didn't get a nod because ...

2006-02-13T15:02:00.000Z

Anonymous said: Gardiner didn't get a nod because it was good, not great.

The Gramophone said: This is a magnificent achievement that illustrates how Gardiner's independence gives him an increased capacity to reinvigorate our recording collections for years to come.

Gardiner didn't get a nod because it was good, not...

2006-02-13T14:07:00.000Z

Gardiner didn't get a nod because it was good, not great. There was nothing corporate about the decision, as labels are not allowed to shill for their product. If they do they will be banned as Bridge records was last year. Believe me, I know. It's fair to say the the Classical Grammys are the fairest, truest ones awarded by the academy. We all know that the pop awards are strictly a popularity contest. After all, have you actually heard Kanye West? It's just AWFUL! At least mariah used to be able to sing.

i think we are making the same point, but from dif...

2006-02-12T19:36:00.000Z

i think we are making the same point, but from different angles. naxos has indeed become a major influence within classical cd sales, but the label is still 'independent', as in, not supported by the Universal Music or Warner Music machines. in other words, when it comes to grammy voting blocks, naxos is not competing with the same gunpower as what i'm calling the majors... and yet they came away with 4 awards anyway.

Interesting point MC. But I wouldn't categorise Na...

2006-02-12T18:48:00.000Z

Interesting point MC. But I wouldn't categorise Naxos as 'non-major'.

They do a great job of positioning themselves as the underdogs, but as I pointed out in Music-like-water
they are very much a global force with a dominant share of classical CD sales in most major markets worldwide as the following figures show:

UK - 15%, Finland - 40%, Sweden - 50%, Norway - 50%, Denmark -30%, Canada - 25%, Greece - 45%, South Africa - 45%, Spain - 20% and Germany - 20%.

In the United States, Soundscan lists Naxos as the leading independent classical music label.

I can't speak for the SDG recordings, and I certai...

2006-02-12T18:18:00.000Z

I can't speak for the SDG recordings, and I certainly don't dispute the block voting at major labels. But it does seem remiss not to mention that, amazingly, just under half of the classical awards went to non-major labels. DG, BMG, and EMI only claimed 6 of the 13, with Naxos, Telarc, and LSO's own label picking up the others (which happen to include Best Classical Album).