I posted some more comments on Andrew Dubber's excellent website www.newmusicstrategies.com, one of which is reprinted for your perusal below. Well, they were asking for it, were they not?

Aqua yes, Radiohead no

The genius of Radiohead lies in their ability to market their mainstream music as underground art. They are the Starbucks of the underground. They target music lovers who have never been able to get their heads round truly underground sounds and provide them with the opportunity to categorise themselves with the cool crowd. In analogy to this, people go into Starbucks and pay three pounds for a ‘latte’ so that they can feel middle-class. Now they drink ‘caffe latte’ instead of ‘milky coffee’ down the café. Both Radiohead and Starbucks are aspirational. The reason for their success is clever marketing. Art has as little to do with Radiohead as it has to do with Starbucks.

Many people, whether they are willing to admit to it or not, are today of the opinion that pop is rubbish. The open, as well as covert, snobbery in this blog alone is palpable. The irony is that nowadays Radiohead are infinitely more pop than Aqua. Everyone on this blog keeps asking where Aqua are now and proudly stating that Radiohead are one of the biggest bands in the world. It is the type of music that Aqua make (apparent bubble gum with a deeply disturbing and dark undercurrent) that is no longer understood by a mass audience, i.e. Radiohead fans. It is Aqua that requires repeat listens, a sophisticated sense of humour and an informed view of popular culture. Indie Rock, as it is played and propagated by Radiohead, appeals to the masses. Aqua is for the enlightened few.

Aqua is the new underground.

Of course, once a person has made the transition from milky coffee to cafe latte, he naturally distances himself from his former unenlightened ways. The more recent the switch, the more hysterical the denial. Radiohead is a brand, and one cannot pour sufficient scorn on people who, because they listen to said brand, think they are serious music lovers: you are being had. Just drink ya milky coffee, 90p from your nearest cafe.

Also, I must insist: over your next cup of latte, would you please give consideration to this question: what is fake plastic?