I do wonder about the value of in-house sites on the Internet, publications run for instance by huge record companies such as Universal with their udiscovermusic or in German the same global player’s Jazz Echo.

The main question I have and it is a difficult one given that the writers who write for the sites are often really good, the sites look great and are professionally produced, is are these sites worth returning to regularly as required reading?

Firmly I would answer no, because they are basically writing nearly always about some typically back catalogue or current release by an artist on one or other of the many Universal labels.

In effect you are reading advertorials attractively presented and better than the sort of slogans you might read advertising a Sunday morning car boot sale or punnets of strawberries by the roadside but still advertising. These big labels refuse to properly advertise in specialist magazines as much as they could. They actually prefer their own complete control by running these sites. Most readers are not fooled however and generally these sites are not that popular although I am sure they pick up a good many unique visitors whatever that counts for nowadays when only billions of uniquers seem to mean anything – and these sites, which in the antediluvian days before the Internet would have been shiny little pamphlets that you might pick up by the till and forget about pretty instantly the moment you got home, are certainly not getting that sort of traffic.

I am sure that I am not alone in thinking this, all I want about a new release or catalogue gem to get going with is: who is on it; when it was recorded and where; what instruments the players choose or otherwise sing on which tracks; and of course the titles of the tracks. I can get this on any number of ecommerce sites I don't need a puff piece copy approved by the label however pleasurable the craft of the copy is to enjoy.

Do you?

It is not too unfashionable a thing to ask for proper music journalism these days rather than endless marketing copy or stuff written by well meaning volunteers writing for free who can only provide so much as a stop gap for us jazz head hacks taking a break from standing at the end of the platform closely observing the choo-choos trying however unsuccessfully to be the next Robert Palmer and whistling, because it is the only thing to do, in the dark – is it? Come on big record company guys... if nothing else these sites are loads of money largely poured down the drain and not even as effective as an ad!!