I watched this with my 3 kids last night, am I ever so happy they wanted to see it. They are all aspiring musicians but true to todays teenagers imagine that everything must fall into your lap without struggle and dedication. Boy were their eyes opened. A father's advice is always taken with a pinch of salt but when they see it on the screen, it must be true ! Right? heh heh heh. My favourite piece of advice out of the movie? "Make every Sunday Band Day ". Brilliant. I am forever indebted to Shapter and Rasmussen for this gem.

Posted Apr. 23, 2008 at 4:31PM

Quite outstanding movie. Eductational as to how the modern music industry works, beautifully edited and with some outstanding bands. Some of the music on this had the skin trying to crawl off my body, it was that good.

Posted Apr. 20, 2008 at 4:16AM

Great film. Eye-opening. Will change the way you view popular music and you'll think twice when you're holding that CD in your hand at the check-out.

Posted Mar. 26, 2008 at 4:15PM

I teach american pop music at college, and caught this film on the tv one morning--and knew I had to have it. Students nowadays are unaware of the technical foolery that goes on and the huge corruption in the industry, and as I am an ancient 45 years old, I can remember when talent actually mattered. They have no idea why those Disney artists are so popular, and can't recall a time when, if you played in a good band (to paraphrase Zappa), studios would send a scout to your show and the 70-year old cigar chomping execs would say "I dunno, sounds like noise to me but the kids like it, let's make an album." Of course artists have always been cheated (think of payola!) but at least you had to have talent to get cheated (teen idols aside). My favorite was the model singing in the video, and when Branford Marsalis (I think) said his students just want him to tell them they're talented--they don't want to work or learn. I plan to let the students know about this film & will encourage them to buy it. Genius! Finally, someone points out that the Emperor is indeed not only naked, but bereft of skill. I wish they would release an updated version adding material. Classical music is nearly dead; I would hate for pop to go the same route.

Posted Mar. 26, 2008 at 11:47AM

Dude! The comment about 99x. I hear you. Sniffle.

Posted Mar. 19, 2008 at 9:19AM

loved it

Posted Mar. 18, 2008 at 9:26PM

ok, i am lost. how does submission 2.0 relate to B4Md?

Posted Mar. 12, 2008 at 10:23PM

Good movie for sure.

Posted Mar. 10, 2008 at 11:22AM

this project totally changed the way i look at and felt about most music and its relationship and with the communism of the current major industry. mass corporate control over music has not only left this generation with less options for inspiration, but it puts forth such a bizarre and unrealistic form of 'popular' that, in a culture heavily influenced by media and music, its no wonder that so many young people don't know what they want in themselves when they begin making more and more decisions about their careers and lives. suddenly kids want to figure out how they'll 'get rich or die tryin' or if they should trade that dream to wear black eyeliner and skate through wal mart listening to avril lavigne to show everyone that nobody else knows what it's like to be privileged and have nothing to show for it. dave matthews has a great quote towards the end that exemplifies the difference between dedication to music in its purest form and the contraband, radio repeats that so many people hold onto today. yet i believe this documentary's greatest stand for authenticity rests in the eyes of the makers, who took average statuses and applied their passion for music so that others would regain focus and inspiration for the forms of music they listen and support.

Posted Feb. 22, 2008 at 12:27AM

What was that artists name that played with Eric Clapton?

Posted Feb. 21, 2008 at 10:53PM

Huh. As far as "non-formula" music.. We used to have a nice alternative FM station here in Atlanta, called 99x. It was awesome. Supported local artists and even had a separate stage for them during concerts, and even had "Organic X' with little-heard tunes. It was around for over 10 years...until Cumulus became the new owners. Because 99x wasn't getting as high ratings as its sister pop station Q100, guess what they did? They killed it and its wide fan base, and replaced it with Q100, so Q100 had a stronger signal. I nearly screamed when I turned on 99x to hear Q100 repetitive pop songs, with people who couldn't even sing. I guess the Man had to go and screw up music,too. When the hell will we get smarter than the Man? How many sections of control will they own, until we're bound to say and do only certain things? We need to fight the Man before it gets out of control!

Posted Feb. 17, 2008 at 5:19PM

Very good indeed!

Posted Feb. 15, 2008 at 7:05AM