Sir Elton slams pop industry

LONDON, UK (Elton John Fans Website) - Sir Elton John has hit out at the state of the modern British pop scene. In a Newsnight interview on the night of the Brit Awards, he compares the music of stars like Steps to packets of cereal.

Sir Elton believes that there is too much music that sounds the same in the charts now. He argues that there are too many average bands that stifle the chances of real talent getting airplay.
"Record companies want the quick buck from the Backstreet Boys, NSync, Britney Spears, S Club 7's, the Steps - they've always been around, I'm not knocking the music perhaps, but it's like packets of cereal," he says. I shouldn't have done that album in a million years

Sir Elton also criticises greatest hits albums, including his own recent live album "One Night Only". "I shouldn't have done that album in a million years and I did and I regret doing it," he says.
But he argues that it is the record companies that demand it. He says they put the pressure on just before Christmas, as they know they can make a lot of money.

Pop Idol

Sir Elton has concerns about the Pop Idol phenomenon. He believes the winners have talent, and wishes them luck. "I feel sorry for the people that win those things because they may have talent, they can sing, but they don't have any experience other than being able to appear on television and that's scary," he says. He is not sure where they will be in three to four years time. He says the record companies have a responsibility to look after them.
But he goes on to say that that there is very little long term thinking within the music industry. He says that the emphasis is placed on instant success.
And he does not hold much hope for the future of the industry. He argues that in America there are few people in the business who know much about music.

"Until you get people who really love what they're doing and have an eye and a longing to establish an act and see them through and take care of them then nothing's going to change.," he says.