The Good Ol' Boy Network at Austin City Limits...

The good ol' boy network is rearing it's ugly head once again in Texas....

I'm not bitter or anything....

Jen Foster climbed to number 1 in the Dell Sound and Jury contest for a spot in the Austin City Limits Music Festival during the first week of fan voting and stayed solidly there for the duration of the preliminary voting phase.

How is it that, from that lofty spot, she did not make it into the Top 20 in the judging round? Can almost 7000 votes really be rendered irrelevant that easily??

Honestly, I would like to see the written criteria that the judges followed in selecting the top 20 bands to move forward in the contest.

After a brief look at the field, it seems that I should be certain to find something that says "the judges shall give favor to male dominated non solo acts based in Texas." Certainly, that would describe the vast majority of the Dell Lounge Sound and Jury Contest top 20.

I know, I know....you are thinking I am just an angry woman with a mouth full of sour grapes...

Here are the numbers -

5 of the 20 artists are from outside of the Lone Star State

2 of the 20 are fronted by a female vocalist

3 of the 20 are solo acts and exactly ZERO of those 3 are female artists

Tell me there doesn't seem to be some odd bias here - no, don't tell me, because I won't believe you anyway - I am from Texas, and have spent the last many years being vaguely disappointed in the music scene here. I don't know about anyone else, but what really burns me up the most about the whole thing is the these judges basically ignored the voices of hundreds of fans. How dare these judges ask me what I like and then turn an OBVIOUSLY deaf ear to the answer being shouted at them almost 7000 times!!!! I mean, I know the judging job is probably not easy - so many very talented bands - but COME ON PEOPLE!!!!! How can you ignore the very fans that make it possible for you to make money on your little talent show to begin with???? I hate being disregarded....

I will shake my head about this for a while...

and then I will boycott Austin City Limits this year -

***Oh, and a note to Austin City Limits about Jen Foster -

You missed it, man. Next year, you won't be able to afford her. Oh, AND... you are out of the Grammy speech .... fuckers....