VOA常速英语2007-Music Festival Draws Thousands of Fans to New Yo

By Behnam Nateghi
New York City
29 October 2007
 

The College Music Journal Music Marathon recently (October 16 - 20) attracted a thousand up-and-coming bands to New York City.  Music fans and industry insiders flocked to the annual festival to discover the next top stars.  Jim Bertel narrates¹ for VOA's Behnam Nateghi who was at this year's event.

Bands from all over the U.S. poured into New York City to perform at the 27th annual CMJ Music Marathon.  Fans crowded the sidewalks outside clubs to see their favorite bands and discover new artists. 

Performances by the Paperclips and other bands drew over 100,000 music fans to the five-day festival. 

CMJ's Matt McDonald looks back at the music event's roots. "Started as a one day event with maybe three bands, and 27 years later, here we are with five days, 60 venues² and about a thousand bands performing."

Though several well-known bands perform, CMJ strives to showcase new artists. "The focus is really on the up and coming bands," explained McDonald. 

Numerous chart-topping artists have played the CMJ at some point in their career. "We can't take credit for all the success, but I think we had a small role in helping³ establish a few bands over the years, quite a few bands,” he said. “Some of them more well-known ones, who have played CMJ over the years, Green Day, Eminem, Red Hot Chili⁴ Peppers, Beastie Boys…"

McDonald breaks the crowd into two groups: Music fans who come for the live music and music industry people looking for the next big act.  "College radio people, label people, artists, managers, agents, press people come, and we've got the day time component⁵ which includes a lot of films, and the great panels and the trade show."

At this year's event, panelists discussed illegal downloads, censorship and declining CD sales.

Phil Gallo reports on the music business for Variety magazine and moderated one panel.  "We were discussing international business,” he said. “Mostly how people are approaching exporting music and importing music. We have labels that are here in the US, and in other places, like Berlin, London and throughout Europe, looking at how basically international borders are pretty much broken down."

As music fans flocked to the Marathon's final night, many in the crowd were already anticipating next year's event when a whole new group of aspiring⁶ musicians will have their shot at stardom.

1 narrates   

v.故事( narrate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• It narrates the unconstitutional acts of James II. 它历数了詹姆斯二世的违法行为。 来自辞典例句
• Chapter three narrates the economy activity which Jew return the Occident. 第三章讲述了犹太人重返西欧后的经济活动。 来自互联网

2 venues   

n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点

参考例句：

• The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
• Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网

3 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

4 chili   

n.辣椒

参考例句：

• He helped himself to another two small spoonfuls of chili oil.他自己下手又加了两小勺辣椒油。
• It has chocolate,chili,and other spices.有巧克力粉，辣椒，和其他的调味品。

5 component   

n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的

参考例句：

• Each component is carefully checked before assembly.每个零件在装配前都经过仔细检查。
• Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。

6 aspiring   

adj.有志气的；有抱负的；高耸的v.渴望；追求

参考例句：

• Aspiring musicians need hours of practice every day. 想当音乐家就要每天练许多小时。
• He came from an aspiring working-class background. 他出身于有抱负的工人阶级家庭。 来自辞典例句