The coverage of this refutes the claims of NME editor Conor McNicholas that this signals a new era:
This year’s Cool List is a testament to the raft of hugely talented women who have taken hold of the music scene in 2006. From Beth to Lily to Karen, they’ve brought new energy to a scene dominated by men. In fact, the real deal becomes more obvious as McNicholas finishes with They’re also living proof that you can still rock a crowd when you’re wearing stilettos.

Ummm.. what?

But this is not just about the NME’s subjective and mysterious list. The coverage of the Gossip, following the release of their latest album (and subsequent signing to a major label), has been widespread. They have appeared on mainstream television (including Popworld and the Jonathan Ross show) as well as in most mainstream newspapers at one time or another.

The Times responded to the NME list with the headline: Lesbian singer is voted ‘coolest’ person in rock and the more telling introductory paragraph:
A 15-stone lesbian activist from Arkansas is now the coolest figure in rock, according to the annual list published by NME.

Do you think they sound just a little bit threatened?

I’m certainly not claiming the Gossip’s new found mainstream success is a bad thing. It warms my heart to see them challenging lazy interviewers and waxing radical on class politics in the major broadsheets. I’m just skeptical about yet another premature announcement of change that happens every couple of years. These claims are generally made by exactly the same people who discover the next great white boy rock reclamation a few weeks later.

If any folk can stick it to the rock media man right now, it is interesting and challenging bands like the Gossip. But it certainly won’t be a fight led by NME, despite what they may be saying right now.