If you get HD TV, you might have come across this 'new' music network, Palladia. It is in fact a rebranded HD-MTV. I was channel surfing one night and caught some great footage of some crummy concert. Of course it seems to be programmed to appeal to a very broad audience, but by trying to appeal to so many, does it appeal to anyone?

Last night, I stayed up for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in Barcelona. Not Palladia's fault, but Bruce sounded terrible! And his stage show was so corny - when did he become a vaudeville act? It made me wish old rockers would retire rather than keep on keeping on. Bob Dylan? I still haven't warmed to his new ravaged voice. Ok, I get it - he thinks he sounds like the old, weird folk and blues performers he loves, and maybe he does, but I'm not sure I like listening to him. Same for Bruce. Bruce can't hit the notes and when did rockers start having teleprompters on stage to help them with the words? With their OWN words, no less! Bruce has a way of seeming to close his eyes but he slyly raises one eyebrow to open his eyes a slit and scans his lyrics as he sings. His lyrics! He wrote the words - you'd think he could remember them.

Unless he is too old.

Maybe it would be better if old rockers would just fade away. Or find a way to perform that adjusts their performance to their changing, diminishing range and lack of memory. I know it sounds harsh...

Mick seems to be ok. Van Morrison, too. 

As for the Palladia programming, Katy Perry was the best thing to watch last night. Not saying too much, I guess. She was alright, her unplugged cabaret style show better than her usual act, but her 'insights' into the songs? Puh-lease!

Here is an article on Palladia. Check it out and decide for yourself...

By Vlada Gelman

MTV Rebrands HD Music Channel as Palladia.

MTV Networks’ high-definition music channel MHD will change its name to Palladia effective Sept. 1.

“It’s a bigger, more distinct name for a channel that has grown in size as well as satisfaction among music HD fans,” said Tom Calderone, the executive VP/general manager of VH1 who oversees Palladia. “We’re also reinforcing that the channel is the home for an increasingly broad range of musical styles and artists in high-def performances that can’t be seen anywhere else. We believe these changes will help our distributor partners as they continue to sell HD and strive for the best content.”

Palladia will offer more exclusive programming as part of its evolution, kicking off with “Outdoor Music Week” the first week of September. The lineup of outdoor music concerts will feature Madonna, Usher, Dave Matthews Band, Eric Clapton, John Mayer, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, the Who, Green Day, Genesis, Jay-Z, Amy Winehouse, Foo Fighters, Kanye West, David Bowie, Snoop Dogg, Sugarland, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Dierks Bentley, Hank Williams Jr., Queen, Will Smith and the Rolling Stones.

Palladia also will host “Hip Hop Weekend” Oct. 4-5, “Classic Rock Movie Week” Nov. 10-16 and “Best of 2008 Week” Dec. 22-28.

The channel’s regular lineup will feature a different concert every Saturday at 9 p.m. and films from the channel’s collection of rock movies every Thursday at 9 p.m.