People, Not Music, Cause the Violence

People have the wrong perception of the violence that took place during a Sept. 10 concert at the Ventura Theatre.

First, the fight had nothing to do with the fact that the concert was free. I have attended several concerts promoted by radio station Q104.7 FM for which a fee of $10 or $15 was charged. I believe that the people who attended this concert were there because they wanted to be and would have paid if they had been asked to.

A fee of $10 or $15 does not separate one class of people from another.

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Second, it is a total cop-out to blame Q104.7 FM and the type of music it presented. The big picture is violence in general. Obviously, there is a chance for violence to develop, whether we attend a country concert, an alternative rock concert, a rhythm and blues concert, a hip-hop concert or any other format. As long as there are people, there is a chance of violence.

The knuckleheads who were fighting are the only ones to blame for their actions and for ruining the entertainment for all of us who attended. Their behavior had nothing to do with listening to a particular type of music for a couple of hours; it only had to do with their stupidity.

Radio station Q104.7 FM is really getting a bad rap over this. People should understand that the situation was out of the station’s control and that the promoters should not be blamed.

People are so quick to judge this station when one thing goes wrong at a concert it promoted. Yet the station is not recognized for all the good it does in our community, the good causes and charities to which it donates time and money. It isn’t recognized for the family activities it promotes or for the diverse formats it plays, allowing families to enjoy music together.

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I am a mother of three and a working professional. It seems that the image people have of Q104.7 FM listeners is young troublemakers, which is not the case. I am thankful to have a station like this in our community because it brings us a lot of entertainment and concerts we otherwise would not be able to enjoy.

I hope this one situation does not affect the entertainment brought to us by Q104.7 FM. I also hope that the Ventura Theatre’s representatives realize that the violence had nothing to do with the music or the station and that they allow Q104.7 FM to continue using the facility.

Yes, there is a problem with violence in our area and in all areas, but it has nothing to do with music or any radio station.