The role of a critic is to comment and analyse a subject to provide information to the public about whether it's worth investing money and time into. With this comes an air of power over the musicians, directors and actors who have worked endlessly to get their performance/product as good as they can get it.

So how much does this matter?

Looking more specifically at musicians, do critics have a right to this power? Should they be able to deem someone else either a success or a failure?

One aspect of it is that critics don't have the musical knowledge to do so but is that important?

Finally, what is more important to a band/artist? Good reviews or a large fanbase?

Listen to my podcast on the matter (here: http://mhm.hud.ac.uk/MusicRadioHud/node/793) and tell me what you think. Post replies in this thread or on the website above^ cheers!

Rory