Today, December 25, 2006, we lost another cultural icon. James Brown, who was hospitalized just yesterday for extreme pneumonia, died of heart failure around 1:45 am today. He was 73 years old.
JB was one of the most influential artists in pop music history. He certainly influenced R&B and hip-hop, but his influence has spread to almost every genre of pop music.
Take some time today, and listen to your favorite James Brown song. That is undoubtedly how he would want to be remembered.
Monday, December 25, 2006
Saturday, December 23, 2006
More About the Impending Demise of the Record Industry
If you read and enjoyed my Dec. 1 post, Art Vs. Greed, I've found several other articles that may interest you. One was written more than 10 years ago, by legendary nonconformist artist/producer/engineer Steve Albini. It's called The Problem With Music, and it was originally printed in Maximumrockandroll #133, June 1994. I had completely forgotten about this article, which was rather famous (or infamous) at the time. It's amazing how relevant it seems today!
A much newer article is called The Reasons (to get rid of the major record lablels). It's presented by Downhill Battle, a "non-profit organization working to support participatory culture and build a fairer music industry." I encourage you to look around their site, and read some of the other articles as well.
I should also mention that I found this information courtesy of the Cameron Music Group.
A much newer article is called The Reasons (to get rid of the major record lablels). It's presented by Downhill Battle, a "non-profit organization working to support participatory culture and build a fairer music industry." I encourage you to look around their site, and read some of the other articles as well.
I should also mention that I found this information courtesy of the Cameron Music Group.
Friday, December 22, 2006
More of the Usual Year-End Wrapup
Just an FYI: If you enjoy the year-end best-of lists phenomenon, the folks at largehearted boy have put together a collection of links to 2006 Year-end Music Lists on the web. Wow! More lists than I ever dreamed possible!
Thursday, December 21, 2006
The Usual Year-End Wrapup
Have you seen Rolling Stone's Top 50 Albums of 2006? After perusing the list, I am now convinced that most of the mainstream releases this year were even more mediocre than usual!
I'm happy that Sonic Youth made the the list for "Rather Ripped," and "Return to Cookie Mountain" by TV On The Radio was also an excellent choice. Frankly, however, I'm puzzled by some of the choices....Lindsey Buckingham?
Of course, there is also the Pitchfork Top 50 Albums of 2006. It's interesting to note the few similarities between the two (Sonic Youth and TV on the Radio are on both, for instance.) The biggest difference, of course, is the lack of mainstream releases on the Pitchfork list. There are a couple of puzzlers (Justin Timberlake) and a number of albums you've probably never heard, but that's what sites like Pitchfork are for!
So, go ahead and do the obligatory read-through of the RS top 50 list, then go to Pitchfork, read the reviews, and buy some indie music with your holiday gift certificates! Happy Holidays!
I'm happy that Sonic Youth made the the list for "Rather Ripped," and "Return to Cookie Mountain" by TV On The Radio was also an excellent choice. Frankly, however, I'm puzzled by some of the choices....Lindsey Buckingham?
Of course, there is also the Pitchfork Top 50 Albums of 2006. It's interesting to note the few similarities between the two (Sonic Youth and TV on the Radio are on both, for instance.) The biggest difference, of course, is the lack of mainstream releases on the Pitchfork list. There are a couple of puzzlers (Justin Timberlake) and a number of albums you've probably never heard, but that's what sites like Pitchfork are for!
So, go ahead and do the obligatory read-through of the RS top 50 list, then go to Pitchfork, read the reviews, and buy some indie music with your holiday gift certificates! Happy Holidays!
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Gig Stories, Part 3
This one happened tonight. My band is playing a private party. Now, my band is a classic rock band, 3 old guys and one young guy playing guitar-based rock and roll. We do mostly 70's rock, and quite a bit of southern rock.
So, we're playing our second set at the party. In the middle of a song, a lady comes up to me, makes me stop playing so I can hear her, and asks me "when are you guys going to play The Electric Slide?"
Just as I was then, I am at a loss for words.
So, we're playing our second set at the party. In the middle of a song, a lady comes up to me, makes me stop playing so I can hear her, and asks me "when are you guys going to play The Electric Slide?"
Just as I was then, I am at a loss for words.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Happy Birthday, Bob Dorough!
Today, December 12, is Bob Dorough's Birthday. If you don't know who he is, read my recent post about him! You might want to also go to www.bobdorough.com and wish him a happy birthday!
Friday, December 01, 2006
Art Vs. Greed
Sorry to post another long one, but I think it's an important topic. If you haven't seen the movie Before The Music Dies, point your browser there and either find a screening near you or buy the DVD. I felt like it was a very timely movie, given the state of the business right now. This is not a review of the film, but I want to discuss several points they made.
One of the interview subjects in the movie makes a distinction between the "record business" and the "music business." Another gentleman points out that most of the “people who buy Brittney Spears records are not music fans, they are popular culture fans.” Mention is also made that the upper management at the major record labels know more about the stock market than they do about music.
There were other similar comments, including those of Questlove and Erykah Badu. Near the end of the film, Dave Matthews points out that you might as well go on “Fear Factor” if you are interested in fame and wealth. Otherwise, you should just find a way to do what you love, even if you have to work a day job to pay the bills.
Still, people continue to doggedly cling to the old, greed-based music industry model, despite all indications that it is falling apart all around us. Unfortunately, some of those true believers have settled into academia, and they are filling young minds with visions of large profits even as we speak. I certainly hope that this current crop of “music business” students don’t emerge from four years of college only to find that it no longer exists. I could be wrong, but this latest surge of insane litigation that some of the majors and the RIAA have undertaken looks like a desperate last-ditch money grab before they go down the tubes!
On the other hand, if you are a musician, especially of the “artistic” bent, the world is your oyster! I have firmly believed this for several years, and after seeing the film, I am even more convinced. We no longer need the major labels – they have become irrelevant, and may even die soon!
Here’s my advice for aspiring artists: find an indie label or, better yet, start your own label! Take some music business courses, and even some business courses, so that you can understand the business side yourself. Invest your time and money into getting your live act together, and booking a regional tour. Book a college tour through NACA if you think that would be a good avenue for your music. At each show, get people to sign up for your mailing list so you can let them know when you’re in the area again or releasing new material.
Buy your own recording gear, and record your CD’s yourself. Get a professional to mix and/or master them for you if that is not your forte. Get your myspace page going, duplicate your CD through Disc Makers or a similar service, and send it to CDBaby so you can get it on iTunes. Submit your songs to podcasts and internet radio stations devoted to new music. Join ASCAP or BMI, and make sure you submit your recording to soundscan.
I could go on and on, but I’m sure you get the picture. Of course, you don’t have to go it alone, either. I’m sure you have some good friends who are or were music business majors, and you can set up a partnership with them for a cut of the action!
That brings me to my last point. Whether you are in college or just involved in a local music scene, get to know people and cultivate those relationships. In my 6+ years at Greenville College, I have witnessed the strong community of Greenville graduates in Nashville, who are involved in all aspects of the industry. Many of them, for example, have landed gigs on the basis of a referral from a former classmate. It makes sense to build friendships and avoid burning bridges, because that relationship might help you out one day!
One of the interview subjects in the movie makes a distinction between the "record business" and the "music business." Another gentleman points out that most of the “people who buy Brittney Spears records are not music fans, they are popular culture fans.” Mention is also made that the upper management at the major record labels know more about the stock market than they do about music.
There were other similar comments, including those of Questlove and Erykah Badu. Near the end of the film, Dave Matthews points out that you might as well go on “Fear Factor” if you are interested in fame and wealth. Otherwise, you should just find a way to do what you love, even if you have to work a day job to pay the bills.
Still, people continue to doggedly cling to the old, greed-based music industry model, despite all indications that it is falling apart all around us. Unfortunately, some of those true believers have settled into academia, and they are filling young minds with visions of large profits even as we speak. I certainly hope that this current crop of “music business” students don’t emerge from four years of college only to find that it no longer exists. I could be wrong, but this latest surge of insane litigation that some of the majors and the RIAA have undertaken looks like a desperate last-ditch money grab before they go down the tubes!
On the other hand, if you are a musician, especially of the “artistic” bent, the world is your oyster! I have firmly believed this for several years, and after seeing the film, I am even more convinced. We no longer need the major labels – they have become irrelevant, and may even die soon!
Here’s my advice for aspiring artists: find an indie label or, better yet, start your own label! Take some music business courses, and even some business courses, so that you can understand the business side yourself. Invest your time and money into getting your live act together, and booking a regional tour. Book a college tour through NACA if you think that would be a good avenue for your music. At each show, get people to sign up for your mailing list so you can let them know when you’re in the area again or releasing new material.
Buy your own recording gear, and record your CD’s yourself. Get a professional to mix and/or master them for you if that is not your forte. Get your myspace page going, duplicate your CD through Disc Makers or a similar service, and send it to CDBaby so you can get it on iTunes. Submit your songs to podcasts and internet radio stations devoted to new music. Join ASCAP or BMI, and make sure you submit your recording to soundscan.
I could go on and on, but I’m sure you get the picture. Of course, you don’t have to go it alone, either. I’m sure you have some good friends who are or were music business majors, and you can set up a partnership with them for a cut of the action!
That brings me to my last point. Whether you are in college or just involved in a local music scene, get to know people and cultivate those relationships. In my 6+ years at Greenville College, I have witnessed the strong community of Greenville graduates in Nashville, who are involved in all aspects of the industry. Many of them, for example, have landed gigs on the basis of a referral from a former classmate. It makes sense to build friendships and avoid burning bridges, because that relationship might help you out one day!
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