State of Music Industry

Full of win right there.

Ahh, good article though. While I agree with a lot of what he says, there's also a twinge of that back in the day kind of diatribe in that article which irks me. Not to say it is unfounded, and I REALLY do agree that music, the music industry itself is pretty stagnant, i wish he would have at least highlighted some of the good things going on.

It is really hard though, to get yourself out there and to make yourself and your art. I'm pretty much relegated to playing coffee shops and lounge bars, which is sad... I don't know. It just doesn't fit. Sure I play jazz, but most of my time is spent doing late night practices in hazy garages talking about The Clash or the Dead Kennedy's with my guitarist who is an avid punk rocker (but play jazz better than most proclaimed jazz musicians), while Radiohead and Mastodon are blaring in the background.

I don't know, it just doesn't fit. Jazz isn't scene enough, it's not hip enough. Hell, even when I'm playing swing, 90% of the time it's for a crowd retro-swing dancing hipsters... the rock music I'm into isn't cookie cutter molded junk that's aimed at the business model of my 18-30 age group either.

I was at my friends house last night and the singer from a somewhat bigger band in this area was over talking about going platinum. He was pretty vapid, and to be honest their music is pretty much assembly line rock and roll...

It's a crummy feeling though. That I'm supposed to be making a product, rather than just plain old making music.

That's an interesting take on this subject.

I like this one too - hang in there for Phil's whole rant - there really wasn't ever the good old days in this biz. (Phil Alvin of The Blasters)

TB!

That
Freakin'
Rocked!!!

freakin furniture companies!!
I did like John Mellencamp's article, but I agree that there was a touch of permafrost in there somewhere (frozen in time)

Inevitable, no doubt...

http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/index.php/archives/2009/03/25/re-mellencamp-on-the-music-business/

Reading Mellencamp on the music business is like listening to Fred Silverman or another legendary network programmer lamenting the advent of cable, which decimated dominant television shows from the big three. Mellencamp wants us all to bury our heads in the sand and jet back to 1972, or at least 1982, when he became a superstar, and live in a world of darkness, where shady characters playing a Mafia-esque game had a tight grip on music production and distribution.
Hogwash.

*ding ding* round one over. haha.

I didnt read the article, but one time my dog got into a bag of M and Ms and she had really gross choco-vomito and it was gross cause it actually smelled quite nice.

rock.

DDD

rock.

DDD

DDD...you are one amazing individual, lemme tell you. I've never met anyone so adept at being so random. Do these things come to you in your sleep? :D

yup! only DDD can take it to that level. Many including me have tried, but have all failed badly. DDD we salute you sir, you are one of a kind

Sorry TB, I can't get the Tube here at work, but I read most of the Mellencamp article, and skimmed the rest. I don't really buy into what Mellencamp is saying. He sounds like he played in That Thing You Do. He gripes about the invention of the CD for Uglies Sake. I don't think BDS and Sound Scan data have so much influence as he makes it seem either. Radio plays and record sales are not the only factors anymore with Ringtones, Music Videos, and of course downloads producing sales and artists as well. Those medias are not marketed to the 12 major markets. Another upcoming factor is satellite radio. XM & Sirius should have a good deal of influence playing to the largest radio market out there, but I see no mention of that either.
The only state of the music biz news I get in Mellencamp's article is that Mellencamp is out of the biz.

Edit:
That Phil piece is enlightening... if it is true. It is a great piece of musical history, and a great story.