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ivan@stellysee.de
| From | "W. Colter" <deedlemusic@sbcglobal.net> |
| Subject | Rant explained |
| Date | Fri, 11 Jul 2003 20:53:31 -0700 (PDT) |
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From: "josh chasin":
>>note to self... NEVER fuck with Wendie...>>>
Lol! Okay, I'm sorry, really. Blame it on low blood
sugar. Kevin and I have chatted offlist and he's been
extremely chivalrous about my flame-a-thon.
Joceyln wrote:
>>>>okay. i've got to ask. you rarely post except to
give this one opinion about how none of us know what
it's like to be a starving artiste. but isn't it true
that many of the people on this list ARE in fact,
starving artists, label owners, and trying to "make
it" and also AT THE SAME TIME want to 1. do what they
want with their music which at its core, is really
just a symptom of how bloated and greedy the whole
'major label' (see: monopoly?) system has become and
2. think the majors suck as much as the rest of us
'non-musicians.'>>>>
Joceyln, this subject is so huge I honestly don't know
where to start, but I can tell you that the knee-jerk
reaction to Hating All Major Labels And Everything
They Stand For just doesn't fly with me. Loads of
Indie Labels follow in the same tradition as Major
Labels and the contracts can be just as bad or even
worse, cuz you don't even get the trade-off of
big-budget goodies that make it possible for other
opportunties that can potentially further your career.
Labels run a business with a large overhead --
therefore, yes, it's a crapshoot when you sign with
any label, Major or Indie and a even bigger crapshoot
when you DIY it (see Michael Carpenter and Adam
Marsland's posts). Your label-signed friends that had
a worst-case scenario happen to them certainly weren't
expecting that -- they were hoping they'd get a
release and a big tour and all the hoopla and that's
why they took a chance. Better to take that chance
than regret you never did, eh?
Those artists that get "chewed up and spit out" could
also think to be appreciative of what they DID get --
an album released nationally? A presence in the biz
and a fan base that they can potentially work
themselves? If no album was released, hell -- they
got to go to industry conferences, get written up in
trades and shake the hands of folks who could
potentially help them in the future. These are not
small things - and not available in the same way in
any other scenario.
Traditionally it's been the artists who've griped
about various injustices of the biz, as well we
should. Now consumers are griping because they can't
have their free-share music or CDs aren't playing in
computers or radio sucks. Yes, those are all
excellent concerns and it's absolute insanity that the
Powers That Be are too busy keeping their heads up
their butts to get pro-active and creative about
solutions that actually benefit everyone.
But that's not the point. The point is -- now that
consumers and fans are being personally affected by
the endemic crud, which is definitely worse
than ever -- suddenly EVERYONE'S an authority on
everything! Everyone's read the Steve Albini article
and thinks they know all. Everyone has a story about
how evil the Music Biz is, how corrupt, blah blah
blah. Yeah, duh, tell me something I don't know.
Here's a newsflash -- all big business is corrupt and
in need of an overhaul, go figure.
jocelyn wrote:
>>>now, i know i don't know the industry. really. i'm
just an outside observer with music friends.
And THAT'S my point exactly, Jocelyn. Here's what I
suggest: do what I did when I was starting out -- read
books about the biz, take seminars, talk to
entertainment attorneys, label people, signed artists,
go to music conferences and take in all the panels,
educate yourself on what this business really is
about, what it can and can't do for you or your
friends and then you'll have an informed opinion about
this enormous subject.
If you don't care to do any of that, then do the
artists you love a favor and run with David Bash's
fantastic idea to organize as consumers and put some
pressure on the industry in areas that you absolutely
know something about and can speak on with tons of
authority.
So, that's why I get so steamed up when this subject
comes up -- and I have to tell you guys that every
time I do, I get a lot of offlist email from musicians
and various industry-type list folks applauding me for
being so gutsy as to tell the truth about THEIR
experience when I tell mine and expressing the same
frustrations with the fans. (And I appreciate it and
I love you guys, but I kinda wish you'd post your
thoughts directly to the list for all to benefit from,
ya know.)
Anyway, thanks to everyone for listening and
responding.
Wendie
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