--- In vocalist-temporary@yahoogroups.com, "lestaylor2003
<LesTaylor@a...>" <LesTaylor@a...> wrote:
>The law is on their side and they are not accountable to
> anyone. Kinda reminds me of that movie with Jeff bridges where he
> tries to market a new car but the big manufacturers sabotage his
> business. What was the name of that show?
>
I think the flick was called 'Tucker'.
Though I did not see but the last 10 minutes of the Grammy's (and
none of the performances) I can offer some perspective on the
business aspects of this, since I have been involved in computer-
related companies (and intellectual property) for 20 years, some from
the ground up.
Record companies are just that, companies. They have owners, they
provide products and services to their markets. Producers and
companies take risks (that is, invest in artists) all the time, its
just that they like to minimize those risks because they are
accountable TO THE OWNERS OF THE COMPANIES. This is a commercial
accountability, not an artistic one.
Now, while some may lament (like me) the quality of the vocalism or
general musicianship of the things that are produced, THEY SELL.
They sell because people respond with their dollars at the check-out
line or concert venue. Things that don't sell well get dropped very
rapidly, or they receive minimal publicity to manage costs. Its the
Producer's job to determine _in_ _advance_ how well something will do
in the market, and to make the appropriate incremental investments
that will yield the target revenues and associated profit margins.
Some of this is just guesswork, but some is also market research.
News about 'hot' local bands or artists percolates up, sombody (a
local promoter) funds larger and larger venues for them, and the
recording demand for them ascends as awareness and appreciation
(popularity) grow.
Here is a challenge: If you want to change the recording industry, a
new aesthetic must emerge to replace the current one. That aesthetic
will be at the level of the musical language of the performers. It
will be at the poetic level, too. Its about music and poetic
education. Its about personal expression.
Ask the kids at the high school who the _best_ local young bands are,
and why they like them. Get a garage CD of these groups, and connect
with them somehow. If they sing in a school group, meet their
director, and tell them that you want to help these bands sing long
and well. You earn the right to influence someone's artistic
development by being involved with their lives, their hopes and their
goals. Help them with their microphone diction. Help them with their
breathing and phrasing. Help them with their vocal harmony and with
vowels. Work with the instrumentalists on rhythmic stability. Talk
with them about balance. Talk with the lyricists about their poetic
voice.
In my opinion, people who care about something are the ones that
should be doing something to make a difference, to further it along.
They are the ones that 'own' emotionally the core values of the thing.
To me, its more important (and more fun) to get involved and make
that difference, than to stand by and diss the outcome. Its up to us
to make that difference. With our perspective, our vision and our
experience, we CAN make a profound difference in the music business
by helping the artists.
Regards,
Steven Fraser
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