Replies

This is the first really good article I have seen on the problems with the music business. The execs have been going more and more political, and relinquishing authority/micromanaging. I know, that looks like an oxymoron. Allow me to explain.

Politics were clearly behind the nomination of Jimmy Carter for the spoken word album, and Al Gore being a presenter. The nominations of the DC's was also political. Many of the nominations are done by trade committees (hand picked producers, artists, label people etc of the genre)and not necessarily the general membership of the RIAA, so, like the MSM the bias shows.

The execs relinquish authority when they allow the artistry to appeal to the least common denominator. One who is classless, crude, rude and socially unacceptable is encouraged. No one will tell someone they have gone over the line anymore, resulting in many people like myself (mothers, grandmothers, civil people in general), refusing to purchase, or to allow the purchase of, any of that crap.

Additionally, you have the "bean counters" dictating what is "hot" now. We had a very talented artist we worked with and were told "Hat singers aren't selling now, make him a trio". He went on to produce 2 highly mediocre albums, neither of which even we would purchase.

The availability of decent music over the internet, with no label involvement, is what is causing the industry to die. I am in the music business, and I have not personally bought a CD in over 5 years.

I believe this all started when the uber leftist MTV decided to "Take back the country" with that ridiculous "ROCK the VOTE" campaign. Their new priority is not to promote music, but to promote the Leftist agenda and persuade the younger generations to start dominating the elections with their Liberal Ideology.

In that respect, it has worked. There is a new generation of very political and liberal voters among the electorate. More than any other time in recent history.

As I wrote yesterday: Ya know,,, You can train a monkey to dance a jig in front of an organ grinder. And to collect money from passersby. Does that make the monkey a professional entertainer? No, the monkey's just a trained animal, like so many of today's stars.

".....and were told "Hat singers aren't selling now, make him a trio"

This is a representation of the truth that most people in the music industry don't actually know what is possible, they only know what has been done.

All that matters is the song and the singing of it (like the tale and the telling of it).