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Joni Mitchell "Ashamed" To Be In Music Business
Roto Reuters via AOL ^ | Oct 14 2002 7:51PM | Unsigned

Posted on 10/15/2002 6:06:19 AM PDT by IncPen

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Hell hath no fury like Joni Mitchell on the subject of the music industry.

The veteran singer/songwriter, on the promotional trail for a new album, says she is "ashamed" to be part of the music business and may stop recording.

"I just think it's a cesspool," the 58-year-old folk-rock icon said in the latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine.

"I hope it all goes down the crapper. I would never take another deal in the record business, which means I may not record again, or I have to figure out a way to sell over the Net or do something else. But I'll be damned if I'll line their pockets."

Oddly, Mitchell just signed a new deal with Nonesuch Records, which will release her new album, "Travelogue" in November. Mitchell was previously based at Reprise Records where her last few albums sold poorly but won several Grammy Awards. Both labels are units of AOL Time Warner Inc.

Mitchell also lambasted MTV, complaining that her three-year-old granddaughter is already grabbing her crotch and dancing, imitating the video clips played on the music cable network.

"It's tragic what MTV has done to the world," opined Mitchell, who was voted the fifth greatest woman in rock 'n' roll by MTV's sister channel VH1. Both networks are owned by Viacom Inc.

Once described by her friend David Crosby as being "about as humble as Mussolini," Mitchell has previously described contemporary music as "appallingly sick ... boring chord movement and bad acting."

In holding up Bob Dylan and herself as the standard for songwriting, she has written off devotees like Sting, Alanis Morissette and Sheryl Crow.

Mitchell has also previously savaged her former label boss David Geffen for not paying her any royalties, although he has countered that her albums never sold enough copies to cover the advance payments that she received from him.

Born Roberta Joan Anderson in Canada, Mitchell has established herself as one of the most respected artists of her generation. Her eclectic career spans 35 years and includes such seminal albums as 1971's autobiographical "Blue" and the 1974 jazz-pop excursion "Court and Spark." She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

Reuters/Variety


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: canadian; hangeron; hasbeen; irrelevant; lefty; notalent; oldnews; pothead; sixtiesacid; wannabe; warbler; washedup; whoisjonimitchell
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says she is "ashamed" to be part of the music business and may stop recording

News Flash to Joni: You haven't been part of the 'music business' for the last 35 years...

My father used to say that the liberal's reward is self disgust. An apt description, here.

1 posted on 10/15/2002 6:06:20 AM PDT by IncPen
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To: IncPen
Oh darn. I've been anxiously awaiting the momentous arrival of the new groundbreaking CD by the talented Joni Mitchell, bound to usher in a new era of thoughtful and meaningful popular music.
2 posted on 10/15/2002 6:10:42 AM PDT by bulldawg
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To: IncPen
1974 jazz-pop excursion "Court and Spark."


I was a free man in Paris 
I felt unfettered and alive 
There was nobody calling me up for favors 
And no one's future to decide 
You know I'd go back there tomorrow 
But for the work I've taken on 
Stoking the star maker machinery 
Behind the popular song 

3 posted on 10/15/2002 6:11:46 AM PDT by AppyPappy
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To: IncPen
I think you Dad was right, and sounds like he was insightful too.... hope you don't mind if I use that slogan myself.... it's pretty much the truth.
4 posted on 10/15/2002 6:12:52 AM PDT by Hodar
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To: IncPen
One of the best concerts I ever attended was by Joni Mitchell in 1974. I know all about her politics but she was magical that evening.
5 posted on 10/15/2002 6:12:59 AM PDT by jalisco555
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To: IncPen
News Flash to Joni: You haven't been part of the 'music business' for the last 35 years...

Paved paradise, and put up a parking lot.

6 posted on 10/15/2002 6:13:45 AM PDT by Alouette
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To: IncPen
""Mitchell also lambasted MTV, complaining that her three-year-old granddaughter is already grabbing her crotch and dancing, imitating the video clips played on the music cable network. "

Come on. Does MUSIC really make children do this? Or is it something else.


7 posted on 10/15/2002 6:14:17 AM PDT by Diogenesis
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Comment #8 Removed by Moderator

To: IncPen
Joni Mitchell's still alive?
9 posted on 10/15/2002 6:15:26 AM PDT by VadeRetro
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To: IncPen
She's no Vaughan Monroe.
10 posted on 10/15/2002 6:15:48 AM PDT by Consort
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To: IncPen
Politics aside, I agree with her entirely. I, myself spent thirty years in the music business, and it's as sleazy as sleazy gets. The agents are just one micro-step above pimps, and the managers are even worse.

Your keywords are ridiculous. You sound like a teenager in a chat room. Personally, I hope this thread gets pulled for its irrelevance.
11 posted on 10/15/2002 6:16:48 AM PDT by EggsAckley
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To: IncPen
Dear Joni,
Here's a quarter, buy a clue. Turn the TV off for your granddaughter.
If the mother lets her 3 year old watch MTV than Joni must've done a poor job herself.
12 posted on 10/15/2002 6:22:25 AM PDT by MomwithHope
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To: IncPen
The music industry is alive and well, trust me. I see/hear live music at least twice a week and am constantly amazed by the quality and (gulp) diversity of the talent and styles out there.

I will emphasize, however, that no longer does the good music just come to you -- you need to take an active role in seeking it out. What comes to you these days is the eye-candy crap that some marketing firm has decided is the next big thing. Guess what? It's garbage! Think small venues, small bands, little or no air-time, no recording contract and little publicity; and then just listen............it's out there, believe me.

13 posted on 10/15/2002 6:22:35 AM PDT by 1tin_soldier
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Comment #14 Removed by Moderator

To: Hodar
I think your Dad was right, and sounds like he was insightful too.... hope you don't mind if I use that slogan myself.... it's pretty much the truth.

By all means, that's why I included it...

15 posted on 10/15/2002 6:32:00 AM PDT by IncPen
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To: EggsAckley
Politics aside, I agree with her entirely. I, myself spent thirty years in the music business, and it's as sleazy as sleazy gets.

You ought to try television...

Your keywords are ridiculous. You sound like a teenager in a chat room. Personally, I hope this thread gets pulled for its irrelevance.

Yes, I agree. You're much more qualified than me to decide what gets posted on FR.

16 posted on 10/15/2002 6:34:24 AM PDT by IncPen
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To: jalisco555
One of the best concerts I ever attended was by Joni Mitchell in 1974. I know all about her politics but she was magical that evening.

Her tour with Jaco Pastorius and Pat Metheny's band produced perhaps the greatest live album ever, Live at the Hollywood Bowl

It was Jaco at his peak, and Joni's music brought out his best ideas.

17 posted on 10/15/2002 6:36:33 AM PDT by WL-law
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To: IncPen
Did you have to study to be a rude jerk, or were you just born that way?

Just curious.
18 posted on 10/15/2002 6:37:59 AM PDT by EggsAckley
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To: EggsAckley
Hmm. I guess I studied.

What about you?

19 posted on 10/15/2002 6:39:19 AM PDT by IncPen
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To: IncPen
Good one:

My father used to say that the liberal's reward is self disgust.

20 posted on 10/15/2002 6:40:52 AM PDT by GOPJ
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