Post by jt60 on Jul 3, 2009 5:03:14 GMT -5
I have recently noticed, just how confusing it can be to qualify the credibility of those behind the overwhelming number of propositions out there, digital, physical, management - all of which claim to have the solution to your future.
So how can you be confident that any of it will work for you, & what actually lies behind the mainly server based sell.
Or, Is it all purely airborne vapour-ware?
Facts... Are not the only victim of the internet, data can be manipulated & a wonderfully shinny front page can often have a total self-promoting blagger behind it...
For sure - There's plenty of useful software available, you can worm your friends, configure sophisticated servers, build, host or even own a platform, but who should you place your faith, trust & belief in, if you are serious about a career???
If you are thinking of submitting your physical being or even signature to any agreement or proposal - please ask yourself the following about the svengali that has just rode into your life.
"If they didn't previously have any credibility or experience in the business of music, what makes you think they will now become enlightened"
Then - Can they or any of their cohorts sing - do they have even the remotest insight into any of the following = music, chords, melody, lyrics? I think you should at least ask them to clap in time!
Has the "entity" that has just sold you your future ANY notable experience or track record of what they claim to be capable of delivering to you - success with your music... Can they make you sound better than the other guys?
Check-out what they did their 10,000 hours in? And really look closely at any proposition to qualify that it has got what it takes when it comes down to delivering your core objectives? The heart & soul of what you do.
For the future... Look to those sites or companies with the actual content producing skills, & within an environment that protects your ownership & enhances you art.
Anybody can be on a platform of 300,000 waiting for a train!!!
Music Content Production @ 2.0 costs will define the winners & losers for the future.
There is no recognition of this from these bogus platforms, but how does anybody think bands got their in the first place, a flash profile with a forum full of psychos.
Every artist, band, or player needs some love & development - to not understand this is like feeding a baby pork!
Sadly, many management companies are still "cuffed" to the old school of "endless budgets" & "big commercial stunts" even U2 can't pull that one of anymore, therefore a lot of what you would normally aspire to achieve is simply no longer accessible - this is the false hope still being sold.
From the extensive research I have done, most company's strategies for the future are unclear, either based on old 1.0 habits or untested 2.0 business models with software that outdates quicker than a pair of shoes & no capital to deliver what they claim.
Even EMI ran out of cash & almost defaulted to CitiBank in March 09'...
What you see from the past is the product of an analog & physical age - that business model can no longer service careers, aspiration or creativity - And pay you handsomely [if at all] if you succeed.
And many of the the techno driven alternatives are fat on data, but lack any foundation at the front of the process - music content, & the recognition or ability to partake in the development of that.
Its simply not credible for these binary companies to speculate that anybody can equally participate in the market, each with their own enclave of adoring customers - which other business has such a sappy-hippie theory... Its still going to be competitive!
One has to learn to produce music in a completely new environment - re-structuring your production/content method in lieu of this, will leave you less exposed to losses & more inclined to succeed & become profitable, if you are a serious music maker.
Who really has the time for a bunch of overweight executives at labels bemoaning their self-inflicted downturn - and then clobbering a few punters into the process in court - pathetic & shameful...
Many people are now also increasingly disappointed at their digital music sales because they relied on a seemingly good idea backed by a total lack of experience from those espousing their "platform products" without the first basic clue about producing excellent music, [more false hope]
What should you expect from the approx. 23,000 networks backed by this cartoonesque fantasy - Mickey M... Nice Flash site however!!!
You can't build a balance sheet of goodwill & adulation without the viral effect of stunning music & that's nothing new - Perhaps with such a huge on-line audiences, we simply need better music services, which means a more engaged industry, with serious people with music based skills & less hapless wannabe start-ups.
EG... you have squillions of friends but not many are buying into you - familiar stuff now - Name a Myspace rock-star
The consolidation of commercial success into the quantum of achievement previously experienced may never happen again - particularly if there are no dollars building careers & so many "label skills" that have disappeared over the past decade !
Therefore before you take that leap of faith - Just stop and take a cold hard look at who is advising/promoting you on some of the following - A&R, Production, Release, Mixes, Marketing, Mastering, Photos, Video, Gigs, Technology, Financials, Legals... Many traditional terms but still the relative language to describe your activities...
Its difficult to avoid any of this even in the most modest of professional capacities.
Merely facilitating any old tosh, to accumulate false hope - is not the answer - And there's a ton of platforms out there with absolutely no hope of you ever paying the rent from - because you are not required to look closely & deeper at what you do before you get on there...
Today it seems that everybody just wants to rush to "dumb numbers" - nobody is even quite sure what the numbers mean!!! I have seen a lot of research on digi numbers - its not as simple as the old school want it to be - there is no direct physical to digital solution for the major copyright holders, otherwise they wouldn't be in such deep poop...
Therefore - if anybody sells you a "yarn" just ask them where they get their information from & qualify their claims. There are plenty with access to information & technology but that's where it ends.
Making a great product & providing the means of 'getting it out there' is always going to be a massive process, maybe one that is going thru a period of adjustment - but nevertheless still a skillful, professional practice & the technology advance merely gives you faster access to your soul.
What you find when you get there may still need a touch of human skills, professional attention & re-work... But - If an opportunity is on the table, be tough on yourself & those offering as such - why settle for less?
You may find some of the challenges your are confronted with difficult to deal with - friendships can be tested & trashed - & if you're not prepared to make some of the shitiest decisions of your life, or be shat upon in turn - then go get a safer job...
If your mantra is that "music is your life", then surely it should tell you something, so stick with it, find the good eggs - put in the hours - dig deeper than before.
BUILD A FORMIDABLE TEAM based on skills, reputation & belief - then maybe your music will come to life & you will eventually have a life in music.
If you don't do this & haven't prepared yourself, then the modern illusion of fame & celebrity will not turn out to be a very attractive option. Take Susan Boyle - that escapade should give you some guidance as to how vacuous the end game can be...
Metaphorically speaking, & before you fall down from trying - do the very best you can to surround yourself with people who have "great tunes" - whether it be, audio, visual, art, concept, feel, vision, technology, finance... & not the "Walter Mitty's" who want backdoor friendship or stupid fees & dumb numbers to feather their own shortcomings.
Look for the people who totally have your back, not those who are intent on sticking the knife in yours, if you need "eyes in the back of your head" because you were fooled by one of the many people you will no doubt encounter, then just deal with the unpleasantness of it... for example: firing a band member to get a deal is as ruff as it gets & also as real as it gets!!!
There is no substitute for - loyalty, dignity & respect, demand it - because you are in for a very bumpy ride & those who stake a claim in your future need to be capable of handling all this, & then some - so watch-out for the lifestyle clones - they are the worst.
Big bastards that's what the Beatles were.
"You have to be a bastard to make it, and that's a fact. The Beatles were the biggest bastards on Earth"... John Lennon
You also have to be capable of dealing with the odd bastard now & again!!!
Form the right team, take no prisoners & the combination of competence can still be staggering.
Andy Taylor
June 21 2009
NAT
So how can you be confident that any of it will work for you, & what actually lies behind the mainly server based sell.
Or, Is it all purely airborne vapour-ware?
Facts... Are not the only victim of the internet, data can be manipulated & a wonderfully shinny front page can often have a total self-promoting blagger behind it...
For sure - There's plenty of useful software available, you can worm your friends, configure sophisticated servers, build, host or even own a platform, but who should you place your faith, trust & belief in, if you are serious about a career???
If you are thinking of submitting your physical being or even signature to any agreement or proposal - please ask yourself the following about the svengali that has just rode into your life.
"If they didn't previously have any credibility or experience in the business of music, what makes you think they will now become enlightened"
Then - Can they or any of their cohorts sing - do they have even the remotest insight into any of the following = music, chords, melody, lyrics? I think you should at least ask them to clap in time!
Has the "entity" that has just sold you your future ANY notable experience or track record of what they claim to be capable of delivering to you - success with your music... Can they make you sound better than the other guys?
Check-out what they did their 10,000 hours in? And really look closely at any proposition to qualify that it has got what it takes when it comes down to delivering your core objectives? The heart & soul of what you do.
For the future... Look to those sites or companies with the actual content producing skills, & within an environment that protects your ownership & enhances you art.
Anybody can be on a platform of 300,000 waiting for a train!!!
Music Content Production @ 2.0 costs will define the winners & losers for the future.
There is no recognition of this from these bogus platforms, but how does anybody think bands got their in the first place, a flash profile with a forum full of psychos.
Every artist, band, or player needs some love & development - to not understand this is like feeding a baby pork!
Sadly, many management companies are still "cuffed" to the old school of "endless budgets" & "big commercial stunts" even U2 can't pull that one of anymore, therefore a lot of what you would normally aspire to achieve is simply no longer accessible - this is the false hope still being sold.
From the extensive research I have done, most company's strategies for the future are unclear, either based on old 1.0 habits or untested 2.0 business models with software that outdates quicker than a pair of shoes & no capital to deliver what they claim.
Even EMI ran out of cash & almost defaulted to CitiBank in March 09'...
What you see from the past is the product of an analog & physical age - that business model can no longer service careers, aspiration or creativity - And pay you handsomely [if at all] if you succeed.
And many of the the techno driven alternatives are fat on data, but lack any foundation at the front of the process - music content, & the recognition or ability to partake in the development of that.
Its simply not credible for these binary companies to speculate that anybody can equally participate in the market, each with their own enclave of adoring customers - which other business has such a sappy-hippie theory... Its still going to be competitive!
One has to learn to produce music in a completely new environment - re-structuring your production/content method in lieu of this, will leave you less exposed to losses & more inclined to succeed & become profitable, if you are a serious music maker.
Who really has the time for a bunch of overweight executives at labels bemoaning their self-inflicted downturn - and then clobbering a few punters into the process in court - pathetic & shameful...
Many people are now also increasingly disappointed at their digital music sales because they relied on a seemingly good idea backed by a total lack of experience from those espousing their "platform products" without the first basic clue about producing excellent music, [more false hope]
What should you expect from the approx. 23,000 networks backed by this cartoonesque fantasy - Mickey M... Nice Flash site however!!!
You can't build a balance sheet of goodwill & adulation without the viral effect of stunning music & that's nothing new - Perhaps with such a huge on-line audiences, we simply need better music services, which means a more engaged industry, with serious people with music based skills & less hapless wannabe start-ups.
EG... you have squillions of friends but not many are buying into you - familiar stuff now - Name a Myspace rock-star
The consolidation of commercial success into the quantum of achievement previously experienced may never happen again - particularly if there are no dollars building careers & so many "label skills" that have disappeared over the past decade !
Therefore before you take that leap of faith - Just stop and take a cold hard look at who is advising/promoting you on some of the following - A&R, Production, Release, Mixes, Marketing, Mastering, Photos, Video, Gigs, Technology, Financials, Legals... Many traditional terms but still the relative language to describe your activities...
Its difficult to avoid any of this even in the most modest of professional capacities.
Merely facilitating any old tosh, to accumulate false hope - is not the answer - And there's a ton of platforms out there with absolutely no hope of you ever paying the rent from - because you are not required to look closely & deeper at what you do before you get on there...
Today it seems that everybody just wants to rush to "dumb numbers" - nobody is even quite sure what the numbers mean!!! I have seen a lot of research on digi numbers - its not as simple as the old school want it to be - there is no direct physical to digital solution for the major copyright holders, otherwise they wouldn't be in such deep poop...
Therefore - if anybody sells you a "yarn" just ask them where they get their information from & qualify their claims. There are plenty with access to information & technology but that's where it ends.
Making a great product & providing the means of 'getting it out there' is always going to be a massive process, maybe one that is going thru a period of adjustment - but nevertheless still a skillful, professional practice & the technology advance merely gives you faster access to your soul.
What you find when you get there may still need a touch of human skills, professional attention & re-work... But - If an opportunity is on the table, be tough on yourself & those offering as such - why settle for less?
You may find some of the challenges your are confronted with difficult to deal with - friendships can be tested & trashed - & if you're not prepared to make some of the shitiest decisions of your life, or be shat upon in turn - then go get a safer job...
If your mantra is that "music is your life", then surely it should tell you something, so stick with it, find the good eggs - put in the hours - dig deeper than before.
BUILD A FORMIDABLE TEAM based on skills, reputation & belief - then maybe your music will come to life & you will eventually have a life in music.
If you don't do this & haven't prepared yourself, then the modern illusion of fame & celebrity will not turn out to be a very attractive option. Take Susan Boyle - that escapade should give you some guidance as to how vacuous the end game can be...
Metaphorically speaking, & before you fall down from trying - do the very best you can to surround yourself with people who have "great tunes" - whether it be, audio, visual, art, concept, feel, vision, technology, finance... & not the "Walter Mitty's" who want backdoor friendship or stupid fees & dumb numbers to feather their own shortcomings.
Look for the people who totally have your back, not those who are intent on sticking the knife in yours, if you need "eyes in the back of your head" because you were fooled by one of the many people you will no doubt encounter, then just deal with the unpleasantness of it... for example: firing a band member to get a deal is as ruff as it gets & also as real as it gets!!!
There is no substitute for - loyalty, dignity & respect, demand it - because you are in for a very bumpy ride & those who stake a claim in your future need to be capable of handling all this, & then some - so watch-out for the lifestyle clones - they are the worst.
Big bastards that's what the Beatles were.
"You have to be a bastard to make it, and that's a fact. The Beatles were the biggest bastards on Earth"... John Lennon
You also have to be capable of dealing with the odd bastard now & again!!!
Form the right team, take no prisoners & the combination of competence can still be staggering.
Andy Taylor
June 21 2009
NAT
