General Music Chat

Just wondering because there is a lot of good advice going around I thought it might be good for other people too?

I haven't by the way. Usual carp in the studio, false promises and fake band members when you really do need them.

So where is the success story on here please?

Cheers.

Chippy.

Just wondering because there is a lot of good advice going around I thought it might be good for other people too?

I haven't by the way. Usual carp in the studio, false promises and fake band members when you really do need them.

So where is the success story on here please?

Cheers.

Chippy.

Success comes in many different levels.

What level do you speak of?

My big hit single, "I Like Ronnie's Hair" (a parody about some 'ol president's highly groomed locks) made Dr Demento's playlist many times. It was also played by that Stearn guy when he was on WNBC,N.Y.C. Come On To Me (which I ripped from vinyl to put on my BandMix profile, received much airplay on WZZO,one of eastern Pennsylvania's big A.O.R. stations.

"Ronnie's Hair" was pressed on 45 rpm vinyl and received a little bit of airplay nationally.

"Come On To Me" was featured on a 33 1/3 rpm compilation album of regional bands.

Those songs are products of another era. In this day and age, its much more difficult to get music aired, however, thanks to technological developments, it's a whole lot easier to self produce listenable music.
The competition is extreme, so I would suggest to any creator of music that they primarily concentrate on creating good songs and worry less about having a bit "hit" (Anyways, I'm not sure that there is such a thing any more)
Howlin'

Our song Love Me For Me is being played on Hawaiian and LV radio stations. In fact we just sent some songs to a station in Anchorage Alaska. Talk about oppososite spectrums. Hahaha.

1-3 gigs a week. So far we've played with bigger acts like Katchafire, Rebel Souljahz, Three Houses down, The English Beat. We have it in the works to be on the Warpt extreme sports tour next spring. And we're due to record a full length cd within the month.

So I'm feeling like I'm in the middle of a certain level of success, and still climbing. It's a slow process, but I've only been in this band for about a year. (knocking on wood).

I agree that success comes in different levels. And we're still experiencing those levels one at a time as the opportunities come our way, and we seek them out. I've been enjoying the ride so far.

I would say it's probably tougher now for bands to get on the radio, most college stations have gone mainstream and very few stations play local music these days...even harder..to find clubs that have original bands. Back in 92 we had #1 songs for 8 weeks on NYC college stations but it didn't attract any attention from the record companies, I think if the members stuck it out, it would have gone somewhere...it's usually darkest before the light so you just have to keep plugging away.

I took the same direction as my cousin and just joined an established obscure band that has a record of touring and already has airplay.
It definitely makes it easier when critics and big promoters are fans.


Companies have to fight to get your stuff on the radio, even Bob Geffen had a hard time getting Guns and Roses on the radio and on MTV, so having some big guns on your side with invested interest in the band helps.

Hey thanks folks. Hope you didn't think it was a leading question, it wasn't. In the UK for example we have one chart, (At least we did once, hope we still do). Although it creates a narrow funnel for music it also creates an urgency in the local scene.

Much easier to find a venue etc.

Nearly every band I can remember that was worth their salt had a CD of some sort (Then a demo tape) and some got gigs at large venues and even air time on the Radio. I agree that there are levels of success but to my mind charting must be the pinnacle of a carear surely. That's where you get heard, get a larger fanbase and bigger gigs right?

Or is it different here?

Thanks again.

No, that sounds about right Chippy. Once you've reached terrestrial radio on any national scale, bigger opportunities come your way. But there have been bands who have made good careers using the internet as their focused medium. It's more of a rarity, but it can work.

Does producing a Nr 1 song for a artist count as success?

Not to me it didn't

My greatest accomplishment in life was makeing a series of video interviews called "The WWII veterans of Chippewa county" The family members got the tapes for free and I donated Copys of the masters to the Chippewa county historical society. Only one of the veterans is alive today. When ever I visit the local coffee shop, their the locals treat me like I'm some kind of God send or something. Thats Success. I have nothing but respect for those familys and they have nothing but respect for me. Brings a tear to my eye everytime we talk about the tapes and how much it touched the hearts of the people there. I made 0 dollars on that project and the rewards are more than you can ever imagine.

So when you say having a song on the radio is sucess, I think not. Its what you do with it that makes it successful.

Kudos RGM and I know what you mean too. Personal gratification and pride can count for a heck lot more than folks think it can sometimes.

I still think however that having a Golden disc sitting on the wall of your studio counts however. I just wondered if anyone had one of these? I'd love one, won't get one but man it would open a lot of previously closed doors no?

Does producing a Nr 1 song for a artist count as success?

Not to me it didn't

My greatest accomplishment in life was makeing a series of video interviews called "The WWII veterans of Chippewa county" The family members got the tapes for free and I donated Copys of the masters to the Chippewa county historical society. Only one of the veterans is alive today. When ever I visit the local coffee shop, their the locals treat me like I'm some kind of God send or something. Thats Success. I have nothing but respect for those familys and they have nothing but respect for me. Brings a tear to my eye everytime we talk about the tapes and how much it touched the hearts of the people there. I made 0 dollars on that project and the rewards are more than you can ever imagine.

So when you say having a song on the radio is sucess, I think not. Its what you do with it that makes it successful.

If I'd had a gold disk on my wall this week I'd hocked it for a tank of gas and five dollars for lunch.

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