Music Industry Discussion

All to often in this crazy ass world of music do we ALL run into the wanna be's. Here is the funny part about wanna be's. They are the ones that majority of the time make it. I have heard alot of people bitch about this subject and yes I have been known to bitch about it as well but the bottom line is this. The wanna be's aren't afraid to suck dick, kiss ass, or anything else that would get them through the door.

I myself have witnessed what some people will do to get anything from the music industry. Hell shitty bar bands let there girlfriends give hand jobs to the industry guy's reviewing them for a small time newspaper.

In a way it is sickening that this people get to reap the benefits of the music industry but the sad fact is that it works. The worst of this type of hypocricy is those in the Christian side of the house. Now I don't think that everyone in the christian music scene is a bad person but I do think that some bands should distinguish themselves between beleivers and performers.

I have seen christian bands that have vices worse then satan himself yet they sell out every show. It's crazy that people put so much into these people they know nothing about. Again the media is to blame for majority of this. The media are the ones that make people like britney spears famous.

I know all of this seems to be a downer of a piece but here is the question. When do honest musicians with great talent have to know when to kiss ass? Does the musician have to make a few phone calls to make the meet and greet happen or is it the whole right place right time. I myself have never kissed anyones ass when it came to music and that is probably why i'm not famous. I told 2 guy's in Nashville that they stuck out like sore thumbs because of there monkey suits. They both smiled at me and said that is the point.

There main goal for the evening was to woo some young girls in the bar into going home with them. It worked.

Anyway it's just something to chew on for a little while. If anyone knows the right time to kiss ass or if it is even necesarry please feel free to chime in. I have been wondering about this for quite sometime.

Dude, your post was right on the money. I'm in total agreeance with everything you just said. I was beginning to feel like I was the only one who not only felt that way, but would say anything about it. I also feel that the reason I'm no further along in this game is because I won't kiss anybody's ass. That's not what I'm in it for. I've had several people tell me that this "must" be done. Yeah, but not by me. What my guitar can't say, won't be heard. I've been playing for quite a few years now, and I definitely know what I'm doing when it comes to playing any of the instruments that I play, and I refuse to compromise my integrity just to get a gig or two because after the gig, I'm the one who has to face myself in the mirror the next morning. And I'm determined to like what I see, which is always a musician who went out there last night and gave all of his musical talents in order to make people happy for a few hours, not some sleaze bucket who's letting his girl wrap her hands around some dude's schlong just so I can get out there and "be seen".
In truth, the majority of movers and shakers in the music business are just failed musicians themselves, who are now going to step on everyone else's dreams just because "they" sucked so bad that "they" couldn't make it. But I always said that if and when I do make it, it will be on "my" terms. Best of luck to you dude. YOu definitely have the right attitude. Maybe we'll make it, maybe we won't. But wherever we wind up, we'll definitely have our integrity intact. Jody.

Amen, guys.
and
Jody, you said, ". . . gave all of his musical talents in order to make people happy for a few hours . . . '
Yeah, that's kinda what it's about, huh?
When I play, I feel like I'm sharing something with others. I'm not giving it to them; I'm playing for myself, and sharing it . . .
And when I see how happy people get when they hear the music, it's a great feeling. . . . like you've done something good for the world. There's too much anger and misery in this world; if you can do something to ease it, you're doin a good thing, huh?
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No need to kiss butt to make people happy (and maybe make a few bucks at the same time) . . .

Yeah it always comes down to the man you see in the mirror everyday. That is the one you have to keep happy. Not everyone else. It is sad that people forget to do that. It is also sad that the music industry tries to make people into these slaves of the machine.

Most famous people are actually in debt to there record companies for the advancements they recieve for there albums. Alot of people don't know that but it's the nature of the beast.

I don't ever think i'll make it with a record label. I really don't care because right now I record my music at home and I post it on the internet for people to listen to and even download. I have the songs on my profile here and then they are on my myspace page. I don't even think I would care if someone stole my music lol.

That just means that it was good enough lol! Willie nelson has kinda the same mentality about his tunes. He sold one of his songs for $50.00 one time.

I am glad that there are more people out there who feel the same way I do. That is probably one of the coolest things I have seen in a long time. You guy's take it easy and hopefully we will get more people joined in the conversation. SEe ya!

Well stated, Mon Frer.

I have to add that the only beef I have with "Christian rock" is that all of it I have heard so far (which is quite alot as my wife is a Christian) is quite "same-y" and uninspired.

That is a good point. They all say they are trying new approaches to there music and they have a true passion for it but yet it all sounds the same? Why do they always follow the same cookie cutter pattern. Now I had stumbled on something that I thought was totally from left field but it was awesome.

There are bands in Georgia that are Hard Core Christian bands. Now they aren't what you would think. They have complex riffs with some very dark lyrics. It's almost what you expect the end of the world to be. Now I am not saying that is the best way to make a christian statment but it's something new and they are passionate about it.

Again though they are the only ones that I know of that are that way. Everyone else is just ridding the wave because it's easy to do. There is a video on You Tube called Metal by numbers. It is a parody about bands doing the same old thing that other bands are doing and not showing any creativity. I suggest everyone check it out.

DUDE I TOTALLY AGREE!!!!!

AND Honestly! I haven't seen any good guitarist since LONG BEFORE DIMEBAG DERRAL!!! MOMENT OF SILENCE......................................

There's a guitarist that DESERVES RESPECT... all you have now is, RIFF, CHEEZY HOOK, REPEAT, RIFF, CHEEZY HOOK, REPEAT!

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LEAD???? (I'm not a guitarist,,, I PLAY THE BASS!!!) BUT REALLY WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LEAD!!! it's GONE.

It hurts man! When you hear the new GREEN DAY or AAAAAANYTHING from LINCOLN PARK on the radio, and stuff like DREAM THEATER and SATRIANI go unoticed,,, in makes you mad that the industry is what you hear and see,,, when it SHOULD BE the MUSIC THAT THE INDUSTRY SUPORTS.

As of now, they just Manufacture the garbage because it sells.
BRITNEY, PARIS, NICOLE, LYNSEY, OLSENS,,, wait, the quota's full for this month.... let's wait till we're done with this group of $$$ making tools, and then make a whole new batch and NOT CHANGE A THING.
WHY, because the industry is (and MAY NEVER HAVE BEEN ANYTHING BUT) ALL ABOUT MONEY!!! NOT THE LOVE OF MUSIC!!!

PAINFUL!

www.myspace.com/DITD1

What's sad is that the 'money' pushes what sells best, to actualize the maximum profit.
What sells best is what people like to listen to.
For ease of discussion, let's just call it 'popular music.' 'popular,' as in what the general population likes . . .
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But, possibly, here's a matter of opinion . . .
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> Do people prefer listening to the music that's beeng put, out,
- or -
> Like Pavlov's dogs, are people now CONDITIONED to 'popular' music?

You know what, guys? Money pushes EVERYTHING. That's the way it is in a quasi capitalist/free market system as we have. As a Leftist I certainly don't agree with much of it, and work to change what I can but it would be silly for me to ignore the fact that I have to make money to live. That's the paradigm we be born into, for better or worse.

You guys ever hear of the band Trouble out of Chicago? Check them out. They may be to you the perspective missing in the scene.

It is sad that the industry is driven by money and yes each of us as individuals are driven for the necesity of money. The greenbacks are what control our world. It's pathetic to a sense that we have stooped so low to make a piece of paper worth more then anything else in our lives but it's the nature of the beast.

Here is another question for you guy's. When doing something that is "Popular" do you think that those who are writing it are doing a 50/50 split with what they enjoy doing musically and what makes them money or do you think those behind the curtain are no longer paying attention to what art truly is?

Over the years I have done some music that I just didn't like only because it would get me exposure and put me up on stage where I wanted to be. While we were writing the material though I always seemed to sneak in a little piece of me into the songs. It wasn't totally what I enjoyed but I put a little piece of myself into it.

When I look back at those tunes I think f**k me man I sold out but then the reality hits me. I didn't sell out. I actually got one over on the man. I put a little piece of me in there without them even knowing it.

Do you think with the britney spears and lohans that the person creating the music is actually doing the same thing or does it seem that they are just mindless drones doing what they are told?

In the ancient Mid East tradition, there is a God of money and market trade. His name is "Mammon".

If the USA were more honest, they would have "In Mammon We Trust" emblazoned on our money.

I just watched an interview with the guys from Rush and they said they never compromised. The album 2112 was their revolt against the system. They were told by the record company not to do another concept album after Caress of Steele was virtually a flop. They were thousands of dollars in debt and everyone, including their crew had given up on them. Instead of selling out and conforming, they did what they felt was honest to themselves. 2112 was the breakthrough album for them. They said it was a very angry album because they wrote it with consideration for how they felt at the time. Neil said the concept and lyrics of the album are very apparent of their feeling of the situation at the time.

Neil Peart said the it is possible to be successful and not compromise, though it is not the easy path and recommends to anyone that wants to be successful to not follow what they had done, though it worked out for them.

He said to this day he is still suprised how things worked out, because it shouldn't have.

If anyone has the means check out the interviews on the Rush R30 DVD. Pretty good stuff. I never knew how down to earth and grounded those guys are.

Yeah Rush are a great set of musicians. Yes there album 2112 shouldn't have even made a dent for them but it blew streight out the roof. It's amazing what being pissed off can do for a persons career lol.

Alot of famous people are really down to earth. Well I say that loosley. Not everyone out there is down to earth. We had this chick come sing at Ft Benning and she was a complete moron. She said that our base was like our own little world like we weren't supposed to know what burger king was or anything lol. Everyone laughed at her lol.

I am in one of those particular positions where I can do pretty much whatever I want. After my stent in Nashville I joined the Army and did that for about 3.5 years then I joined the national guard. Well now i'm all f**k up and they are medically discharging me because i'm 80% disabled.

Well since I can't work they pay me unemployment as well so I make like 2600 a month without lifting a finger. My wife brings in pretty good money as well. So now I can focus soulely on my music. I have been trying to build my recording studio back up and getting another massive CD burner.

I basically have had one of those rush moments lol. It shouldn't have worked out this way but I guess god has a plan for me in music after all lol. I just took a 4 year break lol.

Wow man. I am sorry to hear about your situation but it sounds like you have it totally together. Good for you. You will be in my prayers tonight.

That's funny about that chick. Geddy when asked about meeting his heros said he didn't want to meet them. He said he met one and he was drunk and I guess he was disappointed.

Rush have always been my cornerstone for how musicians should approach music and success. Another tid bit of info I never knew. Geddy Lee is Jewish, though he does not subscribe to any organized religion. His parents were in a concentration camp during World War II.

Biography
Lee's parents were Jewish refugees from Poland who had been survivors of Nazi concentration camps Dachau and Bergen-Belsen during World War II. In 2004, Canadian Jewish News featured Lee's reflections on his mother's experiences as a refugee, and of his own Jewish heritage. [8] Lee's stage name, Geddy, was inspired by his mother's heavily-accented pronunciation of his given first name, Gary.[citation needed]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geddy_Lee

Think if they had not survived.

As far as the Christian perpective of the discussion I feel you are very honest and faithful. Should I say, your keeping it real? I try to add to these discussions but my words never come out right. There is also alot of information I am supressing about myself and perhaps that is why my words do not come out right. Suffice it to say I should be dead. I should have died 20 years ago. Not a quick death mind you, but where you have time to think about it. I asked God to take me because I didn't want to suffer any more and it was the most peaceful feeling I had ever experienced. Minutes after that statement I fell asleep or passed out fully prepared for it to be my last moments in this life. The funny thing is the next day I started to improve. Today I am 100% fine. Go figure because I was told I would not survive, and there was no way I would survive.

From that experience I feel very close to God and when I see him getting attacked/questioned it really hurts me.