United States

To answer the question directly once
again after reading the thread here's
exactly what I hate about the music
industry. To quote Mr. Yod again or
rather paraphrase him, this is what
I hate about the industry:
It has little to do with being a musician
or even having talent.

To me that states a sad state of affairs in
the music biz, and as customers short changes
us from hearing from some real talent. I
believe the internet will change this, as it did in
the antique business, with the emergence of ebay
in the 90s.

It's the big picture idea.

You want to be part of the big picture, but it's the small things that we stumble on like PAY, residuals, promotions and intangibles.

We all want to play out and be supported by a label, it's just that the conditions that you require are not the conditions that the label thinks you are worthy of.

i.e. f**k you label. The internet is eating your profits and you look more half-assed than ever.

These days, dare I say, the label is looking like old technology that may even be (gasp) phased out or I certainly hope so.

It's like painting, you may like to paint but you don't want to be involved in the sales of your painting although you still want the $.

We care, but they don't. And sometimes when you get involved and doing what you love, you can be taken advantage of.

That's the label at their best, guarding their interests and doing the minimum.

There is nothing in the music business I don't like. When you mix the bad with the good it all comes out like a tasty home made stew. A little pepper here, some beef their, add some veggies and bond it all together with water.

A career at Live Nation Entertainment will challenge and engage you. The pace here is fast, the atmosphere is fun and passion is a common thread that ties us together. As a global and growing business, we can truly offer a world of opportunities to expand your skills and develop your career.

In the end on the BIG PICTURE its all gravy for the entertainers who make it all worth while. Slackers stay home.

There is nothing in the music business I don't like. When you mix the bad with the good it all comes out like a tasty home made stew. A little pepper here, some beef their, add some veggies and bond it all together with water.

A career at Live Nation Entertainment will challenge and engage you. The pace here is fast, the atmosphere is fun and passion is a common thread that ties us together. As a global and growing business, we can truly offer a world of opportunities to expand your skills and develop your career.

In the end on the BIG PICTURE its all gravy for the entertainers who make it all worth while. Slackers stay home.

You have indeed found your success... Now , if only 10 million other guitar -toting musicians could just catch up...

The problem with the music industry is that its quite possibly one of the most discriminatory occupations on the planet. You have fun, and are embedded with a solid team of confident colleagues... But that does not speak to or explain the answer to the bigger question...which is... What exactly constitutes a successful investment in the career. All the work Ethic or talent in the world won't guard musicians from getting bounced by the "Its who you know" syndrome.

One could parallel the music industry to that of the Gold Rush. The real money wasn't made from the scarce gold...It was made by selling shovels to prospectors... Music industry works the same way... Its a con... Sell the guitars to hopefuls...

As for the Gold... Gold is.was always rare. If you arent gold, its like being a dead horse... and switching jockeys on it aint gonna make it ride any better..Thus, a whole career effort wont make the goldless any more golden.

so what i am saying is , the industry would love to sell the shovels... so they arent exactly telling the hopefuls just how much they need to go find a day job instead. Its a dishonesty IMHO and that's what chaps my hide really, about the industry.

You have valid and great points.


Everyone has a hammer.

The problem with the music industry is that its quite possibly one of the most discriminatory occupations on the planet. You have fun, and are embedded with a solid team of confident colleagues... But that does not speak to or explain the answer to the bigger question...which is... What exactly constitutes a successful investment in the career. All the work Ethic or talent in the world won't guard musicians from getting bounced by the "Its who you know" syndrome.

RG has the right attitude, as does Lynard. "Success" is defined differently by everyone. If Lynard is happy doing his own thing at home, then hallelujah! I agree with RG because it just is what it is.

Your opinion is also a valid one, but not as true as you'd think. If there is one thing I've learned over all those years it's this: The cream really does rise to the top. No matter where you are, if you can create a scene, produce an audience who likes your music, then there are other audiences who will also. Then you will know who you need to know because they are looking for you.

No matter how it might seem, there really aren't that many great songs, songwriters, singers, guitarists, bands, etc...out there who are diligent about rising above the noise. Of those who are, a very high percentage will do so if they simply work to get better every day and don't give up. The only time you have no chance is when you quit. It does take time to establish a network of venues so it become a matter of whether you can keep a band together long enough to get there. That's why I'm solo.

Once you have "the goods" people will know it. When I said about it has little to do with talent, what I mean is that there are lots of talented people who decided they didn't really want this lifestyle after all. It isn't for everyone. Waylon Jennings has one of my favorite quotes, "Making it big is just a glorified bus ride" and that is where most talented people who could be huge stars someday will get off the merry-go-round.

I'm not trying to be arrogant when I say that most of you would last about 2 or 3 months tops touring like a successful band has to. It's not easy being away from your family and stressing out over how much you need to get to the next town. It's not easy dealing with different people and places everyday. Some people thrive on it (like me!), but most get disillusioned when they find out that they are migratory homeless people. Yes, you could tour less and be happy at home more, but then you aren't paying the bills.

That's the trade off.

LOL Anyone wanna buy a shovel???

Your opinion is also a valid one, but not as true as you'd think. If there is one thing I've learned over all those years it's this: The cream really does rise to the top. No matter where you are, if you can create a scene, produce an audience who likes your music, then there are other audiences who will also. Then you will know who you need to know because they are looking for you.

Well, there's cream...and then there is Cream... (Pun intended) But seriously, I can count on one hand (maybe two) post -mordern musicians who actually changed the face of popular music, while doing all that you described to produce audiences. All the rest were just good worker -bees or failures. I can show you a million "success-stories ' if success means a Waylon Jennings bus-ride... (Who, btw, while I do respect his efforts, he simply didn't make the Post-Modern Top-ten of the universe in my book...)

No matter how it might seem, there really aren't that many great songs, songwriters, singers, guitarists, bands, etc...out there who are diligent about rising above the noise. Of those who are, a very high percentage will do so if they simply work to get better every day and don't give up. The only time you have no chance is when you quit. It does take time to establish a network of venues so it become a matter of whether you can keep a band together long enough to get there. That's why I'm solo.

Keep in mind that the noise was much less...back when Rock n Roll started out... Now, its impossible to not get buried in noise. I Believe the reason we have no new top-ten post-modern music heros of the universe emerging , has more to do with lowest -common-denominator tastes and preferences of marketers who realized nobody gets rich off the "gold". To put it another way, Gold is NOT being promoted, hence the industry is futile for real cutting edge artists.

Once you have "the goods" people will know it. When I said about it has little to do with talent, what I mean is that there are lots of talented people who decided they didn't really want this lifestyle after all. It isn't for everyone. Waylon Jennings has one of my favorite quotes, "Making it big is just a glorified bus ride" and that is where most talented people who could be huge stars someday will get off the merry-go-round.

Partially agree... First, can you tell me what you mean by "goods'...? (According to some...Bieber has the goods...).. 2nd, even if God , himself showed up at A Fillmore stage revival, with a solid platinum Strat, there will be some jack-ass that will expect him to play for free... (in a manner of speaking) . If God were to decline the request, he'd suddenly be optioned right in there with Siegfried and Roy as a freak-show, instead of the next Beatles or whatever... My whole point is that having the goods, may not be the actual ticket anymore, since its not the Gold that's being promoted.

I'm not trying to be arrogant when I say that most of you would last about 2 or 3 months tops touring like a successful band has to. It's not easy being away from your family and stressing out over how much you need to get to the next town. It's not easy dealing with different people and places everyday. Some people thrive on it (like me!), but most get disillusioned when they find out that they are migratory homeless people. Yes, you could tour less and be happy at home more, but then you aren't paying the bills.

That's the trade off.

Actually you give me far too much credit.. In My present condition, I wouldn't last 7 days...

But if its any consolation, the worlds biggest, baddest band, ever, in the history of rock,'roll didn't survive the touring either, and they gave it up (Flat out quit) to make concept albums instead.

As for endurance, I agree and recognize how grueling the work part is... Can you imagine, a tour schedule AND the responsibility to work up one hit after hit for these bands? People wonder why Britney Spears blew a gasket...(And she wasn't even the writer for the songs she did)

To succeed logistically in this business, you MUST:

1) NOT be tied down.
2) BE physically Healthy
3) Willing to bleed for the cause
4) Function without sleep
5) Maintain full charm throughout the day...

I'm talking about bands that have "made it" (respectable record sales and a national/international fan base) which is a lower bar than super-stardom. One doesn't have to revolutionize music to be above the noise. The "goods" means they can consistently produce an entertaining live show night-after-night on the road and record music that an audience would buy.

And The Beatles toured quite a bit and sold many millions of albums before they went into "concept album" mode and simply relied on Sir George Martin's production brilliance. But even then, they knew it was dishonest to stop touring, hence their curtain call "Let It Be" album was done as a live concert.

Can you imagine, a tour schedule AND the responsibility to work up one hit after hit for these bands?

Don't have to imagine it. It's reality even on a small scale. People judge you by your latest work. It's possible to survive one bad album if you follow it up quickly with something good, but 2 in a row is the kiss of death.

My bottom line is this: No matter what anyone else thinks, if you are continually producing fresh music, playing live, and can pay the bills you are a success. We are in a business where anything can happen and fates can change overnight...but the bottom line is how you live daily. We shouldn't allow ourself any excuses or pity parties.

Politics, competition, financial objectives, legalities.

I know that none of us get into playing music to contend with any of these things.

Official D your talking about old ladies
aren't you?

I know one thing for sure.

When your knob ass deals with a few of them, your opinion of them will go down.

(All you speculators remain ignorant in your eternal slumber, you won't ever know better than you do now.)

I use to play with this other guitar player singer,
and he collected the money. Paid me a $100 and
him a $100, bass and drums $50 each, I went
along with it, smalltime industry

What do I not like about the Music Industry?..... The Music industry would be my answer.


One would assume I was a bitter, washed up, horrible, fat, bald.... old musician.


.... but I am not that fat....


lol...


Business + music = contamination

Music to me is a... lover.... I know that sounds cliche, but it is very intimate to me. To play music for any other purpose is like clapping your cymbals like a monkey.

NOT THAT I AM SAYING I WOULDN'T OR AM NOT DOING IT, OR HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST ANYONE DOING JUST THAT!!!

But I realize that is just appeasing a crowd, to me it is not music, it is a way to make money.

My music touches me, and it will never affect anyone else the same way... and no, it isn't because I suck. lol


I wonder if we lost sight of that, and if anyone else out there is more concerned with making a GREAT song, rather than how it will affect the audience to boost their own egos.

.... Hmmmmmm.....




That is what I hate about the music industry... it corrupts what is naturally beautiful to me.

OHHHH, and AUTOTUNERS!!! I HATE THEM!!! IF YOU CAN'T SING DON'T TRY TO BE SOMETHING YOU ARE NOT. It is annoying.

If I wanted to hear an auto tuned voice, I would train my toaster.


Later,