As some of you know, I played in a rock band for 15 years before I got "saved" and changed the lyrical content of my songs.
I remember going to a GMA (Gospel Music Association) conference in Dallas that was billed as "How to share the gospel through music". That was a subject I was interested in. It cost $40 to get in and you could submit a song for critique at $25 per song.
The place was full of people whose average age was over 30 (to be kind)
Well...I can't remember ever being offended at Christian music as much as I was that day. This should have been called "Strategy for being a celebrity in the Gnashville Christian music business machine"
They were selling dreams to dreamers. The thing they didn't mention even once was that no one in this room had any chance of being signed because of their age. Because I had learned this lesson in the world already, I was able to see that they were exploiting idolatry.
A few years later I was in Gnashville for the GMA national conference as a radio promoter. I went into a seminar where a few label owners were discussing what they look for in signing an artist. Again....halfway through this seminar they had not mentioned that EVERYONE in the room had no chance of being signed by them, so when they allowed questions I stood up and asked, "What is the cut-off age for signing a new artist?" and they fell right into my trap by quickly answering without considering how many people had paid dearly to hear their advice, and now knew their dreams had been dashed.
Oh boy....the room erupted in anger when everyone heard they are looking for singers between the ages of 14 and 18...with 22 being the limit. Yes, bands can be a little older but only if they have a track record of sales already. When I walked out of the room you could still hear the yelling down the hallway.
This is just reality. The labels expect a 10 year return on a large investment to break a band.
Touring is the biggest portion of an artist's success. Labels know that older artists will likely have families and not want to travel, whereas youngsters see travel as a fun adventure, and if they get married along the way, their spouses will expect that kind of lifestyle. So having "old" guys in the band does harm the chances of a record deal.
None of that should matter to a band who has no desire to be on the road all year. The record business is essentially dead to developing new artists. Over the last 15 years, the only groups being signed are those who are already developed a sound and are already selling. Age is not as critical as it used to be, but it is still a VERY large consideration.
I dated an 18 year old girl when I was 35. She was intellectually mature and extremely beautiful and a lot of fun to be around...but we couldn't relate on many things. When I'd talk about my kids, her eyes would gloss over because they were almost her age. As much as I thought I'd like having a young filly, it became obvious this wasn't going to work and I broke it off.
Likewise, when the lean seasons come to a band, if they can't relate on a personal level it will fall apart, and you'll be looking for a new member anyway, so you might as well find guys that can relate to you on as many levels as possible, including age.
.
I remember going to a GMA (Gospel Music Association) conference in Dallas that was billed as "How to share the gospel through music". That was a subject I was interested in. It cost $40 to get in and you could submit a song for critique at $25 per song.
The place was full of people whose average age was over 30 (to be kind)
Well...I can't remember ever being offended at Christian music as much as I was that day. This should have been called "Strategy for being a celebrity in the Gnashville Christian music business machine"
They were selling dreams to dreamers. The thing they didn't mention even once was that no one in this room had any chance of being signed because of their age. Because I had learned this lesson in the world already, I was able to see that they were exploiting idolatry.
A few years later I was in Gnashville for the GMA national conference as a radio promoter. I went into a seminar where a few label owners were discussing what they look for in signing an artist. Again....halfway through this seminar they had not mentioned that EVERYONE in the room had no chance of being signed by them, so when they allowed questions I stood up and asked, "What is the cut-off age for signing a new artist?" and they fell right into my trap by quickly answering without considering how many people had paid dearly to hear their advice, and now knew their dreams had been dashed.
Oh boy....the room erupted in anger when everyone heard they are looking for singers between the ages of 14 and 18...with 22 being the limit. Yes, bands can be a little older but only if they have a track record of sales already. When I walked out of the room you could still hear the yelling down the hallway.
This is just reality. The labels expect a 10 year return on a large investment to break a band.
Touring is the biggest portion of an artist's success. Labels know that older artists will likely have families and not want to travel, whereas youngsters see travel as a fun adventure, and if they get married along the way, their spouses will expect that kind of lifestyle. So having "old" guys in the band does harm the chances of a record deal.
None of that should matter to a band who has no desire to be on the road all year. The record business is essentially dead to developing new artists. Over the last 15 years, the only groups being signed are those who are already developed a sound and are already selling. Age is not as critical as it used to be, but it is still a VERY large consideration.
I dated an 18 year old girl when I was 35. She was intellectually mature and extremely beautiful and a lot of fun to be around...but we couldn't relate on many things. When I'd talk about my kids, her eyes would gloss over because they were almost her age. As much as I thought I'd like having a young filly, it became obvious this wasn't going to work and I broke it off.
Likewise, when the lean seasons come to a band, if they can't relate on a personal level it will fall apart, and you'll be looking for a new member anyway, so you might as well find guys that can relate to you on as many levels as possible, including age.
.
It is what it is until it isn't
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