dive into mark. "After all, who would make music if they can't make money on it? Who would write? Who would program? I know the answer. The answer is that musicians will make music, not because they can make money, but because musicians are the people who can't not make music. Writers will write because they can't not write. I've been programming for 16 years, writing free software for 8. I can't imagine not doing this. If you can imagine yourself not doing what you're doing, do something else. Do whatever it is that you can't not do." [Maybe the truest thing Mark has ever said.] *
[In the small world department, I should point out that Janis is the cousin of a friend of mine. Somewhat less than six degrees eh?] *
Janis Ian Articles. "Do I still believe downloading is not harming the music industry? Yes, absolutely. Do I think consumers, once the industry starts making product they want to buy, will still buy even though they can download? Yes. Water is free, but a lot of us drink bottled water because it tastes better. You can get coffee at the office, but you're likely to go to Starbucks or the local espresso place, because it tastes better. When record companies start making CD's that offer consumers a reason to buy them, as illustrated by Kevin's email at the end of this article, we will buy them. The songs may be free on line, but the CD's will taste better." [Doin' it right.]
Paul Boutin : Essential Mac DJ gear. [Nicely done. I wonder if there is small audio program that runs under OS X that could do simple editing (cross fades and the like for assembly type work.) wold save quite a bit of hassle... (via Dave)]
[There's a Radio blog and website called Emergent Music which seems pretty nice. Here's the folks behind the efforts. I always wonder about these things, because they seem to rate popularity rather than music, but none the less.]
[I just read an interview... "Because what is popular now is the reverse of virtuosity. If it's sloppy, horrendous, and weird, it becomes more popular with the kids. In the '70s if you had virtuosity, you were put in a really good light. Not anymore." and "People just don't care anymore about virtuosity. They care about ridiculous forms of hip hop and people like Eminem, who are destructive. And zero talent." This argument is as old as the hills. I know that it can be annoying when something you feel is inferior is more popular and generates wealth, especially where what you believe in is less so and does not.
Musicians oftten get caught up in this. I think it stems from the near duality between excellence as an artist and the ability to market yourself. The two rarely seem to naturally reside inside a single person.
If you have more chops on your instrument than you know what to do with then the markets will often help you find a way -- for a while. Afterall, like a great athletic performance, these things can be pyrotechnic and we all seem to enjoy watching someone do things we can't. But ultimately this isn't enough. Niether is being a briliant composer, or musician of extraordinary heart. None of these things by themselves will do it. You need to constantly market, and that's very hard for an artist to remain focused on.
Some few make the transition from marketing themselves to having another market for them (sometimes hired hands, sometimes a close relative, wife or friend). But few enough.
If I've learned any lessons these last few years is that it is the marketing that seems to make the difference (assuming the foundation of good music and musicianship is in place) between those who survive and even prosper and those who don't. That's not something musicians are ready to do something about either in my experience.]
12:05:30 PM 
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