MAY/JUNE 2003 Issue
Dear CM,
The time has come for me to respond in regards to a few issues which
all add up to one thing. You're next issue should have an article
called "How to be molded by the industry and sound like everyone
but yourself."
First off, you have had lots of debate over the song writing clinics
we currently have today. My question is this...why then did you put Rush
on the cover? This is one of the few bands I have any respect for because
they don't follow the "steps" to good song writing. They are
themselves and we need more of them. Today's music is so predictable,
it's like a fast food chain. You always know what you are going to get.
Serving up another side of boy band!
Second, you have an article on "getting signed." The "A&R" guys
say to play with bands that are well known and established. This is becoming
more difficult since the agents and record companies also put in their
own openers more often than not. They also state to play CMW and NXNE.
My own group has applied to these "political" shindigs and
have been rejected every time for at least 4 years. Funny... when we
toured Mexico with 5 other CMW bands (including two major label bands),
we outsold every one of them. After confronting CMW president Neil Dixon
on this, he simply stated "try and apply again." Hello "industry" people!...this
is a band that was the first independent group to do a "Live to
Internet" show in Canada totally on their own organization. This
is a band that was voted 4th out of over 1000 bands on the Pamela Anderson "Jam
with Pam" web site. This is a band that plays 100-150 shows a year.
Just like lots of other bands with similiar achievments who are not getting
heard. So what are we really doing wrong? Being ourselves?
Lastly, the "A&R" guys state that radio is "by far
the most important factor in exposing artists to the mass populace." Translation..."If
we don't play Bryan Adams, Celine Dion, Sum 41, BNL, Sam Robert's, OLP
5 to 10 times a day, the sheep won't get it." If I hear Avril one
more time, I'll puke! If a radio station can advertise and support local
charities etc., why can they not play some local independent talent even
1-2 times a day? Not only does this help the independent artist BUT also
the local watering hole struggling to get people out to live music. Technology
has become very good for artists to do high quality recordings that the
radio station could broadcast. We could even leave that decision up to
them!
If I sound bitter, I am. Not just for my own band, who has been "paying
our dues" for almost 10 years, but all the other groups who are
putting out great music and not getting heard. While I understand that
this is a business, I feel that artists with a unique 'voice' or sound
are marketable as well. If not more so because of perhaps a future cult
following. ie Rush which leads to a consistent revenue for the artist
and the company. The record industry is always playing it safe putting
out more happy punk, women and brain degrading yo yo bling bling, power
chord nickellinkincreed rock and following the trends. But worst of all...they
all sound the same. Was Theory of a Dead Man not just Nickelback with
different guys? Excuse me now while I go to the internet to check out
new bands...my last source of anything palpable.
Ian Graham
Eye Rhyme
www.eyerhyme.com.
RECENT EMAIL
RESPONSES
Way to tell it Ian! You spoke
the truth. Thank goodness for internet music, it's
the only thing to listen to so that you get away from the identical
sounding pop trash. As an A&R guy told me "We're
not creative, we like our jobs. Were looking only
for music that sounds like what's on the radio RIGHT NOW,
and that's it. We are not into taking risk". Yeah,
that's quite the business! It doesn't produce
what a lot of people want to hear, only what they think
we want to hear. The problem is they get it wrong
in so many ways. No wonder the "music industry" is
in the dumpster.
I checked out your site, and the music is GREAT! Keep up the good
work, I really hope "music business people" come to their senses.....
Murray Pollard
Creative musical compositions and production:
www.mp3.com/murraypollard
Thank you Ian for your inspiring letter, and
exposing the harsh reality that is in dire need of change.
I feel compelled to throw in my 2 cents....
The music industry is sick, it can no longer sustain itself.
Sadly, if in your travels, you tune in radio from Toronto,
Winnipeg, Vancouver, or Halifax, they all "sound" the
same. Why ? Because musical programming decisions
are made only to suit the advertisers in a target
demographic. With the digital age now in full bloom,
the Industry Giants have lost all of the controlling
technological advantages that they held in the past. (Who
in 1978 could afford their own record-press?), but radio
is indeed their last bastion. It is the largest factor
in breaking new talent - but is in no longer being used
that way. Instead, the industry giants deliver packaged
music to suit the target audiences and offer cash and "incentives" (like
those give-away concert ticket to lucky caller #5) ensuring
the lock out of the independent artists. Your
point about local radio and it's co-relation to the local
live-music club is excellently stated, and indeed pragmatic,
but unless the industry giants have a stake in the clubs
- the point ultimately falls silent.
Thus the self-lubricating machine keeps churning.
But a revolution is looming....
The advent of digital recording technologies
has allowed any musician with a good ear to produce broadcast quality
material in his/her bedroom, and deliver it on a compact
disc (at a fraction of the cost of producing an AVRIL LAVIGNE
song). Coupled with internet radio, many new artists are
finding a broadcast voice, by supporting independently
owned micro-broadcasters.
The Industry Giants are waning. In fact, as I write this
they are scared to death. Their profits are shrinking,
and as their stock prices drop so too does their grip on
the industry. One can hope that this might force
a few "re-structurings" within the current
system.
It is no wonder today's independent artists get frustrated
and bitter when faced with the current oligarchy. It is
a sad irony that we extol the virtues of tolerance
and diversity in our education system, mandate them
in our workplace environments, yet avoid them completely in
the current Industry Machine at the helm of our very artists.
Nick
Bastian
Guitarist-turned-Instructor
Paris, Ontario
Recently, we did a gig in Port Dover and across
the street is another bar that has bands. The guitarist
of 1220
Blast
(www.1220blast.com) that night saw the marque advertising
us and made a point to
come over and voice his opinion. Basically he stated...."Congrats
on the article...It's about time someone speaks up!" Thanks
Dave!
Hey guys! Cool site!.....just wanted to let you know, that
article you wrote up in CM was great! been waiting
to hear someone speak up like that for a long time!.......cheers!
John
C (Doeline)
Your
letter was spot on. However, the music industry has shown
over and over
again that they are not exactly willing to embrace the
new or cutting edge.
The sure thing (as they define it!) has always been their
only path. And not
just with talent - they have fought EVERY new consumer
technical
breakthrough, from cassettes to mp3s.
The beauty of the internet is the power it gives us "little
guys" to
communicate with our markets and with other like ourselves
in spite of those
clowns. Our communication is a great example!
Scott Wilburn
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