Not what it used to be!
2009-05-25
At music-biz conferences, there are always panels of experts, talking about the current state of the music business, from their point of view.
They're usually men over 40 who have been in the music business for 20 years, and they say things like:
- “the music business isn't what it used to be”
- “it doesn't have any vision anymore”
- “nobody knows what's going on anymore”
- “it's too big and bloated and corrupt now”
My friend Clem Chambers said, “Have you noticed they're just projecting their own decaying health into things?”
- they aren't what they used to be
- their vision is fading
- they don't know what's going on anymore
- they're big and bloated and corrupt
So of course that's how they're going to see the world!
Wouldn't it be interesting to get a panel of under-20 musicians and entrepreneurs to talk about how the music business looks to them?
So true! It seems those complaining the most are the same ones most unwilling to change.
Work backwards. We know it's a new world, a new paradigm. Get a whole bunch of people who are successful with the new model and let them talk. Oh, wait... you've been doing that!
I'd be happy to speak on that panel. If the biz isn't what it used to be, is that a bad thing?
Hello Grammys and SXSW. The old white man paradigm is alive and well - even if they only are, barely.
Actually, this is an amazing, empowering time for indie artists.
By way of a positive example, check out these guys: http://www.whataboutme.tv/#videos
The content, messages and overall tone of the panels at a music conference are the utmost responsibility of the person(s) directing the event. Age is irrelevant, it's a matter of choosing the right Instructors whose vision and ethos is in keeping with the purpose of the panel they are chosen for. When music conferences place the emphasis on the wrong aspects of their event and fail to focus their energies on the all-important educational component, they have failed their attendees.
- Noel Ramos, Executive Director of the Independent Music Conference
I love the way you think Derek.
Pretty funny!
It's much more about attitude than age.
I just finished up a first-time songwriting/recording project for a couple who are both in their 60s. They've already gotten airplay for this song on several radio stations, it's being played at public events this weekend, and soon will be available on CDbaby and in digital distribution.
What made the difference?
Yes, they had good lyrics to start with (quality music was written for them) and a radio ready recording made.
Most of all, they didn't by into the "only the young" attitude that's prevalent in this business. They just got out and made tons of friendly, professional contacts in a short period of time.
And they're eager to learn about the technologies and opportunities available to them.
While statistics about the traditional music business do support the perception that it's in decline, maybe it would be more accurate to state that those who see all aspects of the music world in decline are projecting " their own ... [mental] health onto things."
Attitude, not age.
BTW-I'm not shy to say that one of those 40-something panelists (not male obviously), though not one who take the "sky is falling" attitude. Like Noel said, it's more to a presenter than their demographics.
Above written quickly, please, disregard editing errors.
As a younger musician I would say that the music industry has never been better. I do feel that it gets harder to enter the business every day because the supply of musicians grow while the demand stays the same.
I'm feeling the air leaking out of my balloon! My vision of the music biz is exciting, vibrant, and star-trekish. As a 55 yr old, I too am weary of my 'peer group' at times, but I've also noticed teens and twenties unwilling to collaborate and turn their noses down to some forward thinking ideas. I'd advocate a panel, not based on age, but of ideas. Ideas that embrace the future, ideas that matter, ideas that contribute to social consumerism. A panel of collaborators.
I think we need to give ourselves about another 5-10 years before the old paradigm is completely dead. Once the Y generation becomes the CEOs and managers of the new economy, the old ways will be completely laid to rest
Derek,
I don't know any of the people you're talking about, but isn't the "old, decaying health" thing a little mean? A lot of people have trouble adjusting to the fast pace of change. Thus they become nostalgic.
I'm nostalgic for vinyl even though I downloaded an album from Amie Street yesterday. Other than that the I like the new music biz. The Internet in general and CD Baby in particular have opened up new opportunites that didn't exist just a few years ago.
I love your perspective. Our thoughts do invoke what we perceive in our lives. If that's how the elders feel, then that's what's present in their lives. I appreciate the true artist; one that perfects his/her craft and really feels what's being song or performed. My ideal artist is one that consciously writes his/her true feelings and believes in his/her craft.
To echo Kay Pere, age is a number, and it's attitude that counts.
Yeah, I'm in my 50s, yeah, I've been in the music business for more than half my life, yeah, it's weird and stressful when the ground underneath your feet is shifting so radically and so frequently. So what? There's more music out there than ever before, there's more GREAT music out there than ever before, and those of us who wish to see it thrive -- to help it thrive -- need to adjust with the tech, the times, and the audience.
Anyone who can't connect the dots between Ahmet Ertegun or Richard Foos (founders of Atlantic and Rhino, respectively) selling vinyl out of the back of their cars and Derek Sivers selling CDs off his website just isn't paying attention... and maybe needs to step aside.
At the heart of it, it's all about making that connection between people who love to make music and people who want music to love, whether it's at a record store counter, a label, a website, or a gig. And if there's no room at the inn any more for people without passion, boo-frickity-hoo. No matter whether they're 80 or 50 or 20.
You can't move forward if your eyes are glued to the rear-view mirror. In fact, that's a great way to cause an accident. And isn't that just what's happening now?
attitude and heart are EVERYTHING.
age is NOTHING but a number! (in the music business like most other things) I know plenty of people who are 19 going on 90.
"Nobody knows what's happening any more" sounds like a description of a fertile time in which new things can emerge. In fact, what our overall economy needs is innovation, totally new products and technologies that meet needs or satisfy wants in wholly new ways.
Including new sources of music.
Money will flow to what people really want, no matter what (I can't be the only person with an out-of-work friend who bought an iPhone because he "had to" have it.)
Things and ideas decay, new ones take their place...
Gotta let go of the sinking boat to swim to a new shore...
Chronological age is less of an indicator than hardening of the attitudes is.
sure try it, why not? maybe isolate by gender, sexual preference, religion and skin tone too. Lets not forget race , hair color and the length of the middle toe.
me I prefer to judge people by the length of their middle finger
That is a spot on insight. Recalled a great Zappa interview with a similar view: http://tinyurl.com/zappacigar
Heh - you realize, of course, that those young musicians on the panel could just as well say
* “the music business isn’t what it should be”
* “it doesn’t have any vision”
* “nobody knows what’s going on”
* “it’s too big and bloated and corrupt”
It's a matter of perspective, and more a reflection of their own degree of success/failure - age really has very little to do with it.
Come on... the over 40s chain is being yanked just to get a response for the thread. Any chance of a post with some real substance?
I'll have to take issue - as I tend to do - with the summation and comments. Personally, I don't see the state of the music business as being particularly great. The music scene: maybe, the business end - not at all.
The truth as I've experienced it is that while it is incredibly easy to get yourself set up in business at the moment (as an independent artist, for instance), actually making any real money is a different matter altogether. Given that people are less prepared to pay a whole lot less money for music than even ten years ago does not bode well for the musician who wants to make creating original music a full-time occupation, much less for entrepreneurs who want to invest in the creation of same.
Notice that the majority of the new music businesses do not actually invest in the artist - to the contrary, often the artist pays for their services (as do listeners and/or advertisers). As long as there is demand for such services, from artists no less than listeners, they will continue to prosper. The same cannot be said of the individual artists.
Upon a time the artist and the music entrepreneur rode on the same wagon. These days, I find, the entrepreneur is distancing himself from the individual artists, leaving the latter to their own devices. I do not find anything particularly uplifiting in this vision.
Those referred to are what they are. I am a 58 year old music business veteran who's mindset is cutting edge regarding the Internet music space and where the new music business is going. The bloated guys have lost their perspective, any vision they might have had, rendered their experience useless and are still fueled by their own stupidity and greed and haven't a clue where the new music business is going. They yearn for the good ole days. Experience which can only be gained over time is absolutely required for things to change. Business models in the Internet music space have failed principally because well meaning technologists, with a love for music and no real experience, perspective or understanding of where the music business came from and where its going built web sites that missed the boat. Experience, true perspective and a revolutionary new vision are essential to effectuate change in the new music business. A bunch of 20 year olds have a right to their opinions but have had little time to gain the experience with which to validate their opinions. Certainly, I listen closely to what they have to say and allow their opinions to temper my thoughts. In addition, I never claim to have all of the answers but my experience certainly puts me in a better place to get them.
As an independent artist I have done the following WITHOUT representation of any sort:
*Released recordings
*booked tours
*gotten great PR in national publications
*got music licensed on TV
Sorry - i won't miss the old music business...
Hm. Well, another way to look at it is to suggest that these doomsayers just focus on their own lives and work and do what makes THEM happy, rather than trying to bring everyone down with them.
Local Disc Jockeys make more money now then some touring bands... Music is only part of our lives now, Videos games are the new album!
Mean spirited comments but very rock & roll. Funny how some things don't change in that regard--r&r tends to be a cycle of attempted "revolutions" against the status quo and the older. But, D, you are a rare bird in this era's biz, you make enough money to do what you choose.
-- Derek
It's really a simple supply & demand situation these days with supply greatly outstripping demand. Sure the demise of radio, hastened by consultants and then mergers, changed the basics between 1975-95. But, so did the plethora of cable channels and now websites. Sure, we are capable now of reaching everyone and anyone, more so than ever in this history of humanity. But that doesn't mean you can make a living in music.
The king is dead, long live the king. D, you are now royalty. How does it feel?
Waiting to be assassinated, baby.
Hey, I'm over 60, & there is so much exciting music out there that I always blows me away when I hear it. Music has always been good to me. So hush about old people not being excited about the Music Biz.
Thanks Derek.
The music doesn't have to stop with the last note.
For one of those folks who's not had the fortune or misfortune, however one cares to feel about it, of playing in the large ocean, at least directly, And who is now in that "older" demo, I find the future of the music business both exciting and frightening.
Exciting because, I believe, we're in the embryonic stage of a whole new business model.
Frightening, because In our new age of extreme rapid development, I believe it can go down a wrong path, get out of hand and corrupted much quicker.
There are so many avenues to choose these days.
The picture attached to this blog is hilarious. You are the only one smiling(the other guys are smirking), wearing white, hands in the air, etc. You stand out my friend and that is great.
-- Derek
You are what you eat right? What do you eat Derek?
Money, baby. I'm so money!
I found comment #19 Hilarious. Thank You!
Things are rough in music no matter if you're 20 or 40 or 80 - people don't want to pay for music so you better tour and sell tickets and merch or you're screwed. Sad but true.
on this tuesday morning with one gig in book,and a project thats taken me 14 years to complete,the guitar clown,guitar tuition book for children and beginners,about to see the light of day,as an indie,the comments i read are uplifting and cheer me on,im 57 inc.v.a.t.thanks again Derek
Derek - I think this is probably one of the greatest ideas yet! I attended a conference a year ago in LA and found myself thinking something very similar - if only marketers and "music experts" really understood and appreciated what artists/ musicians felt/ thought. Do it!! I would love to help put it together.
We live in a world that continues to change. Not all change is good, but any change can be adapted to. I am one of those old guys that has tried to be a part of the change and ride the crest with the web as a tool. I have dozens of sites and all the socials running very successfully.
I can tell the young guys that I work harder today than ever before with every option I can find. I can also tell the young guys that this is there world, until they have a family and bills to deal with. Life gets more complicated and expensive, and there will come a day that many of you will be working a day job to pay the rent because you can not make a living in this business. I am out 7 nights a week and see 1/3 of the income I did 15 years ago from gigs and product sales.
I would agree with an earlier poster that you can set yourself up very easy and look like a musician very easy in 2009. You can not make a living in 2009 unless you have a very low expectation and definition of that term.
To ignore those with history and experience is to be headed for failure. To base ones business on a model that is out dated is also heading for failure.
But the voice of the old guy, working in an ever changing paradigm would say that all the change has not been for the good of the artist. We have reentered a world that does not support the art or the artist.
True artists will always be artists, creating that art regardless of the consumer trends. But an old guy saying that this kind of sucks is simply an observation from a musician that used to make a really good living and now is surviving with little to show for more effort and better products than ever before. When I tell young guys about the good ole days they are surprised. Many don't know that you could make a living years ago - 6 figures - from music. I guess ignorance is bliss.
And there is that other thing - talent that has been cultivated for more years than a 20 something has been alive. That will always have value! It just pays a lot less now since music became free.
I am thankful I am a musician! I just hope people value ability one day soon, like the ole days.
Sorry, don't have time to comment. Too busy dancing about architecture.
That's pretty much what Un-Convention is all about:
http://unconvention.wordpress.com
We're not ALL in our 20s... but the attitude is there.
I'm turning 40 in two months, and I have the opposite view - I'm excited about the new frontiers available to musicians today, and wish half these opportunities and technologies were available when I was 20. And, I'm in better shape and better health than when I was 20!
I thrive on new technologies and the sheer amount of new and different music available. And the opportunities to learn new techniques, help rehearse and gig, and find new ways to play your chosen instrument are out there waiting to be discovered, and to me that is very exciting.
I'd like to think I can still bring fresh ideas to my music, try new techniques, and develop new ways of presenting my content and change with the times. I have two big challenges in this new music biz:
1) Trying to balance "learning new tricks", incorporating new things without changing my core values as an artist and a person.
2) Overload - there are so many opportunities and avenues to choose, it's often overwhelming.
And honestly - I'm GLAD the music business isn't what it used to be!
I would much rather hear from some ancient folks, between 75 and 100. From time to time I run across one who has been a collector of wit and wisdom. When they speak it is like a river of gold. When they laugh it is like there is a tear in fabric of time and I realize were all not so different, the laugh is unifying and brings the span of ages to a pinpoint in time, where we can equally see,
simple truth k.w.
Kevin: Great point. I agree! -- Derek
Great cheeky post!
The best would be to hear from a mix of people, in terms of age, music styles and location (at least at "International" conferences).
I'll talk!
Thanks, Derek. How we see the world is so important.