Clear Channel, Shmearchannel

Quite an interesting forum we had over at the good ‘ole Loyno tonight…my last, might I add. We had John Simson, head of SoundExchange, come speak to the music industry students about the controversy that has stemmed from SoundExchange’s attempt to distribute royalties to performers based on webradio spins. Strangely enough, the room did not burst into flames as we all suspected, and no, Mr. Simson did not grow little red horns out of his temples. Quite unexpectedly, Mr. Simson made some excellent observations about the state of the radio game and the PROs that should be shared with the big wide universe out there in cyberspace.

So check this one out: Mr. Simson has set up a system whereby “small webcasters” pay $500 for the year to operate their stations on the internet until 2010, at which point congress will re-address this whole “SoundExchange” issue. Companies such as Pandora, Live365, AOL, and Yahoo will be paying a substantially larger amount as their audience is much wider in scope than these “little guys.” So here’s where the confusion sets in.

I’m pretty sure that most people aren’t really aware of what SoundExchange is and why they are charging webcasters to begin with. SoundExchange is a not-for-profit…let me say that again, NOT-FOR-PROFIT company that distributes royalties to performers, back up singers, and musicians that appear on recordings played on webradio, satellite radio, and XM. This is THE ONLY company in America that attempts to pay the performers, as all the PRO’s such as ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC are established to pay the songwriter and copyright holder of the song. European countries have been doing this for years, so what gives?

Here’s the fun part. Essentially, terrestrial radio stations have flat out refused to pay the same rates to SoundExchange as the webcasters and satellite guys. In fact, terrestrial radio has refused to pay AT ALL on account that they have been grandfathered in the system. How can they do this, you ask? It’s really quite simple…because politicians and those lovely people that hang out in Washington count on radio for promotion and votes, there’s a huge elephant in the room. Nobody wants to say anything because everyone is concerned with saving their own skin. So while your average Joe running his internet radio station from his basement has to pay SoundExchange for his hundred listeners a day, Clear Channel doesn’t have to pay for their millions. As it usually does, this all comes down to politics.

So here’s my thought…this is America, people, and we claim to be on the forefront of pretty much everything. You are responsible for holding your politicians responsible for themselves. Write a letter, send an e-mail, shout it out on a rooftop…whatever it takes. And if you’re looking for some ugly figurehead to point the finger at for all this SoundExchange business, blame Clear Channel and all it’s nasty behemoth friends…you know you want to anyway. SoundExchange provides an invaluable service for the artist that, up until now, nobody else has even attempted. Once again, we find yet one more reason to hate the big guy, and I must say…it feels good.

Fortune Cookie:

If you are an artist, join SoundExchange, and do a little research on how this can benefit you as an artist. If you’re not an artist, but a caring citizen as you should be, write your local congressman about this issue and demand some action from the terrestrial radio stations.

Listening to:

“Go to Mexico” – Cassandra Wilson

An interesting outlook…

Last week I was priveledged enough to enjoy a seminar featuring music industry giants Don VanCleave (of the Independent Record Stores Coallition), Steve Ralbovsky (A&R for A&M), and Gary Gersh (manager for the Counting Crows, Foo Fighters, Matisyahu, etc). Of course, everyone in the room had their pre-conceived ideas of these speakers merely based on their resumes. For example, most of us are conditioned to believe that A&R people are evil and will bring about the downfall of the industry…although this may be a little harsh. As these speakers described their early careers in the music industry, it became increasingly evident that they were just regular guys trying to help out artists they liked, just like the rest of us. Unfortunately, not all of us are fortunate enough to have discovered the Talking Heads while we were in college, but I suppose these things aren’t entirely outside of the realm of possibility.

The point is, these people have very successful careers working with very successful artists. More importantly, they haven’t had to compromise themselves to achieve that…which is a success in itself. When asked about the state of the industry, all of us expected to hear the typical “doom and gloom” answers involving the words “corporate,” “major record labels,” “free downloads,” and the general loath of the song ‘Crank ‘Dat Soulja Boy.’ Shockingly, we heard all three guests speak up to their personal beliefs that the music industry is really doing pretty well. Gary Gersh quickly responded that the music industry is ripe for change, but one’s outlook on the direction of that change is what can take it in a better direction. He told the audience to stop thinking about the record industry and start thinking about the MUSIC: what a novel idea.

I think that it’s important to note that there are some very influential people in the industry with an overall positive outlook for the future of the music industry. There’s still great music floating around in the never-neverland that is your local record store…you just have to look for it. We’re going back to basics here, people..so turn off MTV, turn off the Clear Channel radio, and go find some music that YOU like. There’s more out there than they want you to think.

Fortune Cookie:

Pretend like you’re 16 again, and it’s time for your Friday afternoon paycheck. Go to the record store and spend some quality time with some physical product. It’s amazing what actually holding a CD in your hand and reading the liner notes can do for the morale.

Listening to:

“Underneath the Apple Tree” – Carmen McRae

Too busy or too lazy?

It never ceases to amaze me how much people in the music industry complain about the amount of work they have to do. We all do it, myself included. Complain as you might, we all enter into this industry knowing full well that this is no 9 to 5 job. We keep late nights and early mornings and typically work several jobs for low pay to maintain the career in music that we really want. So why is it that I’m hearing an increasing amount of the “I can’t. I’m too busy.” excuse? We’re all busy, and we all have very important projects to work on, but I find it very demeaning when people make this excuse and expect me to deem whatever they have on their plates ultimately more important than the task at hand.

When you work in a group and work with other individuals, there is a certain amount of compromise just like any other relationship. I personally have very little tolerance for people who make their social commitments an excuse for their lack of professional commitment. Be respectful of your co-workers and piers and contribute to the relationship you have with them in any way possible…even if it means giving up something you would rather be doing instead. Even if you ARE too busy…find a way to get it done, and don’t make your schedule somebody else’s problem. Reliability is invaluable in this industry and will often make up for a lack of experience. Eventually, that day will come when you will inevitably have to ask a favor of someone you work with. Treat them with the respect due to them and that favor will come easily…otherwise, no promises made.

Fortune Cookie:

Offer unsolicited help to somebody in the industry you respect and would like to know better. Your interest and initiative will catch their attention, and it might even result in a permanent position!

Listening to:

“I Guess I’ll Have to Cry, Cry, Cry (Live)” – James Brown

Introduction and Welcome

Hello readers,

I feel that this blog requires a bit of explanation. I am a Music Industry Studies major at Loyola University in New Orleans, and I am graduating in a month. As I approach “the big day,” I am starting to realize that somewhere along the way, I have lost touch with the things that made me surround myself with music in the first place. I think that I’ve made college the excuse for neglecting the harder task that makes a good person and good career: self-analysis.

As I have spent an increasing amount of time working in the music industry both as a musician and an industry professional, I have started to notice more often than not that I focus on the negative aspects of the industry more than the positive. I have let other people’s lack of ethics affect me so much that I am scrambling to find a little something to hold on to. In the meantime, I have become jaded and am losing my love for the art and the industry.

As I embark on what I think is a long-overdue journey to find my way in this crazy industry, I thought I would share some of my thoughts along the way with whoever chooses to read them. In the end, an industry is only made up of people…and the people are the ones who can change it. I invite you to join me in a quest for self-change and, hopefully, an industry change.

Even as I sit here and listen to the lyrics of my friend John Michael Rouchell’s song entitled “I Wish I Were Someone Good,” I realize that even an attempt at selflessness (such as this), almost always has an alterior motive…this is my attempt at becoming someone good.

Fortune Cookie:

If you are a songwriter, try to write a song without the words “I” or “me.” Feel free to post your results in the comments.

For the non-songwriters, type an e-mail to a friend or business associate without the use of “I” or “me.”

Listening to:

“I Wish I Were Someone Good” – John Michael Rouchell