Some folk should video themselves performing then invite friends around for the equivalent of a Holiday snaps/slides night and see how long it is before ppl get restless.
jw
jw
Like
John: I suspect you might be blissfully unaware of the types if videos people do these days and then exchange . . . sweet music, indeed. 
Ha, Wednesday night's open mic was "the attack of the 15 year old girl and her legions". It is a brewery so nothing to drink for those folks, but they have a food truck! So while everyone else was playing, the crowd of 15-20 were yucking it up and talking and drowning out the open micer's. When she got on stage, he was a quiet as a pin drop ( a guy next to me said something nice about her to me and he got a couple of death stares from a couple of teenage girls -- ha, ha).
Once she was done and the next open mic guy came up -- noisy again. It really didn't bother me too much (someone who brings 15-20 guests to an open mic gets some leeway), but one of the guys who played was mad. He couldn't believe how rude they were. I said they don't know they are being rude, they are just oblivious.
Now a performer like MAB would have handled them and had them eating out of his hands, so it really goes back to that saying "your job as a performer is to make me turn around".
Yea Ott, I think it all depends on what you're performing in those videos! LOL
In all seriousness, I have seen a lot of you tube videos of folks playing guitar and singing, either their own songs or covers. And yes, some of them DO have thousands of "hits". But I sure hope they are not putting those out there to be "discovered". Because, "hits" does not necessarily equate to "followers". And what kind of followers are they? They sit in their living rooms/bedrooms in their jammies with a beer in their hand and watch these videos for FREE. Having thousands of those kinds of followers does NOT equate to getting even one person to come out and watch you live. Even for free! Or at least no cover charge.
There is still, even in this new electronic age, only one way to ever "make it" in the entertainment industry. You have to GET OUT OF THE LIVING ROOM, and have face to face contact with other people. Being an entertainer is no different, technically, than being a CEO of a company. You have to start at the bottom and work your way up. For entertainers, that means starting with small local venues and getting to the point where people actually want to come out and see you. Then, that works into small tours and building a larger following. Then, if the stars line up with the moon and earth, and an entertainment executive hears about you, maybe he/she will come out. Then, and only then, you MAY have a shot at it.
MAB, if I may, I would like to use Frankie Ballard as an example. I have watched several early you tube videos of him in his bedroom playing guitar and singing. He was really good! BUT, I'm willing to bet those videos never got him anywhere. Well, maybe if he used those to show to local venues to try and get a gig? But beyond that, it was NOT those you tube videos that made him successful. It was YEARS of HARD work!! Doing gigs even when he was not really up to it. And doing that consistently and constantly, until he finally got some attention from the right people who decided to take a chance with him.
phil g.
There is never really only "one way" to make it in anything. There are quite a few folks that HAVE built up a following on youtube and social media and then they also worked that into recordings, live performances and the like. However, if you check out these youtubers that are making a living based off of that, they do have some unique talents to bring to the table. They had to standout somehow to be even noticed in the unbelievable crowded playing field called the internet.
Kevin, I've seen that here a lot. It IS very frustrating. These kids have no clue! BUT, there was one night the "kid in the middle" went up just ahead of me. Same thing, Noisy before him, quiet during his performance. Well, except for the going crazy after each of his songs. Then, back to the talking when I got up. Here's how I handled them. I talked to them directly and brought them into the forefront. Tried to make them feel like I was performing for them. Tried to make them feel like the songs were for/about them. No, it didn't work all that well, but I did get a couple of them to listen to most of some of my songs. Kind of falls into the, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em", philosophy. LOL
phil g.
Kevin, they are "making a living" off of youtube? You're going to have to give me some specific examples. Even so, that's o.k. But I was talking about someone who wants to use youtube to go to work at a record label like Sony. Those executives just don't sit around all day watching youtube to find the next big star.
phil g.
Hey guys,
If you want to see that in real practice right now, watch what Donald Trump is doing. Millions are flocking to see him in person. Like him or hate him, he is controlling everything that is going on. And a lot of that is with him going out to people, after they have seen him in the media. There is nothing like BEING THERE IN PERSON. And entertainers who want to actually do this in the future, better understand that. The Net is fine and a tool. But it is never going to trump (pardon the pun) of being there in person. People always want to get close to their heroes. So a modern artist better keep that in mind. When you have BILLIONS of people on the Net, it gets very overused very fast. Always going to come back to personal contact.
Ahhh yes, YOU TUBE. The principal mover and shaper of the music industry. Yes, ,there are MILLIONS of people out there trying to put their performances, songs, and comments on YOU TUBE, as a way to communicate what they do to the world. Most, Phil, are like you mention. Kids and adults in jammies with coffee or a beer, putting their little camera phone things up there. Actually about the most unprofessional things you can do as a new artist. Yes, Kevin is correct, there are people that put things up, get hundreds of thousands of "hits" and at a certain point are able to charge advertising. Why you will get those "video will play after the ad" on certain videos.
Outside of that, the majority get "hits" from friends, family, interested parties. Most think it is really elevating their career, but as we have seen with some of the inate rants, pet videos, political musings, falling on your butt, videos, most are just the "Viral moment of the moment" and are gone. Some will make the newscasts, who are going 24 hours and need content, so you will get some of that. A lot of Hollywood actors, are using Facebook, Snap Chat, Instagram, Twitter, for their soapbox, and create a lot of controversy and comments and get themselves publicity. It is the modern way.
What someone like Frankie is doing is a little different. He really didn't start doing that until AFTER he got his deals, had records and was somewhat successful. He uses it as a tool to keep touch with his fans, and people who usually come to see him live. That is actually the purpose for that. He is following the model of Taylor Swift, who did it very successfully when she first started out. They put little blurbs, conversations, some music, to give their fans "something extra", like a private concert. Frankie, has a legion of guitar devotees, so many will tune in for their "private lessons." The women will tune into see the cute guy talk JUST TO THEM. Sometimes they might do Facebook chats. I have recently seen a lot of these, where the artist might sit in their living or bedroom and answer questions from the Internet.
I have done shows where people from around the world, sent in requests and questions. Some are "web casts," some are just interactive musings. All of them are designed to connect with fans and potential fans. And we all have to do it. Some with less success as others, some are just made for it. Had they been happening back 25 years ago, I would have been ALL OVER THE PLACE. As it is now, I do some, but no where near what I should. Just don't have the energy.
We are all trying to get fan base and market share. I, like you Phil, feel that the most effective way is to get out of the living room. We are now also politicians, and just like what is going on in the political parties here in this country, we are all out there trying to kiss babies, and shake hands. We are trying to get someone to "vote for us", our songs, our shows, our CD's,our merchandise. We are trying to get them to come see us when we go to towns where we don't know anyone. We are trying to get them to "SHARE" our music and personalities. We are trying to get them to join our ranks, and trying to get them to participate in it as well. To me, I feel being able to be where people can physically "TOUCH YOU" and get to know you personally, is the most effective way out there.
If you want to see that in real practice right now, watch what Donald Trump is doing. Millions are flocking to see him in person. Like him or hate him, he is controlling everything that is going on. And a lot of that is with him going out to people, after they have seen him in the media. There is nothing like BEING THERE IN PERSON. And entertainers who want to actually do this in the future, better understand that. The Net is fine and a tool. But it is never going to trump (pardon the pun) of being there in person. People always want to get close to their heroes. So a modern artist better keep that in mind. When you have BILLIONS of people on the Net, it gets very overused very fast. Always going to come back to personal contact.
You have seen the next level of this in the "CROWD FUNDING", "GO FUND ME", KICK STARTER", and other fundraising sources, from artists and groups, getting people to donate to recordings or artists. We see that in charities, and individuals, raising money for their various causes, political, cause they need health care, recovering from accidents, whatever. I feel we will soon see people trying to get bailed out of jail by doing things like that.
We are in the social network world now. It is inevitable and is what it is. For me personally, I think people put ENTIRELY TOO MUCH INFORMATION up on the Internet. But it is what it is. In some, like the current campaign going on with Big Ed, and the song we wrote 24 NOTES, it can raise money and awareness, at the same time, promoting the Band Big Ed has. Sometimes it can be shameless self promotion.
Some people will make money, just like the people Kevin talks about. But more are just getting their moment in the sun. Andy Warhol said "Everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes." I think he was correct, but now I think it is more like "Everyone will be famous for FIFTEEN SECONDS." And then FIFTEEN NANOSECONDS.
It is fast, it is fleeting and it is the world we live in. Use it however it fits you, but you have to use it. For good or bad, it is what it is.
MAB
Kevin,
One of the "new realities" of this town is the overall rudeness of EVERYBODY coming here. I hate to get all "In my day" on people, but there was a time where people were reverent. Now they are not. All these newbies and wanna be's are here, on their cel phones or talking at the top of their lungs during performances. Even myself at times, will have to just "write off" certain tables. You see them coming in. They are there with their friends and families, waiting on their time to perform. They are rude as hell, I've seen them standing up to talk, right in front of a performer. Yes, I can scare the Hell out of them, but it is usually not worth it.
I recently had a situation just like that. There was this woman, obviously pretty drunk, who kept yelling out "please come to Boston" by Dave Loggins. She wouldn't shut up, and our round, we obviously her target. She kept seemingly talking directly to me, and actually came down right in front of me almost YELLING at me to play that song. I kept trying to play it off and explain that it was a writers night, and what we did. I kind of made fun of her, but she was oblivious. Each time it came for my song, she would walk down, get in my face, and beg me to play it. Then, when I didn't she would slowly turn around, and behind her back, shoot me a double bird, with both hands. She would stand there a minute, blocking everyone's view and then slowly go sit down, to heckle me, while sitting on the guy she was with's lap, making out with him. And this was on a writers night. Was very uncomfortable for everyone there. But it happens.
The deal is that this writers night, like a lot of them, was in a hotel bar. Even in Nashville, like many of the venues you all talk about, they are not about the music. They are their for food, for conversation, to sell drinks, to pick up the opposite sex, so we are just part of the show. And yes, if they bring people in, they are going to get leeway. Nature of the beast.
Even in Nashville, not everywhere is the BLUEBIRD. The Bluebird is different for a reason because it established their rules at the beginning of the club. The "Shhh" and no cell phones are the rules if you want to be there. If you don't you can go elsewhere. I've seen a lot of people tossed out for conversations and overuse of Cell phones.
Recently there was a big thing in the media about Broadway star Patti Lupone, who stopped a huge Broadway show cold, when a person in the front row TOOK A CELL PHONE CALL in the MIDDLE OF THE SHOW. Rudeness is everywhere, just like the mood of most of the Internet. A lot of crap and nasty people out there.
Interestingly enough, was we talk about all of this, I recently joined Twitter, which I HATE in many ways but find amusing in many ways. Great during football cames cause I catch up on things I have missed during the season. But one of the people that have ended up on my Twitter feed is comedian Ron White. He was here in Nashville last week during a lot of the snow and was hanging out in a lot of the downtown bars. Interesting to see these celebrities and what they are doing even when not on the stage.
An interesting twist to our era. Nothing is sacred and not much is private.
MAB
Phillip (phil g.) Grigg said...
Kevin, they are "making a living" off of youtube? You're going to have to give me some specific examples. Even so, that's o.k. But I was talking about someone who wants to use youtube to go to work at a record label like Sony. Those executives just don't sit around all day watching youtube to find the next big star. --phil g.
There are a few others that I know about (like Eh Sheeran, Walk off the Earth, Lindsey Sterling, ...)
I'll check them out Kevin.
MAB, the only exception I take to your observation about writer's nights in the hotel is when you say, "They are their for food, for conversation, to sell drinks, to pick up the opposite sex, so we are just part of the show." These days they may not necessarily be looking for the "opposite" sex. LOL
phil g.
Phil, that is correct in most parts of Florida. I wouldn't know about that.
M
Well Kevin, looks like I stand corrected. Interesting links you posted there. I guess we are in the digital social media age. I have been left behind. I guess 15-30 success stories out of several million is a start to what the future holds.
But I still contend, that no mater how good you are in a youtube video, and no matter how lucky you get to be heard by a record exec, if you can't deliver in front of a live audience and continue to attract and build a fan base, and make that record label money, you will probably be a short lived phenomenon.
phil g.
Also in places like San Francisco! LOL
RE U toob Hits. Pity that Utoob doesnt differentiate between , say, Play fully where the clip is watched the whole way thru and hits where people flick in and out in a few seconds..
A nice read on Ton T Hall: http://americansongwriter.com/2016/01/tom-t-hall-the-person-comes-first/
I am trying to add a cover or two to my repertoire and I am learning "I Can't Dance", so this was a timely article.
Talk about timely! GREAT READ on TOM T. Kevin. I really appreciate that. You are a pretty good resource.
I have a guy coming here Monday for a tour, I was really in a quandry about. He is older (actually quite a bit older), really is a new writer, sings accapella, knows virtually nothing about the business but wanted to "peddle his songs" in Nashville. When I asked him what artists he felt would be good for his songs, he said "Tom T. Hall." Now, aside from wondering what someone like TOM T, would WANT with his songs, I really did not know what had happened to Tom.
I thought he, like so many of the older generations, had moved to California, decades ago and was living his life out there, in retirement. This article lets me know he is around, but pretty much retired as I thought. We have not seen or heard of him in this town probably for 20 years. Most of that generation, the 70's and 80's are now the "elder statesmen" and while may get a cut from time to time, are mostly tired of the industry, and long into something else.
I performed on a show last night, with a friend of mine who is one of those elder statesmen. His name is Jerry Foster and has had a huge string of hits with people like Jerry Lee Lewis, CHarley Pride and many others. His biggest hit was "I'll Think of Something" which was a big hit in the early 70's and then again in the mid 90's with Mark Chestnut. He was also an artist himself, and has been in movies with Burt Reynolds and others. He has a book now, and a lot of great pictures and stories from the 70's, 80' and 90's. He is in the songwriters Hall of Fame, and a TREMENDOUS GUY.
While I simply love him, if you listen to his songs, they are all very similar as many in those days did. Music as well as life has gotten more complicated and music expectations are higher. Why we have to keep learning and in my opinion, working with younger people to keep us connected with everything. Part of the process.
Well, I'm off to Townsend, Tn. for a songwriter's concert tonight. I love the Mountains of the Gatlinburg area and this allows me to see some friends I don't get to see often. Last year we got iced in so I hope that doesn't happen this year. After last week's "SNOWMAGADDEN" I have seen enough white stuff to last me a while.
MAB
Hello folks,
Made it to Townsend with no problems. Looking forward to the show tonight. My friends Karen Reynolds and Scott Southworth and I will be tearing this little village up.This place is beautiful! Nestled right in the Smokey Mountains, has a beautiful little river running through it, little shops and resturants all over. A great place. Mountain cabins, I LOVE IT. Unfortunately, I am alone here since Tina Dee Babe has gone to New Jersey, and the rest of my crew all had other things and couldn't make this trip. So I'll hang out today and head back in the morning. my friends Janice and Charles Cox have a picking party tomorrow night so will try to make that.
Kevin, thanks so much for that list of "YOU TUBE superstars. I have heard about a lot of those people, although a lot of times hearing stuff on the Internet and finding out the reality are often two different things.A few years back we had a phenomenon called "SECOND LIFE" which was a virtual reality cartoon world that a lot of people proclaimed they were making a lot of money with their music on. When it was boiled down, you found out the money they were making was in an artificial currency known as "LINDEN BUCKS" which was the currency of that web site. it actually didn't translate into much "real money." Kind of like having TEN MILLION PESOS or FIFTY MILLION FRANCS, and finding out it is only about $10 American.
I don't know about all these YOU TUBE sensations, I am sure some are doing quite nicely. I tend to think most are like that South Park Episode of the boys getting millions of "hits' and going to try and collect their money, only to be around all these other "YOU TUBE" millionaires. The truth was that they got a lot of likes and hits but no actual money. At the end of the episode they all kill each other so that was fun. I am sure some people are doing it, but I would be willing to bet that it is NOT quite as advertised. I recently had a record company person taking about this to some other people and he claimed the Internet alone has never broken an artist. That might change,but I suspect there is more involved than just the Internet alone.
Interestingly they included Justin Beiber, who I do know a little about. The Internet did propel him quite a bit and enabled him to be seen. but they neglect to mention that at the same time, his Mother and he were doing radio tours around Canada and the US and in each City would rent out a store front and have free concerts to meet his fans face to face. Taylor Swift did much of the same thing. So there actually was quite a live dynamic involved in his career. It just doesn't sound as "magically techie world" to say, "Yes he was launched on You Tube but also played 200 dates a year at the VFW halls, rec centers, shopping malls and Grocery Store Grand Openings." And if I was Facebook, Google, Twitter, Snap Chat, etc. and wanted to have ten million OTHER kids and their parents wanting to have sites and pay advertising money, I would certainly play that angle up also.
I remember an article I read last year on one of my industry articles about a girl that was making $10,000 a SONG on COVER VERSIONS of other people's songs. She was this sensation and was really interesting because some of the really huge artists, were not making that with their own records, some of which she was covering. So it was one of those "exposes'" about the modern music industry. As you read the article, you found out that the numbers were very misleading. That she might be generating that in advertising revenue, but she ended up paying so much in liscencing fees to the writers, publishers and artists and paying fees to the sites she was involved in, the "$10,000 was wittled down to less than a thousand per song. Still pretty good, but not exactly as advertised.And it really was not just the songs that she was selling as she had a quirky personality and resonated with a lot of girls her own age, who were all fans of hers. So a lot of this can be quite deceiving. And of course you also have to define "making a living. If you are 18 years old, living in your parents basement with no expenses, making $3000-$7000 a year might be a decent living. Trying to feed a family of four, pay a mortgage, etc. is kind of a different deal.
I don't know. I think we still have to play up the "live angle" and don't ever see that dissapearing. Because, yes the Net is a huge tool, but you have to keep it in perspective.There are also BILLIONS of pieces of information a DAY going up there. So you can be the HOTTEST VIRAL SENSATION in the morning and be a "Who was that?" by lunch.
We have to use it, but I wouldn't depend on it for my whole career. Like betting your rent, your kid's college and your food budget on the lottery. someone will win those hundreds of millions of dollars. But the Bank, the grocery, the car payments, the landlords, are rarely going to wait around till your ship comes in to be paid.
MAB
Well there will soon be coming an end to an era the Texas music chart is shutting its doors! MAB many are citing the death of one of its founders and the other few people involved are simply saying they are overloaded and it's time for an end! I think they were pushing 80 or so reporting stations across the state MAB how does this happen? I'm asking you from a Texas point of view with a small recording charts unlike billboard? I'm sure someone will have to step in to fill the vacuum with Texas artists reaching number one on Billboard country like Aaron Watson completely independent and all of them going with no major label backing now... So MAB I ask you this for your professional opinion and your past experience and knowledge of the industry... It was such a big avenue for Texas artists to build their name and move on to bigger things like Cody Johnson Aaron Watson, pat green, Randy Rogers all those red dirt and Texas scene guys... I'm just asking you for pure speculation on this one now that the Texas music chart is about to shut down what do you think will happen next, why do you think this happened, what impact if any will it have on the industry in Texas? Any opinions or history lessons or stories would be appreciated because we are reeling down here over this LOL
http://radiotexaslive.com/breaking-news-texas-music-chart-is-closing-their-doors/
http://radiotexaslive.com/breaking-news-texas-music-chart-is-closing-their-doors/
Justin,
As usual, knowing NOTHING about the Texas chart system, I am not going to be able to give you anything near an educated answer on your question. But hazarding a guess, I would say that the always independent Texas is about to be dragged kicking and screaming into the era the rest of the music world has entered. The era of enormous supply and finite demand. Money, charts, even venues are about to make some huge changes. And the bubble Texas artists have lived in for a long time is about to burst.
Charts are usually compiled by individuals or companies, compiling sales, radio airplay, and critical acclaim. Usually one major magazine or company does this. For the rest of the world it is BILLBOARD. They tally radio, sales, electronic media, and basically are the Bible for everyone else. They even have independent charts including Texas charts. There are hundreds of similar charts for other countries, states and types of music, and thousands of Internet charts. None of them really mean much outside of some bragging rights. I mean you could be at number one on the JUSTIN PARKER charts, and that and ten more dollars will get you a cup of Starbucks coffee. In the overall music industry that determines trends, purchasing power, marketing, these ‘charts” mean nothing.
It sounds like the company that has been controlling the Texas charts are finally giving up the business. This is usually because they can’t get advertising rates or the business just no longer pays for itself. This is probably due to radio stations, venues, magazines, etc, no longer finding it profitable to pay advertising costs to those entities.
The big thing that is liable to happen is those big Texas artists are going to suddenly be exposed to the rest of the world and going to have to include National and International standing . When that happens you are going to find the artists are more isolated than most people realized. Frankly outside of Texas , most of those artists are completely unknown outside of niche marketing. We see it in many products and a lot on the Internet. You can be on top of the world in a certain genre or market, and then rules are changed and that market expands. Suddenly, being on top of that world no longer matters and your popularity drops immediately.
But Texas actually has a much bigger problem on the way. Many of the old standby Texas road houses and live venues are closing. Some is due to changes in tastes, in people’s spending habits, and just plain the economy changing. I would think the encroaching from Mexico, with Tejano and other Hispanic influences are probably putting pressure on “traditional” Texas artists. As more of the public tastes go to those types of music, the Texas artists will be diminished in terms of market share. Just like when Rap and hip hop encroached on pop and rock, soul and “R and B” music, a lot of what you consider Texas music will disappear as demand for it decreases.
Increased competition with more and more artists, willing to take less and less to play, and there being less and less money overall for music are having an effect. And don’t forget that there may be changes coming in the designation of “Texas music.”
Just like there used to be one “country” chart, now there are dozens, contemporary country, blue grass, traditional, urban, etc. Texas music will be redefined as well. And as it happened in our world thirty years ago, what you consider “Texas country” might no longer be “Texas country” in the eyes of people who market and merchandise Texas country. Formats do contract and change.
Guess what? You are going to get a bunch of that ‘That AIN’T TEXAS COUNTRY’ arguments between all your friends, just like Nashville has been going through for forty years. In some ways, in five to ten years, you will probably not recognize Texas country music.
Then ASCAP and BMI are clamping down on licensing across the board as their revenues decrease. They are shutting down venues all over this country, as the venues decide they can no longer afford music licensing costs as a cost of doing business. They would simply prefer not to be in business. I read an industry report recently that over the next few years they are expecting about half of the Texas live venues to cease to exist.
The overall effect is that just like in the rest of the world, there are more and more Texas artists. Those artists will receive less and less money overall. Those long standing gigs, traveling, creating an insulated world, are about to thin overall. It might not be overnight, but it is coming. I would say you have to just get ready for it. We all have had to.
It will be harder to launch artists. There will be less opportunities for the new artists, especially to make money. There will be more playing for free or tips. It will be harder to get songs to artists because as money decreases, they will be doing all their own songs instead of outside songs because again, the costs of licensing are prohibitive. It’s just going to get tougher.
And since Texas for so many years have been the independent people they are, they have ruffled a lot of feathers so they are probably not going to find as many allies as they really need from the bigger entertainment world.
You see, you have to remember that in history there used to be a LOT of music centers. Cleveland is where the phrase “Rock and roll” came from, which is why Cleveland has the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. St. Louis had the Blues, then Rock and Roll, with Chuck Berry and Chess records. Detroit had Soul and Motown, Philadelphia had the Philly disco sound, Memphis, Muscle Shoals, New Orleans, all had very vibrant scenes, Macon and Atlanta had Southern Rock, Seattle and Athens had grunge and alternative music, all had live venues, record labels, charts, magazines, newspapers, agencies, etc. all built around those industries. They made millions and even BILLIONS of dollars.
But sooner or later, they all needed larger allies. The blended into New York, Los Angeles and Nashville. The places were all centrally located, and were where people involved in those musical genres moved. Those older areas are still there in their own ways, Beale Street, Bourbon Street, Motown etc. But the huge industry side of those areas is gone. They are now more museums than operating music centers.
I don’t think “Texas is closing”, but I do think a lot of changes are coming. And as a lot of the “old diehards”, the Willie Nelsons, the Jerry Jeff’s, the Ray Willie Hubbards, the Joe Ely’s, Guy Clarks, the older legends of country and Texas music die out, or retire, they are probably not going to be replaced, at least not like the old days. The public will not have the patience for it and are too fickle and change their mind too much to provide the support they once did. And they are going to be less likely to pay for it as the Internet continues to make inroads as the old ways die out.
There will be more “here today, gone tomorrow” artists and careers will get shorter. In a lot of ways, the quality of the music will decline as well as the talent level of the artists. And the public won’t even notice it. Just like in the rest of the music genres that everyone complains about.
It is never going to completely go away. But it is going to redefine what it is and what it will be. Most of it is just the inevitable encroachment of “free music” which most that people just don’t feel the way about music as they used to.
It is progress. It is what happens. It is easier to deal with if you know what is coming and prepare for it. It is never enjoyable, and in a lot of ways very sad. But it happens and can’t be stopped, any more than you can stop time.
MAB
As usual, knowing NOTHING about the Texas chart system, I am not going to be able to give you anything near an educated answer on your question. But hazarding a guess, I would say that the always independent Texas is about to be dragged kicking and screaming into the era the rest of the music world has entered. The era of enormous supply and finite demand. Money, charts, even venues are about to make some huge changes. And the bubble Texas artists have lived in for a long time is about to burst.
Charts are usually compiled by individuals or companies, compiling sales, radio airplay, and critical acclaim. Usually one major magazine or company does this. For the rest of the world it is BILLBOARD. They tally radio, sales, electronic media, and basically are the Bible for everyone else. They even have independent charts including Texas charts. There are hundreds of similar charts for other countries, states and types of music, and thousands of Internet charts. None of them really mean much outside of some bragging rights. I mean you could be at number one on the JUSTIN PARKER charts, and that and ten more dollars will get you a cup of Starbucks coffee. In the overall music industry that determines trends, purchasing power, marketing, these ‘charts” mean nothing.
It sounds like the company that has been controlling the Texas charts are finally giving up the business. This is usually because they can’t get advertising rates or the business just no longer pays for itself. This is probably due to radio stations, venues, magazines, etc, no longer finding it profitable to pay advertising costs to those entities.
The big thing that is liable to happen is those big Texas artists are going to suddenly be exposed to the rest of the world and going to have to include National and International standing . When that happens you are going to find the artists are more isolated than most people realized. Frankly outside of Texas , most of those artists are completely unknown outside of niche marketing. We see it in many products and a lot on the Internet. You can be on top of the world in a certain genre or market, and then rules are changed and that market expands. Suddenly, being on top of that world no longer matters and your popularity drops immediately.
But Texas actually has a much bigger problem on the way. Many of the old standby Texas road houses and live venues are closing. Some is due to changes in tastes, in people’s spending habits, and just plain the economy changing. I would think the encroaching from Mexico, with Tejano and other Hispanic influences are probably putting pressure on “traditional” Texas artists. As more of the public tastes go to those types of music, the Texas artists will be diminished in terms of market share. Just like when Rap and hip hop encroached on pop and rock, soul and “R and B” music, a lot of what you consider Texas music will disappear as demand for it decreases.
Increased competition with more and more artists, willing to take less and less to play, and there being less and less money overall for music are having an effect. And don’t forget that there may be changes coming in the designation of “Texas music.”
Just like there used to be one “country” chart, now there are dozens, contemporary country, blue grass, traditional, urban, etc. Texas music will be redefined as well. And as it happened in our world thirty years ago, what you consider “Texas country” might no longer be “Texas country” in the eyes of people who market and merchandise Texas country. Formats do contract and change.
Guess what? You are going to get a bunch of that ‘That AIN’T TEXAS COUNTRY’ arguments between all your friends, just like Nashville has been going through for forty years. In some ways, in five to ten years, you will probably not recognize Texas country music.
Then ASCAP and BMI are clamping down on licensing across the board as their revenues decrease. They are shutting down venues all over this country, as the venues decide they can no longer afford music licensing costs as a cost of doing business. They would simply prefer not to be in business. I read an industry report recently that over the next few years they are expecting about half of the Texas live venues to cease to exist.
The overall effect is that just like in the rest of the world, there are more and more Texas artists. Those artists will receive less and less money overall. Those long standing gigs, traveling, creating an insulated world, are about to thin overall. It might not be overnight, but it is coming. I would say you have to just get ready for it. We all have had to.
It will be harder to launch artists. There will be less opportunities for the new artists, especially to make money. There will be more playing for free or tips. It will be harder to get songs to artists because as money decreases, they will be doing all their own songs instead of outside songs because again, the costs of licensing are prohibitive. It’s just going to get tougher.
And since Texas for so many years have been the independent people they are, they have ruffled a lot of feathers so they are probably not going to find as many allies as they really need from the bigger entertainment world.
You see, you have to remember that in history there used to be a LOT of music centers. Cleveland is where the phrase “Rock and roll” came from, which is why Cleveland has the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. St. Louis had the Blues, then Rock and Roll, with Chuck Berry and Chess records. Detroit had Soul and Motown, Philadelphia had the Philly disco sound, Memphis, Muscle Shoals, New Orleans, all had very vibrant scenes, Macon and Atlanta had Southern Rock, Seattle and Athens had grunge and alternative music, all had live venues, record labels, charts, magazines, newspapers, agencies, etc. all built around those industries. They made millions and even BILLIONS of dollars.
But sooner or later, they all needed larger allies. The blended into New York, Los Angeles and Nashville. The places were all centrally located, and were where people involved in those musical genres moved. Those older areas are still there in their own ways, Beale Street, Bourbon Street, Motown etc. But the huge industry side of those areas is gone. They are now more museums than operating music centers.
I don’t think “Texas is closing”, but I do think a lot of changes are coming. And as a lot of the “old diehards”, the Willie Nelsons, the Jerry Jeff’s, the Ray Willie Hubbards, the Joe Ely’s, Guy Clarks, the older legends of country and Texas music die out, or retire, they are probably not going to be replaced, at least not like the old days. The public will not have the patience for it and are too fickle and change their mind too much to provide the support they once did. And they are going to be less likely to pay for it as the Internet continues to make inroads as the old ways die out.
There will be more “here today, gone tomorrow” artists and careers will get shorter. In a lot of ways, the quality of the music will decline as well as the talent level of the artists. And the public won’t even notice it. Just like in the rest of the music genres that everyone complains about.
It is never going to completely go away. But it is going to redefine what it is and what it will be. Most of it is just the inevitable encroachment of “free music” which most that people just don’t feel the way about music as they used to.
It is progress. It is what happens. It is easier to deal with if you know what is coming and prepare for it. It is never enjoyable, and in a lot of ways very sad. But it happens and can’t be stopped, any more than you can stop time.
MAB
Great insight MAB... Thanks for the info. Now one thing I've found, which I've always really "known" but never thought of, is there are TWO reporting charts. The public is reeling due to the Texas Music Chart being the oldest... It did act as a catalyst for launching many artists, Eli Young Band for instance began getting their notoriety from there... Kacey Musgraves, etc. all started there as "competition" and unknowns to the rest of the world, but the good ones do what you often advise, make trips to Nashville!!!! It's my studies of artists who excel or fall off the "making trips" equation is always rolled into success, they go, hob knob, remain humble, and bring those skills back to Texas and apply them.
What I failed to realize, or remember was there is another chart The Texas Regional Radio Report which is really the benchmark, began in 2006 out of complaints of unfair placement of artists in the chart based solely on money. Now since I'm finally writing with artists who frequent these charts, I get to visit there homes and see... Their lives. Many times my home is bigger, they live in average neighborhoods, etc. You know me, I'm a sponge, I just shut up an let them talk, I hear stories of money, vs. artists pulling venue tabs based on the older fan base they bring in an attempt to command more, who hates who, LOL it's crazy. And the money! Involved in a radio tour, and getting The relationships to be considered. The charts... Are just as you said for bragging rights sure but TRR does it a bit different, knowing that places like south and west Texas are sparsely populated as to central, southeast, Texas, etc. They kind of do a more fair draw, like drawing the popularity of a song by factoring the reporting stations in the region, compared against more populated areas, they have a better algorithm for accuracy. So they still still go on reporting, and I speculate likely grow. Just judging by being here in the heart of it all, and knowing the tenacity of these fans. I hear you on the genre thing, I'm about to create my own genre, Texicana....
What I failed to realize, or remember was there is another chart The Texas Regional Radio Report which is really the benchmark, began in 2006 out of complaints of unfair placement of artists in the chart based solely on money. Now since I'm finally writing with artists who frequent these charts, I get to visit there homes and see... Their lives. Many times my home is bigger, they live in average neighborhoods, etc. You know me, I'm a sponge, I just shut up an let them talk, I hear stories of money, vs. artists pulling venue tabs based on the older fan base they bring in an attempt to command more, who hates who, LOL it's crazy. And the money! Involved in a radio tour, and getting The relationships to be considered. The charts... Are just as you said for bragging rights sure but TRR does it a bit different, knowing that places like south and west Texas are sparsely populated as to central, southeast, Texas, etc. They kind of do a more fair draw, like drawing the popularity of a song by factoring the reporting stations in the region, compared against more populated areas, they have a better algorithm for accuracy. So they still still go on reporting, and I speculate likely grow. Just judging by being here in the heart of it all, and knowing the tenacity of these fans. I hear you on the genre thing, I'm about to create my own genre, Texicana....
FYI there was a server outage 3-4 hours ago. All fixed ..
Jw
Jw
How many of you watch CNN? You have FOX on the extreme right (love those conservative women in their liberal dresses), and MSNBC on the far left. Can only take so much of either of those and have pretty much stopped watching MSNBC all together. BUT, I watch CNN, generally down the middle, every day. LAST NIGTH, then had an 8-10:30, "History of the Eagles, Part 1", then at 10:30 another hour of part 2. Watching it now. Don't know if they'll air it again, but if you have a DVR, be sure to check for it to air a second time and watch/record it. It's great so far.
phil g.
Hey guys,
Phil, that HISTORY OF THE EAGLES documentary is great. One of my favorites. That is where I found out about them discovering "How Long." You'll see that in part II. They were hands down my favorite bands. Was so attuned to every song they did. Glad that film exists. And glad THEY did it. With the passing of Glen Frey, it is great they had their own record, on their words, to keep it all straight.
MAB
Well, it is still, just barely, Sunday here. Today was a two-fer first. The first, first is, I played two "gigs" today. An open jam here at Guitar Center, and an open mic at Coffee Culture in Gainesville. The open mic was your standard, get up and do a few songs. But the second first was, the jam at Guitar Center was almost a band setting. We had a bass player, a drummer, and a lead guitarist, along with me. Now, I do sometimes practice at home along with one of the rhythm tracks on my Yamaha keyboard, but playing with a real live person drummer is a totally new experience. I don't know too many cover tunes. A few blues tunes, which as it turns out, neither the lead guitarist nor bass player knew. They were awesome! Of course, the drummer was really the guy who kept the rhythm for all of us, and I thought at the time I followed him pretty well. Now, as it turns out, the lead guitar player is also my guitar teacher with whom I have a lesson tomorrow. I'll be able to talk to him about how well I really did('nt). Hopefully he will be brutally honest with me.
phil g.