March 18, 2010 • 10:00 PM 0
Brooklyn-ite and Twenty Ten songwriter Zach Williams is touring with Ben Folds over the next few weeks. Try to catch him if you can. Everything that was ever great about Van Morrison, Springsteen, and U2 when they first started out playing clubs is exactly what is great about Zach. 110% passion all the time. Zach is a newcomer that already sounds aged and classic.
Check Zach out at: http://www.zachwilliams.com/
Filed under: 1, Ben Folds, concert tour, Zach Williams
February 24, 2010 • 12:27 AM 6
Jay-Z gave some provocative remarks to the BBC recently. Apparently on Jay-Z’s planet earth there are less than 56 great musical artists in the world worthy of our attention: “I remember the first year I was at Def Jam we put out 56 artists. There’s not 56 great artists in the world, and this is one company.” I have to disagree. There are definitely 56 great musical artists in the world and many more. Our city alone, Nashville, has at least 56 great artists. I do agree with Jay that major labels should sign less artists (which they are doing anyway). From a major label standpoint I’ve always felt that each metropolitan area in America probably has two or three major label candidates. So I get that Jay’s about the hyperbole to make a point. Really though, who’s spending much time thinking about major labels? Jay’s about the Bentley though and a world where only an elite few moneymakers live. He’s still living the goldenring/wealth/major label model while the whole rest of the world has moved on. Jay says: record labels need to “be smarter about how they A&R,” that is, sign less acts. ”Record companies need to catch up to that, someone needs to send them the memo.” I guess what I want to say is that someone needs to send Jay a memo. So here goes:
Dear Jay-Z,
First off we think you’re one of the good ones. Great job on Empire State of Mind. And your wife Beyonce . . . well, if we have to have show-biz/diva/actress/singer/dancer/songwriters then thank God we have Beyonce. She has stratospheric talent. Back to the memo though. This is just a friendly heads-up. You’re right, the democratization of the music making/promotion process has created a gazillion-headed monster of artists and bands that think they deserve our attention. And major labels did take on too many artists looking to pad their bottom line through distribution volume. We can’t put the genie back in the bottle on all the pretenders on myspace but we can acknowledge that the major label system needs a massive overhaul. But then doesn’t everyone know that? And frankly Jay most people who do not own or have Bentley car payments have moved on. What have we moved on to? Well mostly a music-making, neighbor-loving, planet-caring life. The kind where people get in a room together and make something they are proud of – and we do it before we interface with the market. We’re getting back to figuring out what we love about music rather than figuring out what consumers (I mean people) want. We’re singing music, not business. We don’t get our mogul on before we get our music on. As a result there are hundreds, even thousands of great emerging musical artists in the world that are not waiting for you, or a major label to affirm their existence. These artists have little to no interest in conspicuous consumption or receiving the attention of their father’s music business. Jay if you really want to find out where the great artists are, the more than 56, you’ve got to stop looking where they are not. You’re a smart guy. Show a little prescient leadership and visit the new world. Come on, we could use you.
Respectfully,
The Rest of the World
Jay-Z and the BBC: http://tinyurl.com/y9nz36p
January 2, 2010 • 5:50 AM 4
I follow several writers and blogs focused on the evolving new music business, what many, including me, call Music Business 2.0. One futurist/writer/provocateur is a fellow named Gerd Leonhard. He found renown by co-authoring a book a few years ago titled The Future of Music (with Berklee prof Dave Kusek). Gerd just let loose with his 9 ideas for what he thinks needs to happen in 2010, to move this industry forward — all of which I’ll reprint for your below. Do check out his blog at http://www.mediafuturist.com/ though. There you’ll get hip to his particular vision and unique terminology. I mention him at this time, not because I agree with everything he says, but because he does highlight several ideas that Twenty Ten Music certainly holds to. Here’s my 2010 takeaway and then I’ll let you read his 9 ideas for yourself:
1. Lighten up on complex legal and technical protection — the “quest for control” and contingency is fear-based and a sure-fire optimism killer. It says you’re way more interested in back-end problems than front-end solutions and real conversations that work out a version 2.0 compensation scheme that can be adjusted with time.
2. The old days are not going to “magically return.” Anyone who isn’t advancing – is falling behind. It’s not an age thing, it’s a heart and brain thing.
3. Question your assumptions. Are there things that I still believe, that affect my approaches everyday, that simply are no longer true? This is a critical warning for people who have resources and infrastructure. Your whole approach could be killing you and you won’t know for a few more years because you have a royalty stream and resources (for now) but no real future.
In Gerd’s Own Words:
1. Stop pushing for more and more and…more legal or technical protection measures and lighten up on the constant quest for control: think (and act) compensation not control!
Filed under: 1, Dave Kusek, Gerd Leonhard, Music Business 2.0, The Future of Music, Twenty Ten Music
December 31, 2009 • 5:17 AM 0
KGRL.fm has named Go Easy Little Doves, Brooke Waggoner’s latest opus, to their Best Albums of 2009 list. Congratulations Brooke! According to KGRL: ”it is not your typical indie release. It’s a 35-minute orchestral record that offers a holistic listening experience, meaning that it must be listened to from start to finish to fully appreciate it. Go Easy Little Doves is a musical landmark for Brooke Waggoner. It proves just how talented and mature she is in both songwriting and orchestration.” We agree. As mentioned before, TTM is producing the live concert DVD and recording of this remarkable album. Not to be outdone, Charlie Peacock’s production of The Civil Wars Poison and Wine made the best of EP list, as did his Shannon Curtis production, Why Don’t You Stay. Our friend, the delightful Joy Williams topped the list too with her fine solo recordings. KGRL gushed: “It does seem that Joy Williams owns a factory that manufactures all these finely-crafted hooks and gorgeous melodies. Pick one or pick em all, it doesn’t really matter for sooner or later you’ll own all three.” Also on the list, friends: Butterfly Boucher, Summer Ames, Katie Herzig, Katy Perry, Linda Good, The Mary Dream, Elle Macho, and Natalie Prass.
Filed under: 1, Brooke Waggoner, Butterfly Boucher, Charlie Peacock, Elle Macho, Go Easy Little Doves, Joy Williams, Katie Herzig, Katy Perry, KGRL, Linda Good, Nashville music, Natalie Prass, Poison & Wine, production, Shannon Curtis, Summer Ames, The Civil Wars, The Mary Dream, Twenty Ten Music
December 23, 2009 • 7:47 PM 0
TWENTY TEN MUSIC writer and hip-hop artist J-RUS scored the opening song “BOUNCE” to the film and trailer of To Save A Life. The Samuel Goldwyn/New Song feature opens in theaters nationwide on January 22nd, 2010. Directed by Brian Baugh, the film stars Randy Wayne and Deja Kreutzberg, with score by Timothy Michael Wynn. Charlie Peacock served as music supervisor. Featured musical artists include: Joy Williams of The Civil Wars, The Daylights, Paul Wright, Switchfoot, Matthew Perryman Jones and Katie Herzig.
Filed under: 1, Bounce, Charlie Peacock, Deja Kreutzberg, film sync, hip-hop, J-RUS, Joy Williams, Randy Wayne, To Save A Life, Twenty Ten Music
