Music Stuff

If you are in the music business or know anything about the music business then you must have seen Seth Godin's letter to the music industry. If you haven't seen this, then please read it.

It has inspired me to write my own version. See Seth is an outsider looking in. But that is okay by me. Because the insiders can't look out. I can sit here and blame the music industry for all of their mistakes. But when I was inside, I had a job to do, and I didn't have time to change what I knew was broken. I had to sell records. As an A&R guy, I had to make records that would sell. That was the business I was in. Ask the bands that I worked with, Gin Blossoms, Paw, Dishwalla, the Innocence Mission, Allgood, Taking Back Sunday, Midtown, Korn, Face to Face, Automatic 7, MxPx, Jackopierce. Do you know any of them? I am not going to assume that you or most people do. But I tried to get them to write songs that would get played on the radio. Because that was what was needed for them to achieve success, for my record company or management company to succeed, and for me to keep my job. And I don't apologize for that. I didn't go in and tell the band that they needed to write hits. I told them that for the record company to pay attention, they needed songs that connected with the masses, not the few. And it was true. It still is. If you want to connect with the "masses."

I stopped believing in the "masses" model many many years ago.

Quick tangent, read this amazing blog by Kevin Kelly, please. It is called "1,000 True Fans."

But the music business (records, concert tickets, t-shirts, publishing) is a business that relies on sales to the masses. Those of you who have created new models (special shout out to Derek at CD Baby), please don't take exception to my point. I'm not directing this at you.

The people I know who are still in the "record business" have to continue to sell shiny aluminum discs with plastic cases and glossy artwork. They don't have a choice. At least not if they want to keep their jobs. They know that if they lose their jobs, they don't have a lot of places to go because record companies aren't hiring people any more. And it is hard to translate the knowledge of selling music to a lot of other industries. I'm not saying there aren't ways to translate the idea of selling art or excitement to other industries, but most people in the music business don't recognize that. And it is not their fault. They are told to sell something day in and day out that people don't want to buy. It is a true dream killer. On many levels. The record business will break you. It will break the most optimistic spirits. It broke me. It took me years to move on. I am an entrepreneur and have been since I was 14 years old. But I wanted nothing more than to help musicians achieve a level of recognition that I could never obtain myself. I didn't have the skill or gift of musicianship. I recognized that fact at an early age and decided to spend my life helping others. Oh, I'm not a saint. It was selfless in some respects, but extremely selfish in others. I wanted recognition and reward from my peers. I wanted my own version of fame and fortune... on the backs of the few who had the talent.

But the music business has neglected their customers. Not just the record business, the music business. From live music producers to t-shirt manufacturers. The music business ignored supply and demand. They've created tremendous supply, but quality has suffered and the customer has spoken. And the business continues to ignore them. And thus, my friends in the music business continue to do their jobs, sell a very difficult-to-sell product. And I fear for them. Because they are my friends. They mean well. But they want to feed their families. It is too hard to start over.

My friend Bob Lefsetz, whom I've mentioned several times, has a wonderful girlfriend named Felice. I mean this woman is a treasure. I wish I had more time in my life to spend with her. About a year ago I was at a party. It was at my friend Jim's house (the guy who started the Aspen Live conference where I first met Seth Godin). Jim works for CAA, the biggest talent agency in the business. My friend Nick was there. Nick taught me the touring business. Nick is my hero and my mentor. Nick has worked for record companies, managers, concert promoters, and musicians since he was, like me, a teenager. There is a group of us, Jim, Nick, Marc and Darren (two other music business veterans), my business partner Terry. We have all worked together for nearly 15 years to try to improve the record and touring business. And Felice said to me that night, "You, Nick, Jim, all of you, you are so good at what you do, you are so passionate, you guys need to fix this music business." I looked at her, I looked at Nick, and I said, "We tried. We're too old now. We don't have the fight in us any more. The leaders have heard our pleas, but they don't want to hear them. We can't fight any more. We have to take care of ourselves. Unfortunately, someone else has to do it."

Sad, huh?

I'd forgotten about that night until just now. The words are just flowing out of my fingers. What happened to me?

I got married. I have a mortgage. I have the most beautiful son in the world. I'm not 23 any more. I'm the guy I couldn't wait to eclipse at A&M Records. And I'm not sorry about that. It is a fact of life.

That is why I take inspiration from Napster (the original), Bit Torrent, iTunes, Rhapsody, PureVolume, Hot Topic. I'm inspired that outsiders are changing the business. Because insiders are tired.

I have my own addendum to add to Mr. Godin's letter. I just need time to sit down and write it. But I will. Stay tuned...