This… I cannot tell you how intensely personal this song is to me, but I will try. “Sweet Love” did not reach out and grab me immediately, but this song right here… I heard it and I was gone, literally gone. Like as in I left the house to go to the music store, remember them? I believe it was Sam Goody at the time… I had to go there and get the sheet music for this song. This was back before I realized I had an ear and I was so naive that I thought that everyone who played music read music. Anyway, I digress… (more…)

Of course given the title of this series I could not resist posting this clip.

Well I’m trying to take a cue this year from one of our contributors “The Ricker” who last week instead
of just offering an opinion, he offered up some possible solutions to the problems with this
business of music that we so often identify.

This week I wanted to begin the process in earnest by examining one of the issues that I highlighted in
my wishlist for 2011. Teach Your(Our)Children well.

The future of music is very, very important to me. On a personal and professional level, I have spent the grand portion of my working and adult life involved in education/music education in one way or the other at the elementary, secondary and collegiate level. The son of two educators my mom having taught 40 years and my dad 35… I guess teaching and learning is somewhat in the blood. (more…)

A couple of days out from the new year I thought that I might put together a little list of things that I hope to see in 2011. Of course this is somewhat in lieu of a list for Santa since well, 1. Christmas has passed and 2. I’m a few years past the Santa stage. I would like to stress only a few years past that stage.

1. Less free music and more quality music at any(some)price.

A single here and there to test the waters I get that. But a free ep every quarter/month/every other week? Cue Ed Lover! The profit margins may be very low these days, but at the end of the day a profit is still a profit. Right?

2. The end of mediafire et al as a tool for legitimate music promotion.

If you are a hobbyist and you want to send some music around to your friends to show them how adept you have become at constructing 4 bar loops by all means use something like the aforementioned sporage system(that’s combination spam and storage system). All others who fashion themselves professionals, please consider the bevy of options that are optimized for music promotion, which many are (gasp) free.

3. A return to the formula music>marketing.

Of course these days especially if you are an artist doin’-it-yourself, you have to do a fair amount of grassroots marketing, but when it seems that’s all you do? Sometimes I get the feeling that some artists believe that once they’ve made a recording that’s all that they need to do: Concentrate on making recordings. What about developing your craft? Professional athletes still practice don’t they? Why can’t you spend some time doing the same? Practicing, growing, learning, developing so that you will have added to your bag of tricks for the next musical masterpiece you record. Maybe for every 5 or more hours you spend on your music maybe you could then spend 1 hour marketing. Just a thought. Either that or when money allows hire… which brings me to my next point. (more…)