Embracing the changes in the music world

[Joe Nerve]

Your input here is essential!!!!!



I started playing music in the 70s. Every decade both music and the industry have changed. This past decade I think it's changed the most. I'm not sure all the ways it has, but some of that change can be depressing - so I thought I'd start a thread where we might collectively be able to identify what's different, what sucks, what's great, and how we might be able to embrace it all.

I'll start with what's bugging me most. While I don't believe R&R is yet dead, it definitely moved to Florida. And its on life support. I work in a HS, and I'm gigging more than I ever have in my life to big crowds of people in their 20s and 30s. I don't see anybody anymore that's into R&R, wants to play guitar or bass, or is even the least bit interested in what the band is doing when we're performing. And we're good. There are no Led Zeppelin or Van Halens any more, no STP, no Greenday. There are no more rockstars. Nothing to inspire kids to pick up a guitar. All the best clubs in NYC are gone and forgotten. Carvin is closing (or closed). GC is rumored to be struggling. OK, I'm bumming myself out...

The good news is it's prime time to reinvent music. The Beatles did what they did in the 60s - somebody (maybe you or me) has their work cut out for them come the 20s! I always wondered what it would be like being the first person to become a pop star in his 70s or 80s . I've still got some time to work at that . We have access since the new millennium to take things entirely into our own hands. We don't need record companies, producers, recording studios, huge bank accounts, or even musicians anymore to produce, market and sell our own music. People under 20 may take that for granted, but I sure don't. With fewer and fewer people strapping on guitars, we also (those of us who stay in the game) have more and more opportunity. At 56 yrs old, I just started making the most money I ever have in my entire life with music.

Bottom line, there is lots for us to keep our heads up about. I'd love to get a discussion going. Dump yer garbage and complaints, and tell us what's great about it all too.

 

[Oddly]

I was gonna say there's youngsters like Bruno Mars fighting the good fight...then I checked and he's 32!


I do think the era of the A&R man and big record labels is over...Youtube and social media is absolutely where careers are made now and while there are still live bands forming and playing out it's become so much harder to succeed.

 

[Stevorebob]

The gear has never been better!

 

[Joe Nerve]

The gear has never been better!

Nor cheaper!

Cost of a decent house in 1970, $35,000. Same house 2017, $500,000.

Cost of a decent bass in 1970, $400. Even better quality bass 2017, $200.

Or something like that .

 

[pacojas]

i work around people in their 20’s and early 30’s. what is “trap”? i hear it’s all the rage!
when i DJ it’s mostly reggae. when it’s their turn to control the tunes all i hear is “industrial and digital nuances” bathed in emotion.

 

[JimK]

Cost of a decent bass in 1970, $400. Even better quality bass 2017, $200.

Or something like that .

A brand new Fender/CBS P-bass in 1970 was around $400, correct?
I bought my 1964 Fender P-bass in '75 for $200.
I don't want no stinkin' $200 2017 "better quality" bass.


I will agree that over the years, beginner (& up) basses have had the stoopid engineered out.
Far easier to get a nice tone in a much shorter time vs. playing a log (like my '64 P-bass).

 

[Alkali Ike]

Some people believe “new country” is the modern iteration of rock. Tom Petty said “New country is bad rock with a fiddle” (this new-to-me quote stuck in my head after watching “Runnin’ Down a Dream”).

Something can only be done first once. Every conceivable “first” in rock music has been done, usually decades ago.

Every once in a while I hear some new artist that sounds an awful lot like they’re trying to cop the sound of one of those early rock trailblazers, suggesting “If it’s new to the listener, then it’s new”.

I got nuthin’.

 

[Stumbo]

...At 56 yrs old, I just started making the most money I ever have in my entire life with music.

Enlighten us!

 

[JimK]

Some people believe “new country” is the modern iteration of rock. Tom Petty said “New country is bad rock with a fiddle” (this new-to-me quote stuck in my head after watching “Runnin’ Down a Dream”).

Something can only be done first once. Every conceivable “first” in rock music has been done, usually decades ago.

Every once in a while I hear some new artist that sounds an awful lot like they’re trying to cop the sound of one of those early rock trailblazers, suggesting “If it’s new to the listener, then it’s new”.

I got nuthin’.

I agree.
Late '80s/early '90s, I am offered a "Summer" gig with a New Country band. I agree, it is Rock with a Fiddle & a Pedal Steel. Looking back, I was always told to tone it down & keep it simple. Why they asked me back for 25 more Summers...I dunno.

What else? Most of the Rock guys I knew from the day were now playing New Country...and I'm including the hardcore '70s Prog guys (guys that could nail Rush, Yes, King Crimson, etc).
FME, fun + huge/cool crowds that included many people that grew up on Classic Rock.

 

[Joe Nerve]

Enlighten us!

Play as much as you possibly can, with as many people as you possibly can, continue to work on your craft and attitude - and you too can make lots of money making music !!!!!!

That's all I've got.



Oh yeah... and my book . I do actually do my best to practice what I preach. I'm far from perfect at doing that, but I'd be miserable, heavily medicated, institutionalized, or dead if I didn't do my best to work the 50 things I wrote about. I'm certain of that.

 

[DirtDog]

I still gig in a guitar-oriented cover band, but I see the day when that is no longer feasible for extrinsic and intrinsic reasons. When the day comes that I choose to no longer perform for any of those reasons, my fall back is writing royalty-free music and/or libraries. I'm not quite there yet as a "composer" (and may never be) but the tools and the channels are there to still be productive/creative/participating in music.

 

[guy n. cognito]

Enlighten us!

Get a cover band.....

 

[JMacBass65]

The Struts certainly aren't doing anything new, but they put on an exciting stage show and are "ON" from the word go. Singer Luke Spiller has completely embraced the role of "rock star" and plays it well. Everyone at a Struts show is fully engaged, I can assure you of that.

Saw them at a club with about 150 person capacity, and they have quickly outgrown venues like that. Saw them later at DC's legendary 9:30 club, Dave Grohl was in the audience, he clearly approved.

And, as for young people, I still have faith. My 18 yo daughter is a full on rock fan, and prefers seeing left of the dial acts in small gritty clubs to the huge superstars in arenas. I have been taking her to shows (of bands she's into) since she was about 15. She and I are both glad we were able to see The Struts in the small clubs while we could. I guess all I'm saying is, it ain't dead, and there ain't much "new" in R&R, but there is still some cool stuff out there, and while it's a smaller percentage, there are still kids into guitar based rock music. I have simply seen too much evidence at the shows with my daughter to think otherwise.

We are both in the video below, several times. Most of the footage was shot in small clubs like DC's Rock and Roll Hotel (where we saw them), and some footage is of them opening for Motley Crew in Vegas. What's cool is their appeal seems to cross generations. Lots of older people at their shows too, and not just there as escorts to younger kids, they are fans.

 

[AngelsBassBall]

I disagree...there are some killer rock bands making relevant music right now. It sounds like, and no disrespect intended, that you may be stuck in another time.

I also think that playing cover songs in any way shape or form is soul sucking and can make music seem like a chore.

I don’t get paid for music, I do it as an artistic release and it works well. In the Raleigh area my band can make original music and play to interested audiences and that is enough for me.

Perhaps a change in focus or return to playing for recreation?

My 2 cents.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

In my town, there’s a singer song writer who made some fame playing at Willey Nelson’s annual bash, wrote some stuff for Roseann Cash, but he doesn’t want to tour for a living (or maybe he can’t get a decent tour going anymore.) He got together with a patron who bought an old retreat house where they offer artist-in-residence programs for other up and comers and also rent out space to artists. This ‘patron’ set up a non-profit and hired the singer-songwriter to run it. This place now does lots of community outreach by hosting benefit concerts put on by new talents, and he does a morning all vinyl FM radio show also. What’s this reply all about? There are many new ways to earn a living that don’t involve touring or sticking to a genre. It seems that helping others and involving the entire community is one way.

 

[JMacBass65]

I was gonna say there's youngsters like Bruno Mars fighting the good fight...then I checked and he's 32!

That's close to a youngster as far as my 52 yo self is concerned.

Some people believe “new country” is the modern iteration of rock. Tom Petty said “New country is bad rock with a fiddle” (this new-to-me quote stuck in my head after watching “Runnin’ Down a Dream”).

It has replaced rock in many respects, but as far as I am concerned, TP is right, and I can't stand it. Everytime I think I want to play infront of more than 20 people in my heavy blues band I think about joining a new country cover band. Then I look one up, see the setlist, need to go to youtube to check out the songs 'cuz I have never heard any of them. And after two songs I realize there is just no way I could tolerate it. Mind you, I'm a weekend warrior not looking to make real money doing this.

 

[Joe Nerve]

Get a cover band.....

That too.

 

[D.A.R.K.]

Music is still being made that is incredibly innovative... but yes, playing guitars isn't really where you will find innovation. They will still be around for a while, but what i'm seeing is the arts are turning toward more of a multimedia platform. The amazing artists that are bending minds of the youth/ are the youth are using electronics. There's a massive resurgence in modular synthesis, and that platform is infusing computer processing- and that platform, like the laptop, is capable of visual as well as auditory creativity that could only be dreamed of just 10 years ago.
Major backing is still as important as ever, if you want to get at what has been a shrinking financial industry- since people are not buying digital music (vinyl is selling great, btw- tangible art that has a visual element but it's still not what the numbers used to be), the way to earn is from commercial placement. That part of the industry is big business and publishing representation requires big vendors still.
I've been gigging since '82, touring for real since '88, and made the most income as a mix engineer for major label bands, or taking acts from the indie scene to the majors. I've been on labels as an artist, own a record label, and do sound track composition/ audio post for video. Right now, the bottom scale for video post is $500.00/ day. And I don't have to leave my house. That's multimedia content creation. All the biggest shows, take Roger Waters for example-
half the show, and the lion's share of production budget is in the visual content. Industries change, rock has enjoyed a nice 50 year run.... and still has pockets of success as well as influence. Not bad.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

I'm a youngster, maybe this thread isn't for me.

What I'm starting to see are band made of people in different country. They make record just the same. You could even book more than one show at the same time you use a screen to put the rest of the band not there. Could be interesting.

There is a lot of collaboration through internet of people that never met in person.

The problem with live band as an accountant is the fact they take up space that could be filled with people buying ... with a band you have to sacrifice that space, pay the band and pay someone controling the sound. It is a lost unless you sell more stuff during that night and even then, you could make more profit if you didn't have to have that band.

So I see renting the space as an expense that need to be and so the band need to draw some people to make it. Just like any big original act, when Bruno Mars go play in a stadium, he rent the place and need to sell enough tickets to cover the price and pay everyone needed that night.

 

[Pocket4]

This is interesting stuff. With the exits of chris Cornell and Tom Petty, it is sobering to realize the continuing loss of Rock leaders. I'm not sure where the new rock will come from, as I am not aware of it. I am 56 too. We're meeting with a new group of guys that want to dust off their chops for 70s and 80s covers. In talking with guitarist before meeting him I person, they already embrace the "just for fun" goal though some of these guys have a heavy gigging history. Take 2 in my next post.