Bob Lefsetz at Canadian Music Week

Last Friday in Toronto the weather was bleak. Black storm clouds broke and by mid afternoon the dark clouds opened and the wind howled. Toronto was in the midst of an early spring deluge.

Fitting weather for a talk on the future of the music industry.

If you are in an indie band, or if you are an indie band fan, Bob Lefsetz is a guy you want to know. There are many music commentators who are in the back pocket of the giant music industry players, so you don't get the real story from them.
Bob Lefsetz is completely different. He is an outside insider, who tells it like he sees it - and he sees a lot!

Check out this clip before reading further:



Here is a direct quote from Mr. lefsetz on the future of the music biz:

"Winners start off in the wilderness. They do it their own way. They stick to their guns. They work incessantly and they never give up.

Whew. That just does not sound like enough people in the record business, on either side of the fence, talent or businessman.

We live in a confusing, crazy world. But one thing is constant. The winners pay their dues. And it's not solely time on the chain gang. No, there's a ton of anxiety involved. Questioning yourself, taking risks, sticking to your guns when no one believes in you.

It's every man for himself out there. Shouldn't be, but it is.

There's a safety net in Canada. In Sweden. That's the socialism you decry. But in the good old United States, the game is stacked against you. Those with power, with money, have erected walls to keep you out. And if you think kissing butt is the way to get ahead, you're delusional. It's not about how you can get signed, it's about how you can beat Universal at its own game. You've got to be smarter than Lucian Grainge. Believe me, these people exist. And they're gonna be the winners. They're the ones we're gonna be reading about in "Vanity Fair" five years from now."

Overdue straight talk about the music industry and how it is up to YOU to propel the music biz forward.

It's a brave new world, and we'll all part of it! There has never been a more exciting time to be part of the music industry.

"How the fat cats take their coffee" - Torontoist Blog

A Challange to all True Artists and Songwriters

With the whole world seemingly going to hell in a basket, where big banks and corporations are taking all of the money and turning the time back to where there is a monied elite, where the rest of us are left grubbing for scraps from their table the big question becomes "what are the artists saying about all of this?" Well, nothing as it turns out. Huge changes are occuring, massive inequities are forming all over the world and what do the singer songerwriters - our proverbial canaries in the coal mine - have to say about all of this? Again - nada.

So I throw down a challenge to all thoughtful songwriters - wake up! Get your head out of the sand and look around and notice what is happening. Take a stand and write something worthwhile about how you view the state of the universe. It is not enough to write about your bling, or your girlfriend.

I came across this email posting on  Bob Lefsetz' amazing music blog from guitarist Danny Kortchmar which is worth repeating: 

"A message to the Killers ..the yeah yeah yeahs .. mgmt...fall out boy..etc..try writing ONE song that has the power and truth of The Pretender, or Millworker by JT, or anything by Bruce or "Not Dark Yet" by Dylan or "Won't Get Fooled Again...how 'bout it,"Monsters Of Folk? Do you have enough ass in your britches?

Don't look like it...

The Supreme Court just decided to turn over the whole policital process to the corporations...any one got any thing to say about that? Ting Tings? Killers? Lady Gaga? Anyone?

It's not bad enough that our leaders are of no help...where are the "artists"?

If you have nothing to say except "look at me" then... f*&% you...remember when music used to mean something? Get your head out your collecitive asses and write something that speaks to the hearts of men (and women) or go away.."

Danny Danny Kortchmar is a guitarist, session musician, and songwriter. Kortchmar's work with singer-songwriters such as David Crosby, Carole King, Graham Nash, Carly Simon and James Taylor helped define the signature sound of the singer-songwriter era of the 1970s. Jackson Browne and Don Henley have recorded many songs written or co-written by Kortchmar. Kortchmar is credited as Daniel Kortchmar, Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar, Danny Kortchmar, Dan Kortchmar and even Danny Kootch on different recordings.

What Danny is referring to in his rant is the U.S. Supreme court decision yesterday to grant corporations the same rights as individuals.  Indeed, in a momentous 5 to 4 decision the New York Times called a "doctrinal earthquake," the U.S. Supreme Court handed down an unprecedented ruling that gives new significance to the phrase "corporate personhood." In it, the Roberts court overturned the federal ban on corporate contributions to political campaigns, ruling that forbidding corporations from spending money to support or undermine political candidates amounts to censorship. Corporations, the court ruled, should enjoy the same First Amendment rights as individuals.

This is a very big deal that should have all who believe the democracy up in arms.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Obama, whose critics on the left have accused him of being beholden to Wall Street, has called upon Congress to "develop a forceful response to this decision."

"With its ruling today," he said, "the Supreme Court has given a green light to a new stampede of special interest money in our politics. It is a major victory for Big Oil, Wall Street banks, health insurance companies and the other powerful interests that marshal their power every day in Washington to drown out the voices of everyday Americans."

Check out this link for more information on the subject, and then get out there and write a relevent song on the subject:

http://www.alternet.org/workplace/145322/supreme_court's_'radical_and_destructive'_decision_hands_over_democracy_to_the_corporations/