Out of Touch Execs: Need to Clean Up The Mess
Posted June 30, 2006 — in Music News
Not too long ago A&R’s signed bands on gut instinct. That is what they were paid for. These days A&R’s look for “indicators” because they no longer know what to sign. Meaning, if some unsigned artist wrote a comparable album to GNR’s “Appetite For Destruction” and didn’t have 50,000 friends on myspace, the band would be looked over. This is idioicy at it’s best considering we know several methods of collecting thousands of friends on myspace every hour. Of course “out of touch” A&R’s just dont know these techniques.
The good news is that the labels just cleaned house and a small number of A&R’s who are left are anxiously hanging on to their jobs.
The bad news is that you still have “out of touch” older execs steering the ship into icebergs like the Titanic. They are more concerned clinging to their prestige than looking for new ways and platforms to break new artists. How is it that all the employees are let go except the ones making all the bad decisions? The problem never seems to be eliminated.
Of course its hard to find great artists that write compelling music, but older execs signing hardcore/screamo bands believing they are going to take over the world is a scary scenario. I’ve witnessed Presidents and CEO’s watching these recycled garage bands in smelly clubs saying “Wow, aren’t they great?”. My jaw dropped to the floor. Who’s fooling who? What is so funny dumping hundreds of thousands of dollars into a band that has a frontman that can’t hum a tune? After 10 flops and wasting other peoples money you would think these cats would learn, but insanity has gripped this industry like no other. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Artists and label employees being victimized by “label politics” is at an all time high. President fighting against president is like watching kids in a sandbox fighting over buckets and shovels. Welcome to amateur hour.
What we need is a 50 foot Tsunami traveling at 500mph hitting the East and West Coast taking out Los Angeles and NYC and cleaning up the rest of the mess. Then the real rebuilding may take place.
PS: Just in case, GNR stands for Guns and Roses.
But i thought Avenged Sevenfold WAS the new GNR ?
Comment by Justin Richard — July 1, 2006 @ 7:21 am
Well put!
Comment by Justin Smith — July 3, 2006 @ 7:15 am
you can thank “indie labels” for distributing indie/screamo music too. Major labels should house talented music .. not trends.
Comment by real mad — July 3, 2006 @ 12:20 pm
I think a better statement might be “all labels should house talented music.” Leaving indie labels to be the ones to sign talentless acts only enforces the idea that it’s ok to be a mediocre band/musician/songwriter. Why should quality only be limited to the big dogs? I believe there are WAY too many acts out there, PERIOD. You have 20,000 bands, that all sound the same, and are all on “indie labels.” Signing a record deal in this day and age doesn’t seem to be that big of a deal anymore. 90% of the time, any ‘ground-breaking’ band gets signed by JoeSchmo Records and is on tour, while the good bands/musicians are overlooked, due to current trends chock full of no talent.
Comment by Scott — July 3, 2006 @ 10:56 pm
Totally right on.
Comment by Helen Caddes — July 4, 2006 @ 8:28 am
I sort of agree but a lot of indie labels due in fact house bands that a) either couldn’t get signed by a major b) we’re once signed to a major and couldn’t live up the sales c) care about this “artistic freedom” which is bs considering blaming RIAA is not the way to handle things in the music world.
Also if indies are so important, how come they weren’t around back then and only “top dogs” were. Where are there so many filtrating the market now?
Comment by real mad — July 4, 2006 @ 8:36 pm
Indies have always been along, if you want to remain blind to that, whatev. Some are much bigger than they used to be, but what about Matador, what about IRS, what about Sire? All were, or started, as indies.
Scott’s right, signing a record deal doesn’t seem to be that big of a deal. Most artists never actually make anything via a deal anyway, so in most cases, even in the past, it wasn’t that big of a deal — unless you’re the label profiting off the ego of the artist who would sign any deal just to have one.
Comment by mondo — July 5, 2006 @ 6:00 am
first of all the tern indie kills me….and no offense, but a major label isnt signing any “ground-breaking” artists either. The problem is, back then A&R meant something. It was pride, it was nuturing an act, having a vision! Now it is a marketing plan,Hot Topics and a Cafe`Latte on lunch! And just in case any of you Statistic heads out there are beating your heads, “indie” Labels kicked Majors ass’ last year in Sales, concert attendance and STREET TEAM PROMOTION….you want to relate to the people…
when are all you record people gonna realize that there are a whole other demographic other that 12-18?
wake people….
oh and by the way, Microsoft was in “indie” comapnay at first too….dare to dream people
Comment by Tubes — July 5, 2006 @ 6:26 am
real mad/Tubes:
I agree with both of you. Yep, you’re right; majors aren’t housing any ground-breaking artists either. The internet and the bundles of information regarding starting your own label are to blame for the “explosion” of indie labels. They existed back then, yes, but weren’t as prevalent as in today’s industry. Way back when, the business side of the music industry was a big mystery and there weren’t many resources available to people on how to do things on their own. There was a huge shroud of mystery hovering around getting signed. Now, you can buy books, DVD’s, search, and register for festivals/events/forms all online. Much, much faster than touring, meeting people, and learning things the hard way. (Sad to say, but it’s true) So SOME of the work that had to be done in the past (i.e. footwork, hard work, networking - notice they all have the word ‘work’ in it) has been replaced by searching on Google. Yes, A&R seemed to have meant something back in the day. Now, having A&R at your show means that you play for them, hoping that you conform to a pre-conceived notion of what they view as the ‘complete package,’ which is also considered the hot trend. You’re right…A&R used to see potential in an act, and then mold it into something with full potential. Now, you have to walk thru the door with full potential, and that’s it. Either you have it or you don’t. Unfortunately, today’s guage is the hot trend at the minute and not “wow, this is refreshing and new.”
Comment by Scott — July 5, 2006 @ 7:30 am
amen scott…amen
Comment by Tubes — July 5, 2006 @ 8:00 am
True in some sense. There are still A&R out there that believe in Artist Development. That “have a full cd” ready is not always true. I would agree more and more bands are getting signed on direct contacts to labels .. but I would also agree that an A&R looks for a suped up resume including sound scan stats, cd sales, press, marketing gimics, constant touring, myspace, mp3.com, etc. statistics. I would also agree that the Internet has change the mystery of music. Although my good friend’s band just signed up on brutalnoise recently and they already have some interest. It only takes a click and you can be in the right zone. I believe the clean up with some of these majors will help. Indies are also seeking forms of partnertsips with majors i.e. (Wind-UP, TVT, Octone) I know thats not new but Indie labels represent Aritistic freedom which is the opposite of what the RIAA wants to accomplish according to many artists, managers, etc.
Comment by real mad — July 5, 2006 @ 10:42 am
So so true… this is the exact conversation that I have every single day when people ask me whats wrong with music and the business of music. it’s funny because I actuallly use the same “Titanic” analogy. You hit the nail right on the head and I am glad you are bringing light to this on your forum. I choose to personally assosiate myself with true talent that has the potential of being a catalog artist 10, 20, 30 years from now.
Comment by vic — July 6, 2006 @ 2:41 pm
Listen,
I know it’s culturally safe as a teenager / Twenty-something kid to keep blaming the big bad record companies for the lack of A&R and development. It’s funny that the bandwagon mentality of everyone that knows exactly what it’s like to sign a band, develop it and spend a ton of money on one act that you believe in so much. To be honest, it’s hypocritical to wave that indy flag so high and mighty like you know how how it used to be when A&R did “development.” Please go watch another re-run of Monkey Love on FX, because you really don’t know how it really works except through what you hear.
Here is the deal, plain and simple….Bands in general are worse than they used to be. That’s the bottom line and here’s why. Back in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s it was the only source of outlet for a bunch of young people to vent and have as a source of entertainment outside of listening to the radio, watching TV, etc etc. With the advent of the internet, TIVO, blackberries, cell phones, PS2, XBOX, etc, there are so many more distractions and the paradigm for why a band is formed is just a different path entirely. There is no more G n’R. There is no more STP, Tool. All the young bands today are missing it and are not making the same artistic statements that was essential for a band to get signed. Ok, you have Mars Volta, QOTSA and Mastodon, but those bands are neither new nor young bands. The farther we get from the greats, the lighter the photocopies become and thus harder to read. I wish it wasn’t the case, but it seems that Panic! At the Disco, Brand New and Fallout Boy are the new hot shit. The only thing that we have to look forward to is if some of these young kids get so fed up with it all and write angry music from the heart that they believe in, we may have something that’s not a candy coated caricature of something that was once great.
Comment by earstothetracks — July 6, 2006 @ 5:30 pm
Actually I get my advice from producers, showcases, and A&R feedback. The amount of non-selling music out there is “retarded”. End of story.
Comment by real mad — July 7, 2006 @ 3:57 pm
well, I have been silent on these forums, and tend to just read them, rather than get involved, but I feel it’s horrible, that there was no follow up to “earstothetracks” comment. It was so right on, that this thread should just be closed and only that comment should be listed.
I am in a band, and have been playing with my best friends/family for over 10 years now, there is nothing in the world I love or would ever want to do more. We play regularly and every show we play the bands that open up are younger and younger and listening to the crap that spews out of their mouths backstage about what’s going on with them and their idiocy about the industry, makes me want to drive 120 mph into a toll both on the Garden State Parkway. The industry is not what we own, it’s what everyone has been allowed to create with their own diversions and false realism.
sometimes you don’t have to go back to far for truth though, this song came out in 1990, and also hits home:
When we have nothing left to give
There will be no reason for us to live
But when we have nothing left to lose
You will have nothing left to use
We owe you nothing you have no control
Merchandise keeps us in line
Common sense says it’s by design
What could a businessman ever want more
than to have us sucking in his store
We owe you nothing
You have no control
You are not what you own
- fugazi
i would love to keep quoting songs, but that would just piss you all off.
Comment by in.spite.of — July 11, 2006 @ 3:15 pm