Let’s stop giving torrenting Kanye attention
I hate to discuss it, so I’ll begin with an Oscar Wilde quote:
“The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.” – Wilde
I’m know I’m feeding the fire writing about Kanye’s blunder, but it’s important to remove the curtain from the smoke-and-mirrors of the music industry from time to time, so we remember that the music is the important thing.
The normal smoke-and-mirrors of the music biz is manipulating the press*.
So that tweet Kanye posted with the screen shot of his computer, with the Bittorrent site in his browser? Yeah, that’s deplorable. EDM artist ttwwrrss (Towers) tweeted my favorite response:
when kanye torrents my fav synth that i actually paid for
— カsvenテ (@ttwwrrss) March 3, 2016
But that’s not only what annoys me, how a successful artist steals software; yet tells Zuckerberg to give him a giant check. You think Kanye didn’t pause to think about what’s in his browser before posting a screenshot to millions of followers? Come on.
But there is no such thing as bad press; Irish “drinker with a writing problem” Brendan Behan said it better:
“There’s no such thing as bad publicity except your own obituary.” – Behan
So instead of giving Kanye anymore unwarranted attention, go support some local music in your community. Let me lead you to one artist: go back my friend Josh Woodward’s Kickstarter campaign for his 12th album, a songwriting talent who survives without manipulating the press, but by putting his music first and working on it every day.
Plus, all of his music is on Creative Commons. (Kanye, you can go download it from Josh’s site without even torrenting it, if you want.)
*PS: Did you watch the BBC Documentary, Myth Makers for Pop Music? Watch it here. Fascinating!)
**PPS: Yes, and I’ll admit us indie artists need publicity, too. Sigh.
March is shaping up to be a busy month. Here’s some of the notable shows:
1. Sunday, March 13, 7 PM (EST) we celebrate my 1000th Gig – a Concert Window broadcast from Solid Sounds Recording in Ann Arbor!
- Watch the show at www.concertwindow.com/mikevial
2. Fenton Hotel Residency on select Thursdays, 3/10, 3/24, and 3/31
- March 31st I’m doing a full set of Bob Dylan covers
3. St. Patrick’s Day sets:
- My 4th annual afternoon set at Claddagh Irish Pub in Lansing, noon to 4 PM
- At Barton Hills Golf Club’s restaurant I’m playing a dinner set at 6 PM to 9 PM
* * * *
While March is packed with 11 shows, I only have one major travel gig, back at Hop Yard 62 in Grove City, outside of Columbus, Ohio.
After coming off some winter tour dates, and preping for a lot in April-August, March will be a nice break from the road.
I hope to see you at the online concert or at my favorite Michigan pub shows!
The story about Paul McCartney’s “Let It Be”
“Speaking words of wisdom, let it be…” – Paul McCartney
Have you read this older post about “The Story Behind Paul’s “Let It Be'”?
– read here at mattandjojang.wordpress.com
At Expressions Music Academy, our music students performed “Let It Be” in December 2014, with the talented teacher/producer Michael Swain behind the keys and me on bass.
I’ve known this song’s musicality well; but today I’ve stumbled upon the story.
The song’s story is archetypal:
- Paul’s mom appearing in his dream, saying that lead lyric;
- the potential for religious interpretation;
- the song being written quickly, as inspiration often does;
- the sense of time in the lyrics;
- the structure of three being used (if you look past verse/chorus, you will see three sections, three shifts of perspective).
And today’s a tough day for us at the Vial/Burg house; it’s like this song’s story came to us on purpose…
Sometimes we stumble upon a song we thought we knew quite well, and see it in an new light. And that’s the power of music.
Let it be.
The work that matters is the work you do that isn’t posted to Instragram
What’s the best advice for getting the best vocal take, guitar performance, or mix in the studio?
Practice.
It’s 90% pre-production, 10% the final takes. Meaning, you have to put the work in before you get in the vocal booth.
The work that matters is the work you do that no one posts a photo to Instagram. The work that isn’t sexy is the work that leads to greatness…
Not voting is voting; and music cities need your vote
One comedic bit from George Carlin that makes me laugh is about voting; but I don’t agree with him one bit.
“I don’t vote. Two reasons. First of all it’s meaningless; this country was bought and sold a long time ago.” – George Carlin
Sorry George, but not voting allows for the other votes to count more, which in turn, is voting.
That lack of organization as a collective force is one reason songwriters’ interests are being ignored in the changing paradigm of streaming and technology.
It happens with housing, too: Music and art become staples in revitalizing an area; then the developers come in and the artists are economically pushed out of the very hometowns that music put on the map.
Like Austin.
Read Tish Hinojosa’s piece about being a full-time musician in what we assume is a music friendly town: “Hinojosa: Austin venues can do more to pay musicians fairly” – The Statesman.
The list of cities becoming too expensive for many musicians continues:
- Seattle – “Too expensive for the musicians who made it boom” – article here
- New York City – “the 1% stifles creative talent” – Byrne’s article here
- Ann Arbor – “the housing gap” – my wife wrote this article
Even that tourist trap on Broadway Street in Nashville is an interesting discussion concerning fair pay: Those stellar musicians survive on tips! (article here)
Bar owner Ruble Sanderson disputed this idea (his response), and I take him on his word that musicians get paid a small guarantee at his venues; however the musicians commenting on the article say the pay rate for one musician might be $30-40 for a four hour bar gig.
No one can argue that it’s the tip jar that makes the gig lucrative.
But East Nashville is where we should really direct our focus; a neighborhood that musicians called home is now becoming a housing bubble pushing them out: Priced out of Nashville article here.
National elections are important, but it’s our local elections that are even more within our power of creating change.
Try getting the President of the United State to answer your letter.
However, my guess is the Michigan governor’s top aides are finally feeling the heat of the public’s outcry in Flint. And a school board or city council member is going to hear your thoughts.
We vote everyday, with our time and our money.
George Carlin chose to ignore the polls; as artists and musicians, I urge you to do the opposite.
