Thunder and Lightning Are a Little Bit Frightening

Well-intentioned, well-meaning people should not be in the music business. It's that simple. If you have a plan that can be implemented and is working, I truly applaud you for your ability to do so.  If not, then kabetzing isn't going to help anyone. If the well-intentioned  plan isn't working, waiting for lightning to strike is a bit like waiting for hell to freeze over.

Today people stand around, and talk obsessively about how to "relate" to the new music model as if the collective force is a petulant child. To say this is dysfunctional is the understatement of the century. Facilitators step in like doctors who can diagnose symptoms, but have no cure. If there was an easy fix to this evolution people wouldn't be standing around, waiting, and talking about what might happen next.

The most successful musicians in history were, and remain, totally uncompromising. They couldn't care less about their critics. Do they face obstacles? Absolutely. Do they find a way around them? No question. Are there easy solutions? Not always.


Put one foot in front of the other and simply allow yourself to accept what music is. Perhaps it shouldn't even be a business. Monitizing music is a dilemma as old as time itself. For a very brief period we witnessed a system that appeared to work, but as most corporate models reveal, it too was a house of cards.

The vehicle for distribution of recorded music is technology. Realistically, we can't put too much stock in it as it becomes outdated the minute it is put into motion. Like a new car, it depreciates the minute you drive it off the lot. We must use technology, but using it sparingly brings art to life in ways most of us have forgotten.

For centuries, people have suffered for their art. Now, it's our turn. Agonizing over the joy of music is a huge disconnect for most people, yet many do agonize over what isn't working. Honestly, I don't think things are really as bad as people want to believe. Many people are making music work for them...we just don't hear all the success stories. There's too much thunder in the background.