CNN Should've Asked Me...

Jeff Price is the Founder and CEO of TuneCore.  This op-ed is in response to a CNN.com piece entitled "What will save rock'n'roll?" from May 20th.

Yesterday, CNN.com ran an article titled “What will save rock 'n' roll?” which included an interview with Steve Van Zandt and some others

The short version, in the article Steven, and others, claim people are not buying music and albums because “they suck” and bands don’t know how to rock.

Somehow, they feel, bands just don’t know how create music that inspires.

I had the pleasure and honor of meeting Steven.  He’s a great guy, a kick-ass guitar player and a legend, but with all due respect, bullshit.  And shame on CNN for running a news story based on a few people’s uneducated opinions.

There is more music being created and recorded today then ever before in the history of humanity.  Although sheer volume of music creation does not make it good, the fact that more people are creating it certainly increases the odds. Hell, just having access to affordable gear and recording equipment (like your Mac) allows more music to come to life, both the terrible and the incredible.

What Steven and CNN don’t seem to know, or acknowledge, is that the real “music industry” is that thing over in the corner main-stream media is not reporting on and not aware of.

There are between 150 to 300 releases a day via TuneCore alone.  I have to suspect that Steven has heard perhaps less than a percent of a percent of them.  You want the opinion from the guy running TuneCore, now the largest distributor of bands, labels and music in the world, there is more great “rock”, “punk”, “dance”, “hip hop” “classical”, “funk”, “folk”, “country” etc etc than there has ever been before.  And this is why IT IS SELLING.

TuneCore Artists have made over $32,000,000 in music sales in just the last 22 months.  Some TuneCore Artists are actually outselling Top 40 artists – guess the Top 40 aren’t really Top 40 anymore.  Who cares what someone else chart says, the people actually know what’s going on and don’t need an artificial chart to tell them what’s popular, they already know.

And with all due respect, people ARE buying and consuming and stealing and streaming and listening to music.  And more and more of them are becoming so inspired that they actually are going out to teach themselves how to “rock”.

So CNN, what will save rock ‘n’ roll – it’s already saved.  You just need to start listening.

Comments

[633 Music Group]

Ben Robinson is one of those artists. And thanks to Tunecore his music is available world wide. Thanks.

[WOA]

and KATIE LOCKE & BULLET PROOF TIGER

www.katielocke.com

[WOA]

Just check out WEIRD OLD AMERICA from NY NY. SLAMMIN rock n roll that sounds like it's from the 70's. br>www.weirdoldamerica.com

[Kevin Montgomery]

In response to David Steele's comment " YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO PLAY!! YOU HAVE TO HAVE MUSIC EDUCATION AND THEORY TRAINING!!!!!"

I'm sorry David, but I've been a professional musician for 25 years. Both my parents were professionals. Pops wrote songs for Buddy Holly, and mom sang with Elvis.
I've written songs for Martina McBride, and sing on Lee Ann Womack records.......and make my living as a touring musician.
I don't know chords, music, or any "theory" at all........was like math to me, and didn't see it as necessary.
I can find any harmony, and sing it without it.........taught myself how to play guitar, bass, drums, and piano.........took one lesson on piano and decided it was too difficult to understand.........so, I taught myself.
If you watched U2's Rattle and Hum documentary you will hear BB King himself tell the guys in U2 when they asked what key, or chords he was playing, reply, "chords, I don't know no chords"
While I agree that getting a musical education is a positive thing........it absolutely is not a requirement.

As for commenting on the post in general..........there are always going to be bands that get out there and work their asses off in the clubs and on the road.........and you can hear it when they perform..........and then there will be those that sit at home in their bedrooms and create..........they might create something great there, too.
You just can't make a blanket statement like Mr. Van Zandt did. I'm a fan, but he made a pretty typical statement by an aging rock star........I would imagine he isn't exactly searching for new, exciting music on a daily basis...........and somehow processes this as "there ain't no good music out there anymore."
There is good music out there.......you just have to find it.
I'm guilty of that myself. I do 200 shows a year on the road, and when i'm rolling down the road during the day......sometimes the last thing you want to do is listen to music.
So, Mr. Van Zandt.........get on myspace or Itunes and get to searching......you will find something that excites you......if you try.
Kevin Montgomery
P.S. -Thank God for Tunecore..........they ain't the middle man!!! They took the middleman out!!!!!

[Mackinents]

Lest those of us in this business of music forget, in these times that try our creative souls, this plague of payola and lack of creativity that permeates music, was perpetrated by the major labels.
Creativity, being the driving force within music, filed for bankruptcy once technology and marketing were victorious in their self destructing coup of corruption, which raped this business of music of it’s legitimacy rendering it to no longer be an aural form of art.

And it came to past…

Cassettes replaced vinyl, digital replaced analog, computers replaced instruments and recording studios, marketing schemes replaced quality, payola helped to sustain their monopolies, as major labels reigned, totally oblivious to the fact that the proverbial creative bottom had fallen out of this business of music.
Having fallen prey to malicious exploiters of creativity, people with no creative musical abilities, seduced and trapped in a short lived malicious orgy of debauchery which perpetuated assembly line production techniques, and shake-your-big-booty videos, this business of music, suffered a near fatal blow from the weapons of mass destruction-known as greed, known as the major labels.
Hence, we are enduring a meltdown fueled by an avalanche of greed and recklessness, a meltdown much akin to the travesty currently ravaging our national economy.
Why then, are the major labels allowed to maintain their status, why is it that radio, still discriminates as to whose product they will give airplay..?
Why is it, that those ‘artists’, who really aren’t artists in a creative sense, still allowed to function in this business of music..?

Now is the time for all ‘real’ musicians to come to the aid of this business of music…

Suffering from severe creative deficiencies, this business of music sought refuge on the internet, the land of infinite possibilities, seeking to occupy a space of it’s own, and rid itself of the plagues caused by creatively devoid souls, biased playlists, and electronically enhanced vocals, music now feeds intravenously on the creative souls who lived in underground exile, in cyberspace.

Cometh the Revelation…

Hopefully, at this juncture, on the brink of total destruction as a creative art, this business of music has realized that music is aural, not visual, good music does not have to be packaged, these days, the more expensive the package, the more BS you get.
Perhaps the music buying public and RADIO will take heed of this, as the major labels attempt to monopolize the internet.

Now, the day of reckoning is here, repent, be enlightened and realize, music is about creativity, not smoke and mirrors and scantily clad dancers. This is not a business of gimmicks, but instead-a utopia of creativity.

As the late great Sam Cooke said, “A Change Is Gonna Come”.

Well change is here Baby, praying won’t help you, and all of those mergers will do you no good.

Nevermore shall we forget that music is aural-not visual……….

[Tony]

In rebutal to Marshall Mitchell, check out 'the Muggs' from Detroit . They have some killer riffs you'll want to hear.

[Marshall Mitchell]

Stevie ought to know....he's been a big part of the rise and we've all seen the fall of "Rock" as we have come to know it. I hail from the "country" side but still appreciate good music, whatever the genre. Nobody, these days, can pull a riff even close to Dickey Betts or has the jam-ability of Greg Allman. Mainstream (what they call rock)is politically correct mush. Rock on...Hannah Banana!!!! Of course...just like Steven...this is MY opinion. Like it or not.

[Tony]

I agrre with 'soshush' . Bob Dylan wouldn't see the light of day in this present music market.Nor would Joplin. Can you imagine what they'd say to Janis? A&R, "No, really yer great, but....tell you what, get a boob job and loose some weight and why not get some plastic surgery on yer face. But really, you have a great voice."

It tears me apart because where are the real stars of today? You think Kid Rock is a star. He's an entertainer now. Smoke and mirrors.

I want the next Stevie Wonder or Ray Charles of our time. They're out there. Thank god for Myspace. I know some people will disagree with me but frankly Myspace is a champion of 'the little guy' who can't get signed so at the very least, one can hear what's out there.

The music industry has never been this bad ever. I urge you to dig deep and support yer local music scene. That's where great things happen. Grassroots people.

[Robert Seagrove]

I think the point some of us are missing here is whether bands now know how to rock. No sufferage, no rock, no jazz, no blues, no country, no classical, no nothin. The learning the craft of playing no matter which way one suffers or achieves that is entirely up to the individual. There are many igenious players and composers which don't have formal music training. Speaking for myself now I did study and suffered through music theory with the woman who wrote it, Barbara Warham, before her trajic death from cancer. I knew the whole bit upside and down inside and out because she wouldn't settle for less and if you made a mistake she used a yard stick or a pointer as a meter and correction tool. I know my inversions, triads, scales, jazz like a calculator without a keypad yet I know genious and dedicated players and teachers whom don't have this training and are stunning to listen to. The reason I did it was because I wanted to know exactly what I was doing and at a time when I was a hired gun guitarist making the equavalent of $4,000.00 a week it was a respectful thing to do. To some that isn't much money but to most its a dream. Then I went and blew $300,000.00 on a recording studio and still spending. Oh dear ! Though like many or most much of my soloing is still off the cuff street smarts. As far a the A&Rs go, yes it would be great to see people in there that can actually recognize true genious and have some formal musical backboned bar that anyone being tried in their court and jury can truly respect the outcome but hey, unfortunately music is a jungle and its our part to make it better.

[soshush]

Loads of great bands didn’t have training and theory – some of the freshest and most influential music came from people who could barely tune guitars – punk, new wave, etc.

What’s different now is that geniuses (when they’re hungry) don’t come up the ranks anymore (your McCartneys. Paul Simons, Bowies, Stings, Strummers, Cobains, Michael Jacksons, Dylans, Carol Kings, etc).

My theory is that after the success of the Boy/Girl band and Pop idol thing the whole criteria by which bands get signed changed. I honestly don’t think a Bob Dylan would get signed today. He’d be hidden with the rest of us in the vast sea myspace.

[David Steele]

Why are you guys censoring Comments? You took down my last comment, hopefully you will have the balls to keep this up. I am no damn rookie at this as I have been a professional music/ jingle producer for the last 15 yeasrs and I have made some good money writing tracks for huge multi-national companies. Hence, my voice needs to be heard! The fact of the matter is this. Yes, Music is being "dumbed down" to pathetic levels. Amateurs who did not study any music theory and barely know how to play an instrument are now "Composers and Songwriters". Give them garage band, acid, and reason and wow! They are making electronic music and are "music producers"!! Sorry guys, that is not how it works. YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO PLAY!! YOU HAVE TO HAVE MUSIC EDUCATION AND THEORY TRAINING!!!!!

I gave on line selling of music a shot and from what I can see, the only people making any money from this new system is the middle man! i.e. Tune core, I-Tunes, Amazon. etc. You folks definitely need a staff of trained musicians to filter what is good, and what is bad and not focus soo much on getting as many artists as possible to pay $35 to up-load and sell their Album. If it isn't good...don't distribute it. That is why the, still very flawed, old school system of selling Physical records and CD's works better. Because, at least there was a filter from some arrogant jerk at a record company around to ensure that only the great bands, singers, artists were released. We are now stuck with a bunch of free "average to bad" music that no one wants to buy. I recently asked 4 or 5 friends when the last time they paid money for music and they all said "no comment". Guys...let's face it...music is nothing other than a digital file shelved on the internet that is...well...worthless!!! Only the benevolent will actually pay.

[Robert Seagrove]

In order to really rock you "have to suffer"
(Gregg Dechert) and the longer that is done the deeper and purer the rock. Age has nothing to do with it and the old rockers are proving that. No suffering, no rock. For many years now we've had comfortable corporate record company dominance living off the ones they didn't have to work for, A&R people who don't notice their own stink and can't wipe their ass let alone pick out true soul and grit rockers. Compare it to a big stupid, lazy, powerful, oppressive government, if you will. Scores of putting up with piles of winey little peepers with buzzy, brittle sounding crap that call themselves heavy metal bands, grunge bands and all the rest of the alternative junk. And rap, hip hop, oh boy, what a mess. This has been all force fed by whining, comfortable steriotyped corporate, retirees. Thats the long and the short of it. Hope they enjoy the rest of their stinking retirement because a large part of their lagacy is not very well respected here.

[soshush]

So I AGREE WITH CNN – bands just don’t kick ass anymore! OK the DIY thing is great – and I’ve heard some amazing music from it - but it’s a parallel universe – whether a critical mass of disaffected music consumers will follow it enough to make the likes of NME and Rolling Stone really take an interest – don’t know.

I've heard a lot of the likes of Coldplay, The Killers, Kings of Leon, Nickleback, etc recently - usually not through choice. Honestly, I’ve heard so many better bands just supporting us when we used to play little dives around Manchester.

In the 60s, 70s, 80s and even 90s (with the Seattle and Britpop thing) bands that we really big were really really good. A whole load of service and marketing industries grew up to satisfy the interest in these genuinely great bands - those industries still need clients- but for some reason that I don't understand A&R have for the last ten years have fed them sub standard candidates.

[HB Beverly]

I notice everyone here is such an "expert" at knowing what real rock and roll is, and who can play a decent lead part. Tisk, tisk.... silly boys. It's easy to sit back in your chair and criticize working professionals who've dedicated their whole lives (over 40 years in Van Zandt's and The Boss's case), and have seen 'em come, and seen 'em go over the decades. Meanwhile, all these young dudes go bang out their definition of what "real" rock and roll in some dive with all of maybe a hundred so-called "expert" followers to tell them they "really rock" until they have to retire, and start playing country, or Classic Top 40 because they don't look the part of a young rocker anymore. It's only then that you realize that these guys like Steve have the experience to know what they're talking about when they make an educated comment on the state of the business. Been there - done that. Anyway, I agree with SVZ for the most part. MOst of what I hear these days has stupid lyrics, if you can hear them, and the music is intellectually repetitive and boring to people who've lived through and experienced what real rock can do for you. Rock may not be dead, but it sure is on life support, and is looking for a donor. Spoken by a proud Americana artist.

[Douglas]

Being wordy about, nor implying fault, "music tastes" I learned in my efforts. New Age Voice was lauded on CNN also. Rock and Roll is a generation, or if you like a system generated, try ambient.