The Politics Of Music

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Comment by retail on August 24, 2009 at 4:03pm

I hope Michael Moore's new documentary about Wall Street debunks the fallacy that capitalism is synonymous with free enterprise. In fact, they're incompatible. "Free market capitalism" is an oxymoron. Rigged market capitalism is more like it. A market ruled by fratboys who had the right drinking buddies in college. Or do you think an independent label can really compete with the majors?

Comment by Moe Minor on January 24, 2009 at 1:41am

If that's the case, I'm comin' to the UK. . .

Comment by PEKKANINI on January 21, 2009 at 12:11pm

Thanks, Moe!
The problems you describe here are universal. An overwhelming majority of musicians will never get the acknowledgement or compensation they deserve. When your songs are in Swedish,
(a language that is spoken by only 10 million people worldwide) you are limited even more so! That's why most Swedish artists perform in English or do instrumentals, as I do. Where can you sing and be understood? For a Swedish spoken artist it's limited to Sweden, Denmark, Norway and some small parts of Finland. People in those countries can understand each other, if they make an effort, but that still is only about 20 million people. Regardless of these limitations, I have chosen to do this,not because I had to,but for my love of music.

All the luck to you all!
Pekkanini

Comment by Word Man on January 21, 2009 at 3:15am

Thanks for the invite, Brother Moe.
Last nites gig, (Obama Inauguration Party) sponsored by the "Democrats Abroad" here in Greece was great. The sound was not so hot, as we were performing in a GYM...I'm sure ya'll have done that once or twice. Energy was high, a lot of impromptu stuff with the Kenyan crowd singing their Pro Obama tune..lol, American Ambassador there supporting the event and the Band, an old friend hopp'n in on a few tunes with his Sax!
All in All a great night and each band member going home with a smile and 200 Euros in his pocket! ;-)

Maybe ya'll should come to Greece? LoL
Word Man

Comment by Moe Minor on January 21, 2009 at 12:53am

Around the NW it is so %$@#*">'d up. I've played some of the better rooms and a few hole in the wall joints. Ya'll are probably like me and bring your A++ game no matter what, wherever ya perform, right? The joint is packed over capacity, the bar is making $$$$$, the crowd is lovin' what your bringin' em and the club owner is moanin' about how broke he is when payday comes around. One of the better rooms way out west here in Pt. Townsend has the "Majors" come through on the regular. I'm a "Minor" (pun int) in there on a Sat. night with a full house & 15.00 cover. I go see my peers who know me when they come thru. Eddie Shaw (G. Thorogood's sax player) from my hometown Chicago has a killer band and played to an almost empty room last time I went ($25 cover waived). The cover is usually $25-35 for Keb Mo', Maria Muldaur etc. and up to $100 for Johnny Winters et al. Most local bands ask $3, 5 or 7.00.

Here's the clincher. The owner is always whining to me about $$$$, but begging me to play his club. I ran into him today, same story. "Oh man, you know Moe I can't pay that kind of money" & all that. How bout a $5.00 cover this time?" He has a policy. . .no one keeps the gate, the cover is paid on the patron's tab. . .so you can't have a contract w/ a guarantee , just a flat fee. I think he got the msg. when he heard me say "you want me to put together a band every bit as good as your Big Names, well ya gotta pay me cuz they're not walking out with less than $150.00 ea. in their pocket. Then there's me, your favorite Frontman, now do the math. I have a policy too & refuse to go out that way." Sometimes I feel like walkin backwards down steep stairs is what you get in your own area. Can't wait to get out on the road and give it another shot.

Funny thing is I really don't care about money, it's more about us Indie Artists getting RESPECT. My Rant for today. . . .

Comment by Queenie and the Blue Cats on January 20, 2009 at 11:06pm

Now as for gigging for free beer,Queenie and the Boys are too old for that:)

Comment by Queenie and the Blue Cats on January 20, 2009 at 11:03pm

Basically,bands that can fill a venue whether they are good or not are the ones that get bookings.It is of course political and all about who you know/networking but the bottom line for most club owner is how many people a band will bring in and that is it. An okay band that markets themselves really well will go further than a great band that doesn't.So that is my two cents on the subject but I bet you guys already know this. Promotion,timing,who you know and hype..I agree with Philip Watson and Moe Minor 100%

Comment by Bill Haynosch on December 31, 2008 at 9:52am

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Comment by Bishop Mayfield on December 20, 2008 at 11:32pm

Love the site brother man. I'm a bit rushed at the moment, but i will be back to put a little input on my feelin's on the subject. i hope that you and Barbara (Bee Bee) are having a great weekend-Peace-n-Love-Bish

Comment by Moe Minor on December 20, 2008 at 10:08pm

My wife and I started this subject because we've travelled to a ton of Music Meccas and discovered an interesting control grid in various areas. What we've learned would take volumes to fill so we'll leave it up to our fellow artists to add your opinions and experiences with the Political end of the spectrum in your demographic.

Have you ever asked yourself why so many bands gig for free beer? Maybe you've seen the worst bands get major props, while you know way better ones that don't even get an honorable mention or a booking in an A or B venue over some hole in the wall. Don't get me wrong cuz' I like "Hole In The Wall Juke Joints" too, but it seems that Music has become more about who you know than what you know, no matter how much talent you have.

Thanks For Your Interest In This Hot Topic!!!