Video 1 about John Clore’s first book, The Music Industry Doesn’t Have To Kill You. “A quick look at the manuscript on 1.22.12.” Book expected to release March-April 2012.
Book description: The Music Industry Doesn’t Have To Kill You challenges behavioral stereotypes in the industry of music while bringing attention to interesting people within it.
Although the music industry will always be rife with destructive behavior and cynical attitudes, you do not have to treat people like hell along the way.
I live and work around relatively cool people, but I am often amazed at just how “awesome” some people think they are, certainly including myself sometimes. When you are, or work around those that are remotely “famous,” it is really easy to start thinking you really have it going on. People come to you for free tickets, free drinks, party invites, job hook-ups, whatever, and you really start to think you wield some pretty rockin’ power.
And maybe you really are that cool. But I doubt it. And, when you start to “know” that you are cool, that’s probably when it’s going to quickly go off the rails, and people will begin to despise you and your arrogant attitude.
There are plenty of people I feel this way about, not only in Nashville, Los Angeles, New York and Chicago, but many other locations.
I am including myself in this. I have spent plenty of time as the underdog, and have had just enough time as a “go to guy” to feel what both ends of the spectrum are like. They are very different. I hope you are able to have enough of a balance of the two to know what they both feel like. And do not forget what it felt like on the other side. It is important to know how to approach those with some power, and it is important to know what it is like to have absolutely no access. One minute you may have access, but do not forget, it could be gone the next.
Who you are associated with plays in to this, big time. Put thought in to who you closely associate yourself with. We often group reputations together. Make certain you are positioning yourself in a manner consistent with who you are. Of course there are people we would like to associate ourselves with, but simply do not have access to. Continually ask yourself if that person or company or group of people are worth the effort and potential compromises you would have to make to achieve access.
Treat people well. My goodness, I have seen some real jerks in my time, and for no good reason whatsoever. Stop and consider how you are treating people, how you’re sharing your opinion and whether or not you helped make their day better. Do you really like when people treat you like crap?
Be consistent. You want people to know what to expect when they call on you for any reason whatsoever. Don’t be a different person when you’re out late at night as opposed to who you are at home or in the office. I will never understand people that one day are super nice and bubbly, but the next seem to not even know me.
Do not meet someone two, three, four or five times. Remember them after the first time. I am not saying you are necessarily going to remember their name and every talking point about them, but for the love of God, pay enough attention that next time around you aren’t “meeting them for the first time.” I can think of multiple people I have met on numerous occasions because the first, second or third times, I was not in a position of power, or did not have access to the right artist(s). When they finally do allow space for me in their brain, I often harbor resentment towards them for being such an ass. Do your best to not treat people this way.
You may know a lot, but that does not mean you have to be a jerk about it. Sometimes it is for the betterment of all if you just keep your mouth shut. You may know this and that and whatever, but don’t be the guy that’s always spouting off and annoying the bejesus out of everyone. Over time, people do not like that person, regardless of knowledge.
Look, you are cool in some way. We all have something special we bring to this mess. Just be self-aware. In an industry and lifestyle where every single person is seemingly clawing for their own version of fame, know that your words and actions are still important, no matter the setting or context.
People are watching – don’t be an idiot.
I’m a rock and roll guy. I was not raised on country music, and prior to Nashville, I wasn’t around it much. Then I decided to attend college at Belmont University, in Nashville.
Like many of my classmates, I had a stupid, arrogant, anti-country music attitude because I thought the music was “dumb,” or insert whatever stereotypical prejudices you can think of relating to the South, country music fans, whatever.
Sidenote: Nashville is far more than just country music, but that’s not the point.
In early 2003, I was arrogantly sitting at my desk as an intern at a PR firm called PLA Media, which is on 16th Ave., right in the heart of Nashville’s Music Row, an area founded upon the successes of country music. I answered the phone and had no earthly idea who the guy on the other end was. Merle Kilgore was calling to talk to my boss at the time, Pam Lewis.
Merle, being about as quick-witted as they come, picked up on the fact that I did not know who he was, and he decided to confirm it. We had a brief, super-awkward conversation where he filled me in on his credentials.
As long as I live, I will never forget the feeling I had after that conversation. In that moment I decided that even though I didn’t, and still don’t, love country music, I am going to respect the hell out of it. I am going to learn about it and quit making fun of an extremely important genre of music, both in Nashville and beyond.
By the way, Merle Kilgore co-wrote “Ring of Fire” with June Carter Cash, was the long-time manager of Hank Williams Jr., was named honorary state senator for Tennessee in 1987 and in 1998, Van Morrison recorded a version of the Kilgore-written “More and More” with a guy named Bob Dylan.
Mr. Kilgore passed away two years later, in 2005. I was fortunate to be at his funeral at the Ryman Auditorium, where Kid Rock sang “I Saw The Light.”
Many thanks to all of you that have shown support as I’m writing my first book – it has been an immense boost to the process. Professionally, this is far and away the most exciting and fulfilling thing I have ever done, but it does take a lot of work. A lot of work, that without the passion I contain for the subject matter, probably would have made me give up a long time ago. But that is not the case here. I am deep into this thing and loving every minute of it.
I have 3 or 4 more interviews to conduct, lots of transcribing, reading, rearranging, categorizing and editing before I can call it quits. Then comes the formatting, distribution and marketing. Save maybe some of the transcribing, I am looking forward to every single phase.
Regardless of how this all turns out, I have learned so much through this process and it has genuinely been a lot of fun. I have met some remarkable people, and reconnected with some of my favorite people in the world. More than anything, being able to sit down and record conversations with some of my heroes has been a tremendous honor – one that I do not take lightly.
My current goal is to have a final copy of the book in my hands by August of 2011.
Thanks for hanging with me, especially as I have drastically slowed my writing on this site.
I appreciate you all.
The more time goes by, the more frustrated I get on the piracy issue. I have tried again and again to “be cool” about it and tell myself that it will be okay, it’s just part of the “new school” way of doing things and it will all work out.
But it’s not. Not even close.
I am all about sharing my stuff and passing my interests off on others, but it never crosses my mind to copy all of my crap and let them have it, music or otherwise. And they should not feel entitled to it.
Piracy is nothing new, let’s be honest about that. Not even in the music industry. But its deep, deep impact is now being felt in a way it never has. Ten years into the digital age, I see evidence all of the time that the industry I love is drastically changing. I realize many apart from the industry love that. They are “sticking it to the man” and “getting what is owed them after buying all of those terrible songs packaged with the one good one.” Trust me, I get that sentiment. But goodness gracious, at what cost?
It baffles me that people thieve music (and other digital data) at far too many corners and carry on with life thinking it will all keep coming like it always has.
Let me be clear: music will continue to be written and recorded no matter how much the music industry of the past 40 years continues to devolve. I am not naive enough to think the mass of society cares about said devolvement, but in more ways than most want to acknowledge, it will affect what music they ever become aware of.
I have plenty of issues with the whole of the music industry of which I currently make my living. It is not perfect. Not even close. One thing I can say with absolute certainty is that I am one of those who really and truly loves music so deeply that I am not in Nashville to strive for filthy riches. There is truly no other industry that remotely interests me. For a while I thought I would try and work for an MLB team someday, but I realized I don’t love that industry enough to simultaneously work in it, deal with the problems, politics and injustices, and remain a true fan. I am not here to work for free, but I assure you my passion for music will sustain many a lack of ideal salary.
The Internet is the new radio. The thing is, it is far more powerful and with many more tools. Either way, it is a tremendous marketing vehicle where we learn about all sorts of new things, including music. As I write this, I am listening to a free download sampler from SPIN Magazine. Hopefully there will be a song or two that will really grab my attention, then I will very likely engage and transact with that act on some level (buying a CD, t-shirt, concert ticket, telling my friends, etc.), but for the rest that do not grab my attention, at least I was exposed to them.
Yes, one must get a product out into the marketplace through sampling, etc., but at some point free has to run out. You may get a free sample at Costco, but if you want to take more home, you have to give them your money.
Just because a transfer of (any) information can take place on the Internet, that does not mean it should be free. What is the deal with people thinking Internet actually equals free? Few things bewilder me more. I am not saying every single product in all of creation should cost something, but the bulk of products and services are not free.
I realize music needs to get better in a lot of ways, but there are plenty of absolutely amazing songs and artists coming out every year. (Have you heard The National, MGMT, The Band Perry, Kopecky Family Band, The Avett Brothers, Ryan Adams, Fitz & The Tantrums, Mumford & Sons, Foxy Shazam, Marc Scibilia, etc., etc., etc.?)
If you’re getting off on sending a statement to the “evil music industry,” fine. If you don’t even realize that stealing music is wrong, get a freaking clue. Either way, keep in mind that the very artists that provide the soundtrack to your life are, and will continue to be, impacted if you never send any of your money their way.
Please consider not being paid for your work. Trust me, it sucks.
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