Boomer Music - per Michael's 6/1 message

[nomiyah]

When I read Michael's letter, it only applied to me in a certain way. I'm not interested in reviving boomer music or similar sounding songs. But I would like today's music industry to promote songs that are as diverse, original, groundbreaking and excellent as the music of that era.Nomi

[doublethink]

I don't want to toot my own horn, but I feel like I had an involvement with Michael's letter. I joined TAXI in January and have submitted to multiple listings having each one returned. Upon reading the reviews I noticed that all the rejections were for absolutely stupid reasons, at least from a music-lover's standpoint. I complained to Tom Stillwagon about it and we talked on the phone at length about the state of the music industry and how downhill everything is going and how we (as in my band, doublethink) are going to need to see those changes, both negative and positive, and cater our music to them.This is the attitude that is killing the music industry. Whether it's Pink Floyd and the "boomer" generation as Michael puts it, or even the grunge movement of less than 10 years ago, music has always thrived when people do things differently and intelligently. The music industry of today seems to feel that the only way to succeed is to appeal to the lowest common denominater. I have reviews from my band's songs where the only reason we were not forwarded is because our lyrics "don't make any sense". I have others that say the image, idea, sound, and overall playing ability of the band is great, but that there is no radio hit in the batch we sent them. That attitude is destroying everything.The focus needs to be on real bands that play real songs, do real things, and do it well. That's the criteria that has made the greats from Robert Johnson through to Led Zeppelin, all the way until, well, until a few years ago it seems. Once the idea of "is there a hit?" gets out of these people's heads (including and especially TAXI, whoa re supposed to be on our side) the music industry will turn its own self around.Michael, if you read this, I'd love to talk to YOU about how the music industry is going down and how YOU can help it stop instead of sitting on your hands.scottdoublethinkwww.doublethinkonline.com

[skyblynde]

i'm not in the boomer demographic, but i've played in bands with guys who are. one was a "boomer" era cover band in tulsa, oklahoma (cover bands excel there to a disgusting degree).the problem i noticed was that the boomer-style MUSICIANS were the only ones interested. they wanted their music heard, but were unwilling to check out new artists in the same genre. they had a nostalgia factor tied to the old albums they loved from long ago, and held everything up to those - and had no desire to hear anything new in that same vein ("why listen to this 50 year old guy trying to sound like earlier bob dylan, when i can just throw on my fave dylan album?").they don't have an interest in new boomer music themselves, yet they expect the masses will be interested in theirs. odd, eh?greg

[jeffchurchwell]

Quote:i'm not in the boomer demographic, but i've played in bands with guys who are. one was a "boomer" era cover band in tulsa, oklahoma (cover bands excel there to a disgusting degree).the problem i noticed was that the boomer-style MUSICIANS were the only ones interested. they wanted their music heard, but were unwilling to check out new artists in the same genre. they had a nostalgia factor tied to the old albums they loved from long ago, and held everything up to those - and had no desire to hear anything new in that same vein ("why listen to this 50 year old guy trying to sound like earlier bob dylan, when i can just throw on my fave dylan album?").they don't have an interest in new boomer music themselves, yet they expect the masses will be interested in theirs. odd, eh?gregSkyblynde,I'm from Tulsa originally, and lived there for 38 years, then moved to Chicago in 1999. Nice to meet you. What bands were you in? You're absolutely right about the disproportionate number of cover bands in Tulsa... it's one of the reasons I never tried to make it as a musician there, hardly anyone was trying to be original. I just got another return for some of my songs that were not in line with the artist type the listing was looking for, and, once again, I got great marks and compliments on the material, except for the fact that it all sounds retro. So I know what I need to work on. The good news is that I'm perfectly placed to rework a lot of my older songs (which the screeners are encouraging me to do), and my most recent material (as yet unrecorded) is creeping ever closer to the current millenium in terms of style. So who knows, I may catch up yet.Jeff

[nomiyah]

Quote:This is the attitude that is killing the music industry. Whether it's Pink Floyd and the "boomer" generation as Michael puts it, or even the grunge movement of less than 10 years ago, music has always thrived when people do things differently and intelligently.Scott,You said that well, that's what I meant to say too. But I don't agree that Michael's sitting on his hands. He's running an innovative company that benefits songwriters, artists and participants in the music industry. That's the opposite of sitting on his hands. Change is in your hands, not in his, that's what I think. Nomi

[hummingbird]

Hey... I think the point is that it's not Taxi's job to change the music industry. They are A & R reps FOR the industry (not us), and they screen the music according to the explicit instructions of their clients. Any less, they'd be out of business. It's up to indie artists and indie labels to go into the market and make an impact... if, as indie's we truly think artistry is being brushed aside for a quick buck, and that there IS a market for music other than what is on commercial radio... then we have to prove that that is so.... and the proof would be in tix sales & units sold.On the other hand, retro music can fit film & tv needs very well (there's a slew of listings for this right now).I too wonder how you define "boomer music".

[53mph]

Am I suppossed to assume from this thread that the idea of boomer music would be to write music like what was made in the 70's?I see one problem with this. There's no point. An infinte supply of 70's music already exists and even if you listened to only one track from each album for the rest of you're life you would never get through all the music that was made then.Why would anyone spend their hard earned cash on someone emulating 70's music when they can still go to the shops and get their digitally remastered editions of the original stuff.If I'm in a nostalgic mood and want to re-live my youth (not so long ago in comparison to some here ) then I might slip on Dinosaur Jnr followed by Pavement and then some Neil Young (not of my generation but still defined my youth). Why would I reach for The Hives, White Stripes or Bonny Prince Billy to relive those golden years?Retro music is continuously being made and selling. Just the other day I turned on a music TV channel here in Italy and saw a band that looked sounded and acted like the love child of Marc Bolan and Led Zepplin. Long guitar solos, high squeely vocals and flared white trousers. Even the video was shot something like one of the early Led Zepplin videos. They're selling somewhere. They're on TV. This type of music does exist today.The difference is, when you were a child with lots of free time on your hands you hunted music, tracked it down, picked up new bands on the grapevine, scanned late night radio, recorded cable TV channels at 4am, travelled long distances to small dirty clubs to see hear and smell the latest, greatest, up and coming band (we'll I did) but when you get older you don't have the energy, time, or attention span to do this. You start to rely on mainstream outlets like HMV, commercial radio, commercial TV to get your music fix...and then moan that in your youth music was better. There is still great music being made today that is more experimental than the c**p on commercial radio. It's not the same as in the 70's because technology has changed, writing skills have changed, what people will put up with has changed......can anyone honestly say that Neil Youngs 20 minute guitar solos are missed on his new material? Do you really crave Led Zepplin's mock orgasms on Whole Lotta Love in modern music? Remember that in Britan punk was started as a direct reaction to exactly that kind of music; Stadium rock.. Bands had become so big, so full of themselves that young people couldn't even afford tickets to their Wembley Arena shows. Punk was a way of bringing music back to the masses, to the small venues. The Sex Pistols "God Save the Queen" technically made it to No1 in the UK out selling all others but Top of The Pops instead placed Rod Stewarts "We are Sailing in the No.1 spot for fear of a revolution. Around this time there was also Abba, The Who, Mowtown, Black Sabbath.....notice how eclectic the music was? Seems to resemble now.Whilst people were writing drivel such as "We are sailing" or "I just called to say I love you" there we're people making truely groundbreaking music. In the US there was a little underground band called the Velvet Underground that went on to influence current guitar music more than any stadium rock band ever did but were commercially unsuccessful (even with the backing of Andy Warhol).If we look to the current music map you can find comparisons to the chart music of the 70's in modern music. Rap music was originally like punk music (underground, a retaliation against the mainstream) but has now evolved into the sham69 of it' generation. Abba has evlolved into a string of female artists.It is not the place of older people to tell the kids what they should like. However cool you think you are your kids are always cooler. Did you know Bob Dylan's daughter listens to Eminem, Bob thinks all that music is just noise (sounds like just another child parent squabble eh?). It's for this reason most A&R scouts for modern labels are just out of college. They know what young people want.Every type of music has it's day. Hell! Pink Floyd had more than just one day in the sun and they are still making money from back catalogues so why should there be strong support for them now. The world has moved on and will gradually leave them behind. Anyone here old enough to remember skiffle? I don't see anyone trying to resurrect that, why should 70's stadium rock have a privilaged position in the music hall of fame?Whew. Rant over....I'll just wait for the back lash now.

[jeffchurchwell]

One other thing that just occurred to me (and should have done sooner), is that the established boomer artists who are still successful (by whatever measure they use) are doing it one of two ways: either by churning out "more-of-the-same," or by refusing to be typecast and trying a lot of different things, even if it means potentially alienating some or all of their existing audience. It seems there are more of the former than of the latter, and I don't remember the last James Taylor or Billy Joel album I bought. But I remember WHY I stopped buying them, because I wasn't hearing anything new. I continue to buy Peter Gabriel's new output, even though it's not really that much different over the years, because I came to him late, and am still catching up. I think of him as fresh because he's fresh to ME, when compared to James and Billy and Elton, the Stones, etc. Trying to wrap my brain around the Flaming Lips (another product of Oklahoma, which never fails to freak me out) is a major endeavor, and may be indicative of my future success. I mean that it's harder to work with what you don't understand. I see that as partly a generational issue, (though not not an age issue). But it is also one of those problems where there is a severe disconnect between what I'm used to experiencing and what the Lips are providing. And they may not even be in the avant garde anymore. Evolution exists, and it exists in the music world. Whether it exists in the music INDUSTRY is still the open question. Britney and Justin suggest to me that it doesn't, but they're just the part of the iceberg that's visible. And in the vein of what Nomi and some of the others here have said, "success is what YOU make it." Either my Boomer stuff will fly as is, or it won't, but that's up to me and my efforts, no one else's. If the industry won't come to me (and folks like me) on my terms, I can either curse and bang my head against the wall, or work within the industry's terms, or do my own thing as a free agent, and get as far as I can on my own. That's my final answer (damn, that's dated, too).Jeff

[jeffchurchwell]

Oh, and what 53mph said. Jeff

[skyblynde]

hi jeff, sorry for the late reply. yeah, i was in a couple of bands in the tulsa area - san dimas being the most successful. played backup for rusti love, terry cooper, sat in with admiral twin a few times. and don't feel bad - i'm in my 20's and i don't even get the flaming lips most of the time. i'm constantly shocked that some a&r guys took a chance on them in the first place (out of all the other marketable bands from the area), and that they've actually become the darlings of most critics, thus earning them some cred and ultimately some modest sales... crazy. i moved up here in august of last year and am currently writing, recording, and trying to put together a new lineup of my project, skyblynde. kind of foo fighters/oasis/wilco influenced stuff. missing a few of the landmark restaurants, but definitely liking the music scene up here much more.greg