Re: I Think I've Figured out TAXI

hummingbird · Post by **hummingbird** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 9:25 am

Quote:So we're all in agreement on this:1) The industry doe not sign anyone over 25 or 30 to a major deal (for the most part), and2) Songwriters (for others), can be almost any age?Works for me! Thanks everyone for your input, it's greatly appreciated.I think the industry was astounded when gray-haired Taylor Hicks won American Idol a couple months before his 30th birthday. You can argue about whether you like him or not as an artist - but the fact is that millions of people chose him and there's someone buying his records & going to his concerts. Why would the buying public pick him over the younger-looking and indeed younger contestants? Maybe youth is not such a selling point anymore? Maybe they liked his spirit and integrity and refusal to change his look? Maybe the industry is behind the times? Maybe they need to change record stores so that there's an "under 35" section and an "over 35" section so we all know where we should shop? Do you really chose the music you listen to based on the age of the artist or the age of the songwriter?I've enjoyed this thread.

hummingbird · Post by **hummingbird** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 9:31 am

Quote:Quote:I'd add something to this... "the industry doesn't not sign anyone who doesn't have a commercial look, who isn't already selling big numbers (units) & touring successfully" So in other words, you have to already be successful to be signed.Kelly Clarkson never sold squat until she was signed. Didn't do big tours either. Ashlee Simpson never sold or toured either, wasn't anywhere near successful. There's a bunch of others, don't you think? Remember The Monkees??? LOL! Bottom line for a new artist: gotta have the songs, the look, the production team, and the "it" or "star" factor. Then you "might" have a chance.I was just quoting from what I've read in listings and in industry interviews. Sadly, the Monkees were in a different time. Kelly Clarkson won American Idol. Ashlee Simpson is Jessica's little sister.The fact is that there are only 3 or 4 major labels left in the States, and the idea that getting signed by one of them means "success" is your definition, not mine.

arkjack · Post by **arkjack** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 10:06 am

Every time my son or daughter say "dad" its usually followed by "can I have some money??" I don't always find it pleasing.....

arkjack · Post by **arkjack** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 10:42 am

Why the industry signs what they sign?? Last time I was in a talent contest they threw me out for being a ringer..... yet to me I don't feel all that special.... I'm just a dude who plays a decent guitar and can sing and write songs.... just like anyone else on a major..... and like 11000 TAXI members.... I could get a group of players I know who are all in mid fifities and go to a battle of the bands with the best of the young crowd and they will blow them away in any genre and any instrument categorey..... at the same time any major act already has the world class players..... thats what the label wants.... a package to present to the consumer.... Another aspect is that most of us are DIYs with private studios ..... how are we going to come up with the same quality as the Nashville or LA label making a cut in a million dollar studio with a $300,000 budget....??What that has to do with having TAXI figured out....?? It seems that its pretty straight forward.... an opportunity. I already get a quad venti machiatto from starbucks everynight.... am I rambling?ArkJack????

arkjack · Post by **arkjack** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 11:52 am

Your point shak is well taken and goes back to what you said before..... Sheryl Crow is pretty cute.... but Tila Tequila has 1,616,000 myspace friends and over 54,000,000 views on her profile.... sheryl doesn't even have a myspace.... Justin Timberlake has 19,000,000 views and 484,000 friends..... as far as I know, JT can't play and instrument nor write..... meanwhile Sheryl is great at both .... so I agree,.... sex vs. talent..... that's why you have to take the rock star six pack at fifty seriously..... you never know if you have sudden fame for being old... Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney..... ArkJack

nomiyah · Post by **nomiyah** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 12:58 pm

Quote: Justin Timberlake has 19,000,000 views and 484,000 friends..... as far as I know, JT can't play and instrument nor write..... I read the Rolling Stones interview with him last year. Justin not only writes (as well as dancing, singing, looking good and having what is it? 15 years in the industry), he has a rare form of genius that allows him to write songs prolifically without putting any of it on paper. He writes them in his mind, then goes into the studio and sings and helps produce it. He doesn't write the lyrics or the chord progressions down at all. He doesn't even sing ideas into a tape recorder (or answering machine). Yet he can write an album with at least one hit on it in a few weeks.Never thought I'd be defending him, since he's not my favorite artist. But at least he deserves his credit.

pogodog · Post by **pogodog** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 5:41 pm

Quote:Quote: Justin Timberlake has 19,000,000 views and 484,000 friends..... as far as I know, JT can't play and instrument nor write..... I read the Rolling Stones interview with him last year. Justin not only writes (as well as dancing, singing, looking good and having what is it? 15 years in the industry), he has a rare form of genius that allows him to write songs prolifically without putting any of it on paper. He writes them in his mind, then goes into the studio and sings and helps produce it. He doesn't write the lyrics or the chord progressions down at all. He doesn't even sing ideas into a tape recorder (or answering machine). Yet he can write an album with at least one hit on it in a few weeks.Never thought I'd be defending him, since he's not my favorite artist. But at least he deserves his credit.Nomi, you had no choice. He did, after all, bring Sexy back. Not and easy task... I still have a limp and bald patch from my failed attempts. Ran

booker · Post by **booker** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 1:50 pm

Quote:Quote:Your point shak is well taken and goes back to what you said before..... Sheryl Crow is pretty cute.... but Tila Tequila has 1,616,000 myspace friends and over 54,000,000 views on her profile.... sheryl doesn't even have a myspace.... Justin Timberlake has 19,000,000 views and 484,000 friends..... as far as I know, JT can't play and instrument nor write..... meanwhile Sheryl is great at both .... so I agree,.... sex vs. talent..... that's why you have to take the rock star six pack at fifty seriously..... you never know if you have sudden fame for being old... Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney..... ArkJack Funny I run into guys in bands in their 50's, for country it's kinda cool. Like jazz. For rock, it's pathetic. People say, "well Jagger is still doing it," well Jagger has been doing it all his life, we have all grown with him, and he's famous. THEY can get away with it. You get rock guys who are unknown trying to rock out when they're old, and they're laughable. If I see ONE more old unknown wannabe rocker trying to shake it with his size 46 sausage-casings on, I'm gonna puke.So... what's worse... being a 45 yr old rocker that's gotten no where, or a twenty something wannabe that's becoming that 45 yr old rocker that's gotten no where?