Light at the End of the Streaming Tunnel
If you didn’t sell your catalogue during the gold rush, fear not. We may have to think of it as “holding on to real estate during a down market in a neighborhood that could get really hot.”
Rolling With The Changes
In the age of hashtags and ampersands what can we do if we’re a gifted musician but clueless when it comes to self promotion? And what if we can’t afford to hire someone to assist us but our success hinges on quantity of followers?
A Songwriter's Dilemma
How do we, as songwriters, make peace with the idea of patronizing a business model that undercuts the value of our work?
Survival of the Richest
I’m happy here on planet digital where I get all the songs I want whenever I want them, wherever I go. I simply want my community to have as healthy an earning trajectory as the CEOs and label heads who are running their companies on the backs of the creators who write the songs that make their business possible.
Dear Santa...
We don’t need material gifts, Santa….just some shift in the Universe that gives musicians faith in the idea that we, and the young people who will come after us, will be able to sustain ourselves and keep giving the world what they can not live without: music.
Back To School
The students I’ve been with this week have been open, curious, reasonable and interested. Most of all, they want a future in the music business!
Broken Record
The perception of free is a dangerous drug and the longer we believe it’s okay to use it the harder it will be to get sober.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to The Airport....
The streaming revolution has been a gift to users. We can access as much music as we want, whenever and wherever we want it. For ten bucks. And, we can put our selection back on a shelf and opt for something else if for any reason we aren’t satisfied. That’s a pretty good deal. One would think that for an all-you-can-eat buffet, the value of music would have risen, not declined.
Dear Songwriters....
Our industry is a hot mess. Everyone’s trying to hold onto what’s slipping out of their control in this (still rather new) digital terrain.
What If Your Favorite Song Didn't Exist?
Those who go into the business with fortune or fame as their goal will never write a song as good as those who do it for Love.
Glass Half Full, Please
You never know when or where you’ll find your luck. Luck has more of a chance when we believe it does. It’s as simple as that. Our attitudes are more powerful than we know.
Is MusicAnswers The Answer?
I want songwriting (and yes—composing, performing and producing) to continue to be a legitimate occupation in which good people who work hard can at least make a living.
Come Together
When it comes to deciding who should go to DC to represent the creative community it is my view that no single group will be as influential or effective as we can be in a united front.
Musical Musings in a Digital Age
If we had a crush on a boy (or girl) and were able to kiss him whenever we wanted to for however long we wanted, would we want to kiss him as much?
Writer's Block...Work It Out!!
If you still don’t have any ideas at the end of a workout I would seriously consider a new career.
Dear Bob Lefsetz, Please R.S.V.P.
I have found that my adversaries are more motivating than my allies.
Calling All Angels
All who inhabit the music landscape - from creators to consumers, and all those in between - must adopt simple, ethical practices that ensure all parties in the music value chain, including songwriters, composers and artists are fairly compensated for the use of their work.
Play Me
I've been thinking about the innovation of interactive streaming--how versatile, convenient and instantly gratifying it is. Interactive, however, means that before I take off for a drive to the mall or a run on the beach I have a decision to make: what do I want to listen to? There is much pre-thought involved in all the interaction.
To Taylor, Love Shelly
In the spirit of the precarious state of the business of writing songs we nominate you, Taylor Swift, as our official spokesperson—our poster child in chief—to continue leading the way.
