Web Logs
3/22/2003 - No Middle In the Music
My friend Sam called yesterday to tell me he had also been laid off (its going around these days). He went on to ask me if I wanted to help him start an independent Web design/hosting company. As soon as he asked, my heart sank. Its not Sam, per se, its just that I've done that whole Web-thing for years now, and to be frank I'm sick of it. i'm so ready to move on to other things in my life it hurts. I want to give a try at this whole music thing but its a tough-as-nails career to get started.
The problem with the music industry is that there is no real "middle class". You're either successful and making scads of cash, or you're a starving artist. Feast or famine, there's no in between. I've heard lots of theories as to why this is (most involving evil record companies), but I have a slightly different take on things.
When it comes to the music industry people are really only interested in great acts. Yes, yes, I know there are some little no-so-great bands you love, but I'm talking about the public at large. Mom, dad, and the guy on the street. For them is has to be something truly remarkable to get them into the store and shelling out cash for a CD.
And notice I didn't say "remarkable music", just "remarkable". Remarkable beauty, remarkable image, remarkable marketing, or yes, even putting out a remarkable album or two can all cut it. But what can't cut it is anything less than top-notch. There's just no room for the o-kay, the so-so, the mediocre.
So I suppose that's the big challenge before me: create something remarkable. Beauty? Music? Marketing? Hmm... Can you order grease paints and spandex online?
