Record Labels

I just thought I would chime in on the whole Radiohead-Self-Distribution thing.

A couple of points to consider, fellow musicians:

1. Radiohead has been in existence for about 20 years, and have developed relationships with media, major labels, fans, and distributors.

They are just using their pre-established notoriety as their promotional vehicle. This issue of their website and the band as a record label isn't necessarily "revolutionary" as many press outlets have claimed. They could all get together and fart simultaneously in a secluded room in Liverpool and the world would know, soley based on their previous fame-hood.

2. Bands like Collective Soul, Eagles, and Garth Brooks also use their previously established business relationships to work exclusive promotion/distribution deals.

3. The independent, unassociated artist doesn't have any opportunity to sell incredible volumes of their product without major label help. If I suddenly announced that I was releasing my music exclusively online at www.ihaveanewcdout.com right now, only a select few of you would go there and take advantage of it, because I don't have 20 years of music industry contacts to promote my recordings to the whole world.

Record labels are still relevant, even though their business models are about a century outdated, because they have relationships with major retailers, distribution, marketing, and promotion to get artist's works in to the ears of the general public.

I know this was a long rant, but I just needed to explain what a label does. I can't knock them, because they will eventually figure out a new business model, and I might go work for one.

Woo Ha.

Hey, Ya'll. I'm employed.

I start at Barnes & Noble on Thursday morning.

I'm really grateful and glad that my search has paid off.

I'm kind of sad, though.

It's not a huge deal. I hate feeling like I'm on the bottom rung again.

As though my collegiate and career experience has been worth nothing more than an, "Oh, that's nice and why are you not working in the Music Business?"

*Sigh.*

It'll be good. I'm just going to have to adjust.

Besides, there are more important things to spend my time thinking about.

Hmmmm, Okay.

I'm irritated.

I'm searching for jobs. It's already degrading. I don't need any more bullsh*t judgmental looks from employees when I hand in my applications.

Just now, I turned in an app to a music store, and I waited around forever to talk to someone; passing the time by browsing through severely incorrect hack-job transcriptions of Tori Amos songs and whathaveyou.

The 50ish dude at the counter says, "Can I help you?"

I respond, "Yes, I picked this up and filled this out the other day."

"Oh," he says, with a look trying to disguise his thoughts of, "Are you kidding me? You're not seriously applying here, are you?" before finishing with, "I'll get this into the hands of the Powers That Be."

"Thank you very much!" I said, cheerfully.

I'm wearing nice clothes. I'm cleanshaven. My piercings are tasteful. I work hard. I have the talent to do a multitude of things. Being poor and jobless is wearing me pretty damn thin already Mr. Incredulous Face. Maybe you could put yourself in my shoes, and empathize a little bit instead of being suspicious of my desire to work in your sissy little music store?

Okay, I must get back to work. Perhaps I'll find somewhere more hip to waste my energy on.

Bearing Witness To You

Holy Crizzzzzap! It's been a long time since I've posted.

Lots has changed for me.

The Rundown:

1. I'm not in Nebraska anymore.

2. I'm not employed currently.

3. I go to get into an apartment today. (I'll keep you posted!)

4. My Blazer is in critical condition.

5. 5 Weeks and 4 Days and then I'm a married man.

6. It's already fall. Brr.

7. Collective Soul's new cd Afterwords is pretty darn good.

8. I can whip up a mean batch of bacon if I have to.

9. Driving in Metro Denver isn't as difficult as previously thought.

10.I'm going to try and write more often, once things get settled.

I hope to hear from everyone soon!

Time to go get my background/credit checked.

Edge, You're a Genius.

I am a complete music nerd.

Truely.

Watching "Rattle And Hum", and the live version of "With Or Without You" is on, and I'm noticing a secondary feedback part that I've never noticed before.

And now I'm obsessed with it!

Damn you, Edge. Your "musical psychology" working in full effect. Sustaining that erie "D" (or Db, in this version), serves to subconsciously emote that desperate longing that Bono sings.

Baroque period writers utilized this very technique, only we know it as "text painting" in that context.

Why can't more artists make their songs sound like what they mean??

Okay. I'm done. For now.

Wrapping It Up

A few pix.

Barely representative.

Keep on RITFW.




Last gig in Chadron last night.

Listy Things v2.0

It's been a couple weeks, I'm sorry.

It might be longer than that before the next one...so many changes are about to happen in this drrtyworld:

1. I'm moving in 2 weeks.

2. I am going to San Diego with Katrina after I move.

3. I am going to find a job when I get back.

4. I am going to spend more regular time with Katrina.

5. Apartment Shopping.

6. Wedding!

I came to some conclusions this week.

1. I don't really like 100 degree weather...so if I said that to anyone at any time in my life prior to now, I apologize and hereby retract my heat-loving comment.

1a) Weather forecasters are truely ignorant.

2. The more I learn about my fiance', the more I love her. (Bless that book!)

3. The more about myself I learn, the more I can love myself and let God use me for big things. (More on this later.)

4. This debut by the Bravery is kind of cool, now that I've had a moment to sufficiently crank it.

5. Salad. Who knew?

Okay, tough things.

We're all sinners, saved by Grace. God doesn't see sins when he sees His children, rather that we've accepted His son's sacrifice.

I've had a horrible time letting go and forgiving myself for stuff I did during my "dark period." It was a stretch of time where I was focused on taking care of my own needs, ignoring God's hand in my life, and pretty much blocking out all communication with Him. Without His influence, life can be really not-good.

Over the course of the last few months, I feel like I've reconnected and begun to seek more Christ-centered attitudes and habits.

What is forgiveness? I've seen it put this way: God can't punish you for sin if He's forgiven you. I've been punishing myself. I haven't forgiven myself.

I think I've figured out how, though.

1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Ah-ha!

Confessing!

I have to admit to sins! THEN comes the cleansing. Wow. What a revelation. God will forgive, but I have to own up to my shortcomings.

Thus endeth Joe's "truth discovery" moment. For today, that is.