Old Music Is Killing New Music (why it's a GOOD thing)
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- Опубліковано 2 тра 2024
- Writer & Columnist Ted Gioia wrote an interesting article in The Atlantic about the current state of the modern music industry. Here's my take as a working musician.
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I'm actually glad for this. Soulless corporate art machine is getting what it deserves.
On the other side, some band owe their success to the backing of a big label. If you look at some of the better known classic albums, the producer in the studio is nearly as important as the band in crafting solid songs that sound good. Some bands may never get to have the equivalent of an Eddie Kramer or Desmond Childs at their disposal while travelling the indie route.
@@timmooney7528 Well it has to collapse first to be rebuilt. I hope that big labels that undeniably play an important role in developing an artist will emerge soon after.
The behavior of record labels is a byproduct of Capitalism in general. They are bound by law to do everything possible to make their shareholders happy. When that's your driving mission the art and soul of music is completely lost, instead you get to the point you have AI algorithms sampling new tracks submitted and having the programs score the likely hit-ablity of each song. This is just risk mitigation. It's how you end up with cookie cutter songs track after track on radio... There's a can of worms probably best left shut where we could get into how the remaining genres getting on all the record label money (primarily rap, r&b and mainstream country music) are as popular as they are because these are the genres getting all the label money. I speculate they are getting all the money devoted to them because the fan bases behind these genres don't mind the templated/cookie cutter song structures and actually prefer it. That is to say, the genres still making money for the big labels are the demographics which their metrics have shown to be the groups most easily manipulated by their tactics.... They discovered these genres to be the ones they can make the most sure bets on with their formulas predicting hits, so they are the only genres that count to them... Meanwhile music as art is happening everywhere outside their bubble.
fArt machine
It's a function of the corporate system, the point of the capitalist system is to keep the consumer happy. Also it makes little sense that a capitalist industry would willingly create stuff that doesn't sell, it would make perfect sense in a commie/corporate industry.
The "traditional music industry" hasn't been interested in supporting or finding new artists in over a decade. They want a quick buck from someone they can easily market. They aren't interested in the music. They're interested in the money. In that way, they've never changed. They just didn't have the magic computer buttons to make crap sound good. They HAD to find people with talent to hustle. They don't anymore and they've structured the industry to work for them. As a guitarist (who doesn't make a living at it) and a music fan, I don't need them or their crap. Just as you said about radio. WE'RE NOT LISTENING ANYMORE.
they are just controlled by Warner and Sony, you need to tune into alternate or college radio.
Only time the radio station comes on is when I'm waiting for my usb stick with 16gb of music to sync to the car stereo. The only stations that are around in my area are all classic rock, classic pop and country.
I’m one of those “new music sucks people,” with the exception of a few artists. But on Sunday night the rock stations in my city play nothing but local artists and it’s shocking how many of them are great. Way better and unique than the stuff played on the regular rotations. Some of the local stuff they play isn’t super new. Some of it goes back to as much as 15 years ago or more. But the point is, there are countless artists out there who are incredible and you’ll probably never hear them.
I wholeheartedly agree with you! I will add that live music sounds so different compared to recorded music. If people made more efforts to consume live music, they would have a more positive perspective on new music. They will discover more bands. They will connect with the artists. All is well with today's music.
I wish the radios in my town did something like that
Me too. I stream my music
The data shows a somewhat different image of this because most of the old catalog music turns out to be from 2019-2017. what this means is instead of old music like decades-old being the driving force it's most likely the pandemic. music from 2017-2018 now makes up over a third of all music catalog sales. so rather than old music making a come back it's mainly just new music from that period. I don't know why many people took this data like ted did just to make it fit his music agenda. they're also flaws in his article like using the Grammys as a way to view how new music is doing. the grammy's were dying ever since they picked Macklemore over Kendrick and cardi b over Travis. also, an artist like juice wrld is a major pull in this data. this is because fighting demons(juice wrlds latest album) is doing worse than legends never die(catalog now) and goodbye and good riddance( which so happens to be from the driving years of catalog music). so in all this is all a major misunderstanding by ted and many others.
In my honest opinion i believe most of the best artists are rather new but with only a small cult following. Its a shame how people do not realize artistry is growing exponentially right from under our very noses.
I remember when a typical Top 40 week would include the genres Country, R&B, Dance, Rock, Punk, Rap, AC and Pop right next to each other on the chart. Now Top 40 is homogenized. I miss the variety.
There's so much music that *should* be on the Hot 100/Top 40 charts being made right now; country, blues, rock, punk, folk, bluegrass, indie pop...
To me the issues is first and foremost the industry, which is pushing for this homogenization, cookie-cutter garbage to streamline production and cut costs for the almighty dollar.
Hey Rhett, you know what you ought to do? You and your buds Rick and Mary can do your own "Unknowns" top fresh band/performer every month or two and make it "a thing" I'd wait with 'bated breath to see fresh new music! You can introduce talent to a wider audience... of course we'd all be sending you thousands and thousands of groups, friends, relatives that we think you should include... but that would be half the fun of being an influencer.
Wouldn't get the same number of views as other videos they could put out. And it'd involve ye olde copyright dance if they want to keep it monitised.
UA-camrs gotta UA-cam.
This is an excellent idea. It doesn't have to be a video full of emerging unsigned artists; you could instead follow Josh Scott in having "record time" at the end of the videos you're making anyway.
@@syntaxlost9239 Not like Rick hasn’t danced the copyright dance here on UA-cam before lol
@@omoon66 That's true but that's always almost always for big names who'll drive views. The calculus changes for unknown groups.
it is a pretty good idea!
The 20 years following beatlemania will always be the glory years of rock/pop music. Throughout those years the coolest thing in the world to do was to be a rock and roll star, and that resulted in a massive spike in creativity. In 200 years' time we'll be looking back at that era the same way we look at the great classical music era's and so on. Weather we have more great era's of music in the meantime we'll just have to wait and see.
The kids are absolutely finding the good new music and listening to it. Several of my guitar students are teenagers and they are constantly bringing me cool new music they found through Spotify, UA-cam, friends, etc. No idea if those artists are earning anything via these channels, but at least some of the good new music is being found by an audience that will listen.
I've seen this with middle school kids. They seem to get most of their music from UA-cam now.
I use apply music hi res and whenever I’m apply car-playing to my aftermarket stereo and it sounds even better than a CD.
They will make money if they're good enough. They don't need a huge amount of fans to make a living they just need a small devoted fan base yo buy their stuff.
The data shows a somewhat different image of this because most of the old catalog music turns out to be from 2019-2017. what this means is instead of old music like decades-old being the driving force it's most likely the pandemic. music from 2017-2018 now makes up over a third of all music catalog sales. so rather than old music making a come back it's mainly just new music from that period. I don't know why many people took this data like ted did just to make it fit his music agenda. they're also flaws in his article like using the Grammys as a way to view how new music is doing. the grammy's were dying ever since they picked Macklemore over Kendrick and cardi b over Travis. also, an artist like juice wrld is a major pull in this data. this is because fighting demons(juice wrlds latest album) is doing worse than legends never die(catalog now) and goodbye and good riddance( which so happens to be from the driving years of catalog music). so in all this is all a major misunderstanding by ted and many others.
I do wish people would stop saying this stuff. When you have to find the music, music is dead. Vital music comes to you. Used to be you had to be 90% great and original, 10% marketer. Now it's the reverse. All things end. Let's move on.
I totally agree and I am a 70 year old baby boomer who stopped watching regular TV 3 years ago and watch UA-cam 85% of the time. I was totally into the new music of the 60s and 70s which is the old music now. I liked that music because it was always interesting. I don’t see that today but what I do see is a lot of innovation on UA-cam that you can’t get anywhere else. Chris Buck and Josh Turner are people I follow and I am just scratching the surface but it’s great to see musicians with great talent and technique producing music and hopefully making a living. I think UA-cam is what FM radio was back in my 20s
On a somewhat related note: When I was in college in the late 90s, I was deeply entrenched in the local pop/punk scene. My friends and I at Ohio State spent several nights a week at dive bars in the campus area watching live music, we saw ton of greats bands "before they were Hot Topic t-shirts" 😛 Anyway, a holier-than-though corporate entity decided having locals bars and a music scene in general was the root of all evil and took to destroying the entire scene. Every single bar and music venue - some that had been there for 50 years - was shut down and replaced with expensive apartments, restaurants with $15 cheeseburgers, and other pointless businesses like phone stores.
I’ve seen the exact same thing happen at other colleges, especially those that have a solid athletics team that offers another attraction and lots of money to the university, and these are places that have historically, a solid local music scene.
Campus Partners. I know the story well. I wonder if the basement bar Bernie's is still there on High.
I still don't understand phone stores.
Most likely it was a real-estate developer who made a pile gentrifying the neighborhood.
@@39KHall maybe it was the university’s that own the property and not the a developer.
What's needed is a new music industry that's not algorithm-driven but human driven.
YES
Well remember, the algo takes its queues from human behavior
@@kippck3137that's why it's boring and repetitive, not innovative. It just mechanically rehashes what has already been done. Look: when Shak released 'Suerte' (Whenever, wherever' for the proles) NOBODY had ever heard anything like it. It used digital sampling yes, but it wasn't written by an algorithm. Her company, Sony BMG didn't want to release it as a lead single - fortunately, he who gets in Shak's way will learn to respect feisty women. They thought it was too unconventional, too 'Latin.' No algorithm would ever come up with that; it takes a human.
The algo I am referring to is the one that recommends songs, not the AI algo the writes them. I am with you that THAT algo cannot feel, like a person can, the creative spark that leads to something new - this is why AI will never replace true human creativity. But it will expose those who don’t actually create, but just produce derivitive work. It will be disruptive but hopefully will provide a platform for true creators to seperate and rise.
And one that loves ragtime.
When it comes to rock music, it’s hard to beat the classics by Zeppelin, Floyd, The Beatles etc. And the last era where rock and guitar driven music had a strong cultural influence and something unique to offer, was the 90’s. Bands such as The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tool, NIN, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, Radiohead, Faith No More, Rage Against The Machine, Rancid, Korn, Primus, etc were on the radio, music video stations, t-shirts and bedroom posters of millions of angst ridden teenagers.
The rock and indie music scene slowly faded and was replaced with over produced new metal and top 40 pop punk rock. Electronic emo and heavily auto tuned rap became the preferred genres the millennial generations.
Yet despite the decline in mainstream popularity and cultural relevance of guitar driven music, and the frequently heard claims that “rock is dead”, the truth is there has been plenty of great rock, indie, garage, blues music since the turn of the century and still to this day. The only difference is you have to search a bit harder to find it.
Kurt Vile is a good example. He’s a killer songwriter who releases consistently great albums and has his own easily recognizable and unique sound. While I think he’d have sold far more records if he had been born 25 years prior, luckily there are still plenty of people who still appreciate real musicianship and those who write their own tunes, actually play an instrument, sing without auto tune, and strive to not sound like everyone else.
A few other more recent artists and bands that come to mind (as well as a few from earlier this century who remain relevant and continue releasing good music), include…
MGMT, Bummers, Mars Volta, Puscifer, Free The Robots, Steve Gunn, Killing Joke, The War On Drugs, Zero 7, The Black Keys, My Morning Jacket, Silversun Pickups, The Strokes, Dax Riggs, Air, Drazy Hoops, Children Collide, Damien Jurado, The Kickdrums, Another Vision…
So yeah, there’s plenty of good music still being produced… you’re just not going to hear most of it on the radio, aside from a local college station perhaps. Though with the internet and “related artists” algorithms found on streaming platforms, it’s never been easier to preview music and find new stuff relevant to what you already like.
College stations are all I listen to.. besides Spotify. I've discovered many hidden gems that way
Kurt Vile/War On Drugs rule! Silversun Pickups are killer, as well! Great post!
I was a teenager in the 70s. Today's main stream sucks, yes, but there are great bands today who play period music. If you take the time you can find tribute acts that cover 20s, 30s,40s and 50s music. Many of these are very good songwriters, they dress in period clothing and are very professional. It really has impressed me how dedicated these kids are, and they look great.
Check it out, you'll have a blast !
I grew up in the 90s. I heard new music through MTV, commercial radio, college radio, and interviews with artists in magazines. MTV no longer plays music, commercial radio is all owned by Clear Channel and each station only plays the same 8 songs, college radio isn't what it was, and blogs don't have nearly the same influence as old print used to. Due to declining revenue (thanks, Napster and Spotify), major record labels only promote safe pop junk. None of this was touched on in the article this vid is about, although it did accurately point out that algorithms are self-reinforcing. Long story short, the general public is rarely exposed to new music as it had been in previous generations. Of course people are going to be buying less.
W
It's odd that you complain about audiences not being exposed to new music and complain about Napster at the same time. File sharing is one of the best ways to be exposed to new music. It's the same thing people did with cassettes or cds back in the day, copy their favorite music and share it with friends. We wouldn't be able to listen to half the music on UA-cam if it weren't for free public file sharing. It also has to be said that these free copies are not nearly the same quality as the recorded music, just mp3's usually, and can't be said to be the same thing
@@TheChadPad Oh yeah, Limewire introduced me to a lot of great bands. Also, UA-cam. I agree with you on that. I meant to say that with reducing revenue from CD sales, labels have cut back on who they sign. So nowadays, you have to seek out good music, instead of getting more variety force-fed through MTV and commercial radio. I think it makes sense that the casual listener, instead of music geeks like us, aren't seeking new things on the underground.
@@keithfaust8925 I getchu. Idk if I can blame Napster for reduction of sales exclusively. I think with the internet, this was bound to happen eventually, as things became easier to share and access. I just didn't think it was fair to try to squash it, like some musicians, I'll emphasize "some", were trying to do back in the day. I'm for freedom of people to share music, and if it helps me, it helps me
@@TheChadPad we know which “some,” Laaaaaars….
There is music that comes to you and music that you have to dig. Rick Beato was talking about music that comes to you (radio, top 40 songs). Music labels assume that people love a certain sound, but they’ll never admit they’re wrong.
Thanks so much for this Rhett! As someone who wants to be a working musician/youtuber, it's so helpful to have some insight on what you have seen and continue to see going forward in your career. It's a scary thing to think about sometimes, but I truly follow my life with the same outlook; there's no plan B for me. I look up to you man, thank you!
So true Rhett...
Boomer here. When I started playing guitar seriously in the 70's, I played old music, 1920-30's acoustic blues... I couldn't put the guitar down, 6 to 12 hours a day for 2 years.
I had a day job at a place 8 years ago that had pop music playing. I had to have headphones to block it out... Soulless, mechanical garbage.
I did the full-time pro thing for 10 years beginning in the 90's... I quit because the music business was 10% music, 90% business... not to mention the untold hours behind the wheel. I became a welder... I found it remarkably easy in comparison to music.
I've become enamored with a new music in the past 10 years, the genre of Americana, a.k.a. outlaw country. It most definitely is not Nashville approved... but its soulful, edgy lyrics, great playing, production, arranging...
Bro Country sucks... and I'm putting it lightly...
I'm smitten with Marty Stuart... his band is remarkable. He and his 2nd guitarist Kenny Vaughn, plug straight in, no effects. That sir, is musicianship.
Keep up the great work Rhett... I may be old, but when it comes to music, we're always learning. After all these years, I'm taking singing seriously, turning heads... so cool... what's next?
Bump for Bro Country sucking. What a bunch of shallow garbage.
TBF, some of Marty's hits are proto-bro country. It's just he and his band are great musicians, unlike many today.
If you have teenage kids (I have two) you might be aware of some very good original new music across genres. When i was a teenager (80s) most of the best music was usually nowhere near the top 40. Seems to be the same today. If you're a gen x'er (me) or a boomer and you look to the top 40 for the best a generation has to offer, you probably wont find it. If you have kids that are thoughtful about music, that's probably your best path to find the real gems out there, although you do have to open your mind because if you are expecting to hear what you thought was great when you grew up you will be disappointed. Also, while it can be very good, we shouldn't confuse "new music" with new music made with the old template largely for the tastes of older generations (i.e. Marcus King is relatively new, and as good as he is, this is an old style of music that appeals mostly to older people)
Absolutely and im saying this because im fourteen i play guitar and I actually want to be a profesional musician and talking with other musicians is refreshing you can talk and discover new artists that my fathers listen to because i put the music that i like. Althought without the influence of old music that my father put me when i was little ( and I continue listening to it) i wouldnt be interested in music and guitar
Que the Black keys, Greta Van fleet, even Jet a cpl yrs ago.....
I once heard Adam Carolla say something like: alot of older music was awesome, most new music is crap and the only really good new music sounds like old music.
I wholeheartedly agree with you. I have a 22-year-old and a nineteen-year-old. They have introduced me to MANY new artists that I really love. And like you said, not just new music that sounds like old music. These days the seventies are regarded as some magical time when all music was was the greatest. I remember back in the eighties and nineties we regarded the seventies as a wasteland of disco and MOR easy-listening. The great music wasn’t really top-40, you know? It’s the same today.
@@michaelbarbour9827 but there was plenty of good (and accessible) rock music in the 70's. I don't think that's true today and hasn't been for a while.
Necessity is the mother of invention. There will always be a way.
the paradigm shift is deeper and more profound... old music and it's scenes was about consumption, a fashion, a scene, a hang and most importantly, it was about those of us in an audience, loving and receiving the artist for what they are... the new paradigm of the fan has flipped due to smartphone, self publishing, insta, tik tok and the aspiration to be the performer or to be a parasite of a scene or to be "star"... the audience wants the experience of being the performer, they want the fame for themselves, they don't want to worship someone elses fame...the previous audience was happy to entertained by the performer... the new audience wants to be the performer, no matter how little talent they may have..it's a big shift in mindset and it will grow and the platforms will evolve further and further to accomodate and monetize this.
Thank you, Rhett. I appreciate that you keep it positive and help others notice the silver lining in a doomy situation. Keep up what you're doing!
Every musician today is a like a small microbrand with some followers online, but no way to break out. Great music is everywhere out on the web and streaming, but there isn't the studio/record label system to push the music with promise so it hits nationwide or worldwide.
Awesome video Rhett! You should put together videos chatting with some new bands/musicians about their music/sound/experience (over zoom). You have the platform here to help spread some of the good new music you find.
Just a suggestion 😁🎸
Music has definitely looked and sounded different from new to old. I personally love and cherish the old music, given that I was raised on it all my life, quite more than newer music, but there is plenty of great material and talent in this day and age!
And there was certainly a shedload of boring, safe music from previous decades. If you look back over the last 60 to 70 years, you'll remember all the good music, because all of the bad music has been forgotten in the meantime.
@@Mikey__R plenty of bubble gum, pop garbage in past decades, BUT It is not possible to ever top the 60’s 70’s as far as rock is concerned. You simply can’t compare Pop music from decades past to now. Now simply sucks.
@@frankrizzo5710 I'm a kid of the 90s. For me, grunge, alt rock and thrash were when music peaked, but I've still got a soft spot for the Stevie Wonder and Jackson Five records my mum played us as a kid.
@@Mikey__R The 90s rocked! I was in my early 20s. Pop music was cool, I love the whole grunge and desert/stoner rock thing.
@@frankrizzo5710 Great music is made in all eras -- including the present one. The key is to be critical and discriminating in your listening and buying. Ignore others telling you what you should be listening to and buying. Just follow your own genuine desires and instincts.
Wow! My son and I were just discussing this exact subject tonight concerning his career goals in this industry. Great advice and input Rhett! You really helped me understand his perspective ☺️. Keep up the great work !
The problem with new music is that some of the most talented artists out there are literally invisible to the public and most of the music that is popular to the public is being used as marketing strategy to see what sells the fastest, what brings in the most money, rather than music that can light up people's mood and helps as an escape with deep meaning. There are lots of good artists out there and very good music at that, you just have to search deeper because they're literally hidden.
There's a ton of amazing music being made now. To find it you have to really dig and go down a rabbit hole to find it unfortunately. I wish discovery wasn't so difficult but that also makes me appreciate it more when I find it.
Sounds like a great application for someone to create.
That’s the problem. In the past we had SO MUCH awesome music, not one good song here and there, there was a big supply of epicness.
I don't honestly think it's that difficult to find great new music. It's all around us. Spotify, record stores, live shows, coffee houses, listening to what your son or daughter listens to. I keep coming across great new music unexpectedly. I learned about Noah Guthrie from Rhett's channel. I learned about William Prince from Keith at 5 Watt World. Both those guys blew me away and ask it took was typing two words into a UA-cam search bar.
For example?
@@cyberpunk11x William Prince. Einsturtzende Neubaten. Nick Cave & Warren Ellis, Wire, Swans, The Weekend, Noah Guthrie.
Mostly, I stick to my "old music" playlists, but I've come across some newer stuff I really like. Rhett's introducing Noah to me has been great; I'd love to catch a show! I've also discovered Goodbye June, the Ten Eleven, and have enjoyed both Meytal Cohen's albums released over the last 5 years. I know I'll probably never "make it" as a musician, but it's fun to play and support others living their dreams
I am a full-time freelance mixing and mastering engineer. One of the biggest problems is that there is A TON of great new artists out there but it's almost impossible for them to get heard! I work with so many people who make AMAZING music that should be all over the charts but they can't get any traction. Being an indie artist is a full-time job in itself. I feel bad for a lot of them honestly, they deserve a shot.
I think people are looking for real music. Something with feel/emotion, something with surprise, something with a level of complexity, something that makes you think.
I think artist that go off label are setting themselves up for success. Take Tom Mcdonald as an example. Rhett, you do some great stuff on some of your video lead ins that I love. You should work that.
New….old….doesn’t matter…..good music is good music and talent is talent.. you got this Rhett.
"There's only two kinds of music, good and bad" - Duke Ellington
One of the most cogent analyses of the current music scene. I really appreciate it. I hate to sound like my parents when I was watching Ed Sullivan, but I find myself doing it more and more. I keep looking for good new music. I remain optimistic.
As a Light/scenic Desinger I see almost the same things, it’s so hard to get a tour the old way for new designers and techs. I understand for new bands/artists that this can be expensive and scary however as you said it’s really important to have great content for social media. If nothing else something to plan for. I hope as things open up there is more opportunity for both newer artists and production artists to get out and make their way. Thanks for all the great content!
That was really well done. Exceptional, thank you so much for your insights.
Rick is an excellent dude.
You're right that there is great new music out there. It's a crying shame radio/etc is not supporting new music any more.
We've only just recently gotten these new mediums to tell stories in completely different ways. Music is no exception. I feel as if the age of containing music within albums will gradually shift towards a more free flowing, playlist-style functionality, purely based on the idea that albums were a record label based concept; something that a few people in a room could put together and package for the masses. Now, with the advent of social media, we could potentially see entire shifts where people create music throughout the year at their own pace. I see several youtube channels already doing this.
I don't think albums will just disappear, although I do think people will embrace this new style more and more for years to come. And how that will effect the industry, I don't actually know. Its going to give a lot of social media platforms a lot of power tho.
this title gives me the shivers but i hope the algorithm blesses you with all the engagement you deserve!
Interesting times. I'm past my prime and just picked up the guitar again after 20+ years. You make some interesting points around the opportunity to grow outside the traditional paths to success. Some great stuff here. I'm a beginner again and stumbled on your channel. I'm glad you do what you do. It's made this late journey more fun.
I'm seeing this even in my local live music scene in Dallas. The tribute scene is really big here, most of the best rooms in town routinely book tribute bands over the scores of local talent here. Most of the venues that aren't being demolished or going under are opting to have bands play 2-3 set nights with an emphasis on cover songs... The opportunities to play a set of just your original music for an audience are frankly dwindling. So my original projects are looking into ways to put on our own shows and build our own scene. You have to take matters into your own hands, because the more that major commercial interests take control of what music can make an impact and frankly the more that gentrification takes over the live music scenes of many cities, the more that artists will have to fend for themselves and create their own opportunities.
Great stuff, Rhett! An issue not mentioned is the inability to listen, comprehend and experience music in the 21st century. Most young people today cannot, will not, and do not sit and listen. The concept of putting on an album and spending 40 minutes from start to finish, and just listening is incomprehensible, and possibly, painful. Music today is supplemental, a byproduct of TikTok or video games. It's no longer the main experience. We've lost the value, the life altering moments of being able to hear - being able to listen.
There's a number of large, Pop 100 albums that are contemporarily sat and listened to.
Do you mean to say that the industry has moved away from albums towards profitable singles?
I totally agree. I'm 56 now and I can remember sitting down to Pink Floyds album The Wall from beginning to end and that's a two album set. Another one was Lynard Skynard Gold & Platinum another two album set. I also see how bands of today are listened to now at pubs &bars etc.. Most are standing around talking in there group of friends or texting on there phones completely unaware of what the bands are even playing. I can remember back in the day of my band playing days the crowd would be all in front of the stage elbow to elbow! Miss those days!
@@seanedwards94 I think the music industry will do whatever they need to do for short-term profit. Rather than cultivate musical talent, today's music is assembled, packaged and distributed based on what is financially feasible. It has very little to do with quality musicianship or writing. Listening is no longer part of that equation. None of this is to say that great music doesn't exist -- you just need to dig for it going past major record labels.
American Idol and these other (IMHO - ridiculous excuse for entertainment) circus shows have ruined music. They make it seem that all you have to do is win a contest and you are Bigtime. The new social media performers won't put in the sweat equity of years of practice, and touring every small club/venue (good/bad/dangerous) they can find to be discovered. Dedication with no plan B that the older generations of musicians have endured speaks volumes. These circus shows also have unscrupulous contracts that steal every contestants dreams right out from under them for a few weeks of the TV spotlight .
@@CRYSTALSHIPSS I remember being asked more than once by bar managers to turn it down so patrons can hear each other talk.
I agree with you . Keep all avenues open and think outside the box . But also , Keep writing, keep recording, keep releasing new music ! Never surrender !
Noah’s new album is amazing. Thanks for introducing me to him and for your awesome playing!!
Yep, I think you are spot on. The music industry is changing in leaps and bounds. Some things for good and some not so good. The only constant is that there hopefully will always be great music to listen to. Unless we are all destined to be blown to smithereens by politicians and dictators. Keep up the great content that you provide. We love it.
The whole independent country scene is a great example of how you can create genuine country music, with real instruments, and actually make decent income. Zach Bryan, Sturgill Simpson, Tyler Childers, and others are just a handful of artists making great country that doesn't sound like trap music with a southern accent.
Don't forget Billy Strings. Dude inspired a whole new generation of pickers and is one of the best artists today
Yea the independent country is great it’s almost a mix of country and classic rock
Wow, to list those three without mentioning Jason Isbell is borderline criminal.
Nikki Lane, Margo Price & Jason Isbell are some others as well.
Jason Isbell and Colter Wall too.
My bad 😅
Great video Rhett. Always like hearing your perspective. I started guitar at 13 and songwriting immediately after that. I would have loved to have had my music heard and appreciated by lots of people but I went my Plan B, which was the safer-job scenario. I know that I didn't persue the music because it was the harder path to take. I applaud your dedication. You're a very talented guy. You and Rick Beato are my favorites. Best of luck!
Thanks for your thoughts on this topic Rhett. I can say from my experience working full-time in music in the 90's it's a completely different world today. One thing that has never changed is the underground music scene. You're right it's alive and kicking. With radio coming to an end and streaming venues taking over, laws haven't caught up and are leaving artists with fewer options to get their music out. Oh well, thanks for joining in on this discussion and repping your generation well.
Back when I was growing up in the mid 60's to say the 1990s, music for us kids was a religion. There was a cultural revolution in music, art movies, etc. and we embraced it. It started with the Beatles and what we called "underground" music, starting with Hendrix, and Cream, certain movies etc. Everybody talked about it, even lived it. Those days are gone, never to return.
Great video. As a Gen Xer I agree that there is a lot of really good new music, but I also believe that it takes more of an effort to find it. For the most part, during the 70's, 80's, and 90's, but especially during the 70's, it was important for radio to get new music out to the public, and it was important for it to be good and unique. But for today that has been lost. Radio is largely homogenous. Various markets are all playing the same thing. The regional hit is pretty much gone.
Speaking of regional hit. In 1969, Mason Proffit released the single Two Hangmen, an amazing song. It was a huge in St. Louis but generally ignored everywhere else. I would love for a band like the Avett Brothers to do a cover of the song. It can be found on UA-cam.
I am 53 and just waiting for the next truly new music which hasn't really happened since grunge. On another youtube clip, some 20 something claims to say there is new music but it's just a mish mash, a fusion of styles. Having said that there are plenty of new bands and artists which are worth a listen. Thanks to college radio or indy radio in Australia I can find them.
Can I just say how awesome your shelf in the background is. Like damn!
Woah. Quality one mate. Artist here. Chit chatting with this industry for years.
And yes. We gotta adept.
Thanks for this great content. It actually inspired me to do a vid like this myself.
Thought you should / would want to know :)
Keep it up
I’m glad that “no plan B” means what I thought it meant ever since I started watching your videos. If you tell people you want to be a doctor, lawyer, engineer, or software developer, no one tells you that you need a plan B. But ever since I made it known I wanted a career in music, people kept telling me I needed to go find a real major in college so I could have that plan B. A mentor would have sped things up, but I’m glad I had my shot in the biz. I eventually found my niche running sound for bands. I did eventually end up back in school to finish my degree though. I regret nothing.
Great video Rhett. I’m in my early 50’s with college aged daughters. Neither listen to the radio very often, but if they do it’s the Classic Rock channel. I asked them why after watching Rick’s video, and they both said it’s because they don’t have time to “find” new music that’s good and with the classic rock channel they know they’ll hear something that they like. Personally, I like Spotify and Pandora radio channels for introductions to new artists(new and old). Some current favs. The White Buffalo, The Cold Stares, All them Witches, The Budos Band. They’ve all been around for a while, but they’re all still putting out new music and touring.
Something occurred to me about your comment Jeff. Back when you and I (I’m 44) were your daughters age the music industry had A&R people that could filter out material that wasn’t good and hone in on what was good. (Or at least better if not good.) Moreover, they could listen and decide if this group in a bar, club, or on an audition tape were worth pursuing.
There is a video out by a former A&R guy named John Kalodner that lays this part out.
@@klonidier thanks.. I'll look for it.
Thank you so much for this VID!
Rhett, let me just say that your ability to pivot during this pandemic is incredible, it shows a lot of maturity, and you deserve a ton of respect for being able to ride the wave.
Great stuff as usual Rhett! Maybe I've just missed them in the past, but I'd love to see you do a video (every quarter maybe?) with recommendations for new music to listen to. There are some things I do find, but most of what the algorithm feeds me is stuff I already know, based on my past listening, and I'd love to know what you're listening to so I can support those artists too.
@SteveR, great idea….let’s start a thread right now for our own favs of new music, bands etc.
Some heavier rock: Reignwolf, Rival Sons, Big Wreck, Black Pistol Fire, The Vintage Caravan
Some prog-rock: Flying Colors, Last Train (specifically the song The Big Picture)
More rockbands: Dawes, DI-RECT, Okta Logue
Hopefully there's something in there you enjoy!
Check out Parcels, Wolf Alice and Lizzy McAlpine if you don't know them already. I bet at least one of them will be to your liking :)
@SteveR Definitely, I'm 47, and I'd still like to find some new music. Unfortunately I'm not exactly "with it" these days. I've got mates who own a house label, so I can hear the latest bleepy stuff, but I think I've either outgrown that, or it's been done to death.
Proper music was always my favourite anyway, but need some new. There's only so many times I can rediscover the classics or old favourites.
@Wess @Simon Muthers I know wolf Alice and rival sons, guessing the others are similar or just worth listening to?
Napster came out. All the fans stole as much music as they could cram on their hardrives, and now we're wondering why the "industry" isn't investing in new artists? Music fans killed music, not the "industry".
I would disagre. Apple, Spotify, and UA-cam make it that people dont need to buy new music. Artist now have to make money from murch and such.
Love your thoughts on this Rhett, and I pretty much agree with everything you said, albeit from a listening perspective, not as a musician myself. I particularly agree that there is still some excellent new music out there, and incredibly creative artists across all genres. I'm a prog and classic rock guy on the whole, but my tastes are far more eclectic, and that is largely down to the new stuff I've heard over the last 20 years or so, and continue to hear almost on a daily basis.
Very informative. This is a perfect state of affairs for the aspiring musician. It really is an incredible time to have this kind of aspiration in life, since your capacity to achieve this goal has never been more in your hands. I'm thankful for this video, insightful.
It’s not just the quality of or lack of music, it’s also about the quality of how it’s been recorded. All the great engineers etc are disappearing/passing away. Some mastering of newer music is really poor, especially playing it on a good Hi-Fi system.
Dude honestly, i swear if i hear one more song with distorted slapback vocals im gonna throw my headphones out the window
I’ve been listening to older music and artists for years now. I don’t find most of the current music very interesting. Also, same applies to movies and tv shows. I think there’s something to be said about overproduction, too much tech and marketing, not enough great talent.
Great point here. It’s no longer about the art as it is marketing.
I don't think you've seen the TikTok era of music.
Great video and perspective Rhett!
I couldn't agree more. Great Video Rhett!
I'm really glad you made this. Your conclusion is exactly what Wampler and I have talked about on the CT podcast for years.
The reality is that it has never been an easy gig. Making a full time living from anything music related has always been a grind. The type of grind just changes.
A few yrs ago there was an interview with a famous Country artist that was big in the early 2000s. He said that the problem with country music was that the artists best songs would not get airtime. The music industry only wanted "good time drinking" songs for airplay. I have to say that Country music airplay has been hitting this genre non-stop and I think it is boring.
My only exposure to new country music is during an infrequent visit to a Texas Roadhouse for dinner, and it only takes about 45 minutes of that slickly cloned bro-country crap to make me happy I don't hear it anywhere else
@@lastguyminn2324 Come to the Texas Panhandle, we have a ton of original, talented up and coming country acts playing shows around here. It falls into a more folk inspired, acoustic guitar oriented sound, and the electric guitar focused, louder and faster "Texas Red Dirt Country" stuff. I rather like a lot of the Red Dirt bands, they have an edge to their sound and excitement to their live shows that is fun to see in person.
@@Aquatarkus96
That's something I may have to look into. Originality and sincerity are the hallmarks of great music...if you have that you can elevate any genre.
@@lastguyminn2324 i reccomend listening to some independent Country. Sturgill Simpson, Tyler Childers, Colter Wall (has a Johnny Cash type voice) , Logan Halstead, Billy Strings, The Reeves Brothers, Whiskey Myers to name a few.
@Rhett Shull The fans will always be there. We met at Jammin Java on the Valley tour. I asked your to sign Noah's CD " THERE IS NO PLAN B" you said "I've never written this before." So I got the first. Now you're at 426K subscribers and killing it . So proud of you guys trying to fix the music industry anyway you can. Can't wait to see you on tour!!!!!!!!
Cheers from Texas!
🤘😎🤘
Great topic.
Nice discussion.
Agreed!
Do it yourself, until you end up in your niche.
Rock on!
M
You hit this one right on the head Rhett...and coming from a player right in the middle of mutiple facets of music from UA-cam to sessions to live music the world should pay close attention to your words and understand that this is the direction of music in this world 🌎..as these concepts will continue to evolve and musicians will find themselves on a very wrong path... insightful stuff man...you're doing fellow musicians a great service...thanks man... fantastic video 🤘😜🎸🎶🔥
I'm of the old school..don't see that changing at 47 years old either..🤘😜🎸🎶🏵️☮️
The biggest thing missing these days is artist development from a good record label. Artists used to grow and become better by working with great producers, great engineers, & even people at the label itself. I have bought so much new music that at first seems really promising only to be disappointed. Not that it wasn't good...but that it was just good and not great. There is an overwhelming amount of music that is just "good". The artists these days limit their growth by not being paired up with mentors that can help them grow into their full potential. Artists that actually make songs that everyone wants to listen to over and over. There is so much raw talent out there that is never going to reach the heights they are truly capable of because this system doesn't exist anymore. Phil Ramone, Al Schmitt, Tom Dowd, Jack Douglas, George Martin, etc etc. Those are the guys that take something that is good and elevate it to great. Without that support structure, it is becoming increasingly rare to find music that is capable of matching that high standard.
Oof.
Nowadays, a lot of artists are the producer. There’s some fantastic producers nowadays.
Thanks Rhett, really liked your "no plan B" bit at the end. That's how I roll, it's a faith I have and has always kept me employed as a muso, even balls deep in the pandemic. Subbed.
Hello Rhett: Your unpleasant description of new music made me laugh (in a good way). Thank you. Stay well and safe.
The industry has always been seedy as hell. It got away with it because there was a continuous wave of great creative new talent that was so powerful that it, for the most part, overwhelmed the industry's crime cartel mindset. Okay, maybe I'm overreacting a bit, but how many stories have there been about artists screwed by their labels or their management?
I seriously want to know who is creating great music these days because I haven't heard any consistently good bands or singer-songwriters since the early 2000's. Prove me wrong.
Try any album by The Birthday Massacre; Walking with Strangers is a good place to start, or their latest, Diamonds. An absolutely unique sound - soaring synths over crunchy guitars, oozing goth, melancholy, & nostalgia, with clever lyrics, beautiful harmonies, & delicious sonic textures - & though they’ve kept to that sound for over 20 years, it’s such a rich musical vein that it never gets old.
@@RB-bd5tz you do realize that "good" is subjective right? I can go listen to all those artist and think they are shit. We all have different ideas of what good music sounds like. What isn't subjective is harmony, storytelling in song, licks etc... So in the end, very much like Bryin i have found like three modern songs i like. Even with that the musicians who made those songs couldn't do it more than once. So i'm not sure that just spewing out bunch of indie bands is going to make a difference.
@@davidmiller9485 You could say that the four fundamentals of music are melody, harmony, rhythm, and bass. And you could say that music is a language of emotion. You could even say that "complex" music is more interesting, intellectually and emotionally, than "simple" music (Beato makes that point often.) TBM has all that, in spades - and so I recommended THEM - not "a bunch of indie bands" - and everyone I recommend them to becomes hooked - though you may not like them; that's fine. Like you, I find most modern music tremendously uninspired and boring. That was true even back in the days of my youth, the '80s, but to a much lesser degree. And like you, I find that artists are often inconsistent: brilliant for one or two albums or songs, while the rest are "meh." I find TBM to be consistently creative and listenable, sticking to their absolutely unique sound while keeping it fresh. (The ONLY other artist I can think of like that is Enya.) I'll leave it to Bry to decide if I've proven him wrong.
I like alternative/rock so some good newish bands I've found are Avnue, Sad Heroes, Rain City Drive to name a few
@@RB-bd5tz Like so many online you didn't get the point. The point is that those are YOUR ideas of good music. They may be shit for all i know. I went as listened to The Birthday Massacre and haven't even bothered with any of the others. That music was so bad i just skipped the rest. (It struck me emo meets angst metal) So like i said, this shit is subjective. Nothing i heard even remotely sounded close to older music (which is the point here. The reference is older rock and i still haven't found anything that sounds close) so i think i'll pass. Since it's early in the year, Have a good year!
Great video man. Helpful insights.
Spot on, Rhett. I am finally subscribing to your channel with this viewing after watching you several times on Rick's. There is absolutely tons of great music out there; but, as you suggest, it is simply not being promoted. I am a member and financial supporter of the public radio station in my city, and they constantly promote and feature new artists on the air, at local clubs, and at their annual music festival. It's exciting as a fan - an almost 59 year old fan - to be introduced to new artists and AND to be able to contribute, in my own small way, to the promotion of new music that's exciting and fresh. People are indeed seeking out new music. As you say, the artists themselves need to rethink how they make, distribute, market and promote their music. But fans can help too. Cheers.
I''m in my late 60's and the music I listened to when I was young was from the late 60's, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, Van Morrison and others. All of them had their own distinct style of writing and performing, they also had their own distinct sound and sung with instantly recognisable voices. These days most music I hear seems to be made by committee, it all sounds interchangeable, the songs sound the same, same synths, same processed voices. No-one needs to consider Dylan or Young made complex music, it was the originality of their music and sound that counted. These days producers seem scared of originality. There is great new music around (try Jesca Hoop's Stonechild album) it's just so much harder to find.
There’s a lot of fantastic music nowadays.
Thank you, just checked out Jesca Hoop @ tiny desk concerts - interesting!
When the computer became the instrument and not a tool this was bound to happen. Music isn’t supposed to be ‘perfect’.
Thanks for pointing me to Noah!@ Really like Blue Wall!
I remember hearing this sort of thing almost 50 years ago from musicians; 'Oh, the record companies don't know what great songs I'm writing!'. Well, if there's no interest, perhaps your music isn't as good as you think. Part of it has been the poisoning of music with video; there are plenty of songs which became hits, which were almost unlistenable if you're not distracted by the hot visuals. Then you have the perfusion of rap into non rap songs. You don't hear people humming or whistling new music, because it sounds terrible that way. People will buy good music.... if you are making good music. Just because YOU or your musician friends think your music is great, isn't going to insure that the rest of the world will like it, too. We saw this with post swing era jazz, where most people would listen to it and think that each musician was playing a different song, and sales sunk. Sure, there will always be SOME people who like odd music, but perhaps not enough to make it commercially.
The death of music!!!!!!
Everyone panic!!!! Run for the hills!!!!
I think you make a good point. I don't like 99.99% of new music. Once in a while someone new will come that saves music. I'm sure back in the 50s older people thought that the new music was sacrilegious. Taste in music changes for every new generation. I will still harp about music in the 2000s on and tout the 80s.
Other reasons new music fails.
New songs, no matter how good they are, usually aren’t too appealing at first listen. A person needs to develop a familiarity over repeated listens. In todays climate , nobody puts time into an artist or song. On to the next one. Back in the day, I’d buy ONE cd and then listen to it forever. Steaming kills any allegiance to a song or artist.
Recording quality is another issue. Mastering compression and the loudness wars is still a big issue. Even look at Adele’s latest single. Huge song but I’d argue it would be even bigger and have way more longevity if it wasn’t compressed to hell. It’s tiring to listen to.
I'd say there actually are tons of great music out there. But I agree with you that streaming kills it. It changes the way we handle music especially when no one has to pay for it. Back in the 2000s I had literally had to save money to buy CDs. This lead to music having an other status...
Rhett, a very good and wise point of view. What I have learned applies also in the world of music and that is to think of yourself as an entrepreneur. The questions you raise are exactly what should always be asked of ourselves. Because at the end of the day if what you do does not offer value to the marketplace; then what you have is a hobby. But, if what you have is valued in the marketplace, you are in the ranks of a professional. Simple logic. But, I think for too long we think if we build this one area of skill, it will take care of the rest. That is not true. Even if you talk to music professionals of the past, they will share of how they had to do so much more than just play their instrument to achieve their success.
Great video content. Cheers! And best wishes to you in the States!
Great insights here Rhett. One thing I've noticed is that many musicians will yet at people about not being open minded to something new and different, but when it comes to their own tastes, they just as close minded, if not more so, than the lay person. I struggle with that myself - honestly. There are genres that I have no interest in listening to anymore. Country, rap, hip-hop - just never resonated with me. Many "working musicians" frown on electronic music because sadly, there are lots of people who grab a drum loop from their software and regurgitate it. But there are also people out there who create our own beats, play our own instruments, and cross genres. Sadly, they'll never get heard because of the algorithms that Rhett talked about. There are lots of good musicians who use drum machines and synthesizers. Keep your mind open to them too.
Another issues we (as electronic musicians face) is the confusion between a producer (what I do) and a DJ. There are lots of DJs who put on a good show and take the limelight but don't really do anything other than put one side of a headphone and let the software beat match and that's it. But there are also producers there, the ones who compose, arrange, mix and produce the track. Start to finish. That is what we spend 1000s of hours on. Producers tend not to get the recognition they deserve. Go sit in the studio with London Electricity and tell me he's not a musician...
One thing I feel is often overlooked is money. Specifically, who is paying for music? Who CAN pay for music?
When Baby Boomers were in their mid-30s, they collectively owned about 20% of the national wealth. That number has since ballooned to almost 60% in 2019. By contrast, Gen X had 8-9% in their mid-30s, and about 15% in 2019. Millennials, who as a cohort are nearing the mid-30s mark, own only about 3% of the national wealth.
In short, younger generations are broke as hell. According to Business Insider, a whopping 70% of us Millennials are living paycheck to paycheck. As a whole, we don't have the money to spend on "luxuries" like music.
So with this considered, it makes sense that old music is outperforming new music commercially. The people with money are the ones with the monetary demand for music they're interested. When those people are overwhelmingly older generations, the music demanded is going to skew towards the music of their youth.
I'm 51yrs old and have heard this before. The music that came out in my teen years the '80s was criticized for the same thing. Doesn't say anything, sounds like crap, blah blah blah. Led Zeppelin was criticized for being crap in the beginning and now look. It's been the same, the preceding generation hates the present generation's music. But I say good music now matter new or old will survive. I've heard modern songs that sound amazing as well as older songs that sounds like crap and mean nothing to me but is deemed a classic so who knows. Sometimes the right chords and lyrics come together and it doesn't matter who makes it or when.
I just found your podcast. It'll be interesting checking out your other posts
Excellent overview. I also think that's why I still make a little cash playing mostly covers in venues - people hanker for the "classics".
But I personally find it exciting to discover new great music - and there's definitely tons of incredible new music being made, but we all have to learn new ways to discover it - !
If someone was actually putting out “amazing music” the record companies would be fighting over it. The new music doesn’t hold up to the standards set by the truly great artists and singer/songwriters of the late 60’s and 70’s.
The new music is crap. There, I said it. It’s like comparing classic architecture to the new steel and glass buildings. New buildings are crap, new paintings are crap, new music is crap. Admit it, do the hard work to fix it, and maybe art and architecture will improve. Going on a TV show to attain instant stardom won’t replace hard work, and the new “musicians” want a shortcut to playing in coffee houses and dive bars that the great artists accepted as paying their dues. Until someone puts in the work the new music will be crap. Deny it all you want.
I sometimes wonder WHY people like you or Rick Beato don’t ever promote new artists on your platforms. You guys constantly talk about old artists (which is great… don’t get me wrong) but it’s like… WHAT do you expect? Record labels don’t support or nurture new artists. Well guess what? Neither do their fellow UA-camrs. Why don’t you ever create a video talking all the new music you been listening to on Spotify? It’s such an easy video to make… but I’ve never seen you do it. At least Michael Palmisano is doing something close to this…
It's like good new music is some kind of secret club that a select group of people are in on
Dude, your solo on high enough is fucking awesome. Thank you and thank Noah for keeping good music alive and well
Hey Rhett: Great video! From my perspective I’m just interested in more great and inspiring music. The overprocessed stuff today is tough to wade through to get to the few gems that are out there! I personally never have nor never will be a professional musician, but music has been important to me for as long as I can remember. My grandparents were from the country, and music was their entertainment. And if they wanted music they had to make it themselves. I remember being at their house and whenever family or the old friends they grew up with, the guitar, mandolin, fiddle came out. It was great fun. Also, there was a garage band up the street from me called the Spiders (mid-‘60’s). They sounded like a typical garage band that you can imagine, but for a little kid they were rock stars! lol I also remember the first time I heard Jimi Hendrix (Purple Haze, when it came out - I was 6 or 7. It was LOUD, and I liked it!).
The net result is I like a lot of different artists and genres of music, but like many people find commercial rock, country, whatever today mostly forgettable at best.
Keep up the great work. I really enjoy watching you and Chris Buck. You are both outstanding guitarists, and musicians I wish we heard on the radio!
Random pedal/switch question: Do you use or recommend a noise gate? All I’ve ever played is an acoustic guitar, but have been thinking about getting a Telecaster or maybe something like a Rickenbacker 360 6-string. I know the single coils can sometimes get a little loud with noise. I’ve got tinnitus (ringing in my ears) from a concussion years ago - I don’t need anymore background noise if I can prevent it!
I would like UA-camrs like you & Rick to highlight the new music that you like. It's hard for me to find new music that I like.
I really dig these little nuggets of wisdom. Great stuff!
In the days of physical music media, you listened to an album in its entirety, countless of times and really appreciated the work and the artist as a result. You followed the idols in the magazines you bought. Everything was harder to get, but all more appreciated for that.
I see the problem in the way music is consumed today, because everything is instantly consumed and soon discarded. No one delves deeper into the music, the lyrics and the artists. One moment you are listening to a hit song by one artist and the next moment to another's. There is a myriad of material out there, because anyone with 10 minutes of spare time can record a song and post it on some online platform. There is no selection, there is no critical filter to separate the quality and the interesting from the crap.
The music industry is not making money from selling songs anymore, but from live concerts. And who draws the visitors? Those who are embedded in people's souls.
Fantastic piece! Absolutely spot on.
I subscribed...you are authentic!
Mr Shull, I was thrilled to see that Blue Wall is now available! There are several songs I have fallen in love with based on your tour videos and have waited rather impatiently for the ability to purchase them. Question though…I’ve bought the album digitally but I thrive on physical copies. Where can I buy the actual CD? Thank you sir. Very Respectfully Michael Bolyard, MM1/SS USN (ret) and hobbyist guitar/bass/drummer
Rhett I stopped watching the video after you said that the new record dropped and went started listening to it. WOW! It’s incredible! Love the electric guitar work from you man. His writing is amazing! Well done to you all. Great production and arrangement.
Rhett, your ‘solution’ addressed many of the reasons why I have always admired musical artists perhaps more than any other field of creativity. There’s just an expanding list of hats and skills and capacities (now you need to be a video engineer!) to tap into … not to mention the inspiration and stamina and health needed to not have any other Plan B.
Probably everyone here wants to have more joyful expansion with their music and/or career. Kudos to your success Rhett! Everyone else , may you have some time each day when you are playing music or writing and just doing what you love fully immersed in the joy of it. .. and may all the rest of the career picture fill out more and more smoothly with each season of your life.
Totally agree with your sentiments Rhett! On your "no plan b" - I've lived by the buddy holly quote "if you have a fallback plan, you fall back" my entire career!
Very interesting perspective !! Congrats on being able to shift gears when everything shut down. Would you be able to occasionally make an episode that would cover a new artist that you think should be promoted?
Amazing video man !
Well said, a concise and thoughtful examination.
Long time follower and supporter of yours Rhett! If you haven’t checked out some of the music coming out of Texas on their “country“ scene, you should check it out. Plenty of good rock influence along with some traditional country sounds. I happen to be in one of those bands and it’s an absolute blast to see crowds of people supporting our music! Live music isn’t dead yet!