Music Biz 101 and American Idol

Since my name showed up on the web a few years ago as "President" of Way Out West Records.. I have been inundated with calls and inquiries about "what it takes" to make it in the music business. I have spent countless hours on the phone and talking in bars and casinos with folks that are at the very least intrigued and at the very most HUNGRY to know more about the "biz".
They all want to know the secret.. the secret is there is no secret. Everyone finds their success in this or any other business in their own way. Some have to work harder than others. Some make it big. Some make it small and some bail out at various junctures along the way.
What most fail to realize is it's called the music BUSINESS for a reason. I once had a guy come up to me and say.. "man I'd love to be you.. playing music.. laying out drunk all night.. sleeping all day.. must be the life".. Life of who? Otis Campbell!!! (For those under 40.. that's the town drunk on Andy Griffith).. It's called the business because it is a business. It is a tough, competitive, cut throat business dominated by huge egos, ruthless predators, and crooks.... and that just takes care of who rides on OUR bus!.. no seriously folks.. it ain't easy.. if it were everyone would do it.. because as you read earlier.. "play music, lay out drunk and sleep" is all it takes!
Nothing could be further from the truth. You can take that angle, but you'll probably end up in pretty bad shape and not enjoy much success.

Over the next few "blogs" I'll be discussing some of the things that you'll need to know if you are interested in this crazy life. I'll weave some funny stories in with some horrific details and advice.

Let's go ahead and get started with something today. A subject that is ALWAYS on everyone's lips and an idea that EVERYONE seems to think is the secret: AMERICAN IDOL

I should just close this out now because my momma always told me not to say anything.. if I couldn't say anything good.  I'll go on because that's not entirely true. There are some redeeming qualities of the show at least for those that have "won" or garnered the exposure to BILLIONS of people.

First of all the "Show" is not about creating good music, creating great artists, or developing anyone's skills or craft. The show is about selling advertising. They sell millions and millions of dollars of advertising during the season. The producers have a target demographic that they are going after and during the "auditions" they skew the people picked to satisfy that demographic. So, what this means is.. if the producers decide that in 2011 they need to satisfy advertisers of American made pickup trucks, then the "contestants" will be picked with that advertiser in mind. (Probably heavy in the white male category)
Now that's good if you are a "country" singer but if you're a hip hopper or Susan Boyle odds are already against you. If you are a REALLY GOOD singer, a real pro, you probably won't be picked either. Because part of the drama of the show is watching these young songsters grow and flourish. That's how they get folks to tune back in every week. I feel you're "smelling what I'm standing in" so I'll now skip to the next part.

Having one of these "Idol-ers" be successful in the music business is just icing on the cake. Carrie Underwood and a couple of others were very talented, got hooked up with the right songs and have made the show and producers and managers EXTRA millions, and that's great but the business model is still not sound. My reasoning is.. if you took most anyone and exposed them to MILLIONS AND MILLIONS of television viewers WEEK AFTER WEEK and had publicists publicizing and managers managing,  televisions televising, and radios radioing you SHOULD be able to be successful. If you're not.. then something went seriously afoul.

How has this hurt the music business you ask? I'll give you something you probably haven't thought about. It has created what I like to call "Idol-itis".  Young folks that might have talent, might have desire, might have support, yet they don't want to develop their skills and create their dream because they see instant success from these talent shows on steroids.
This is a typical conversation with someone inquiring about the music biz: THEM: "How long do you think it will take for me to be a star?" ME: probably a long time, maybe never but if this is your passion then roll up your sleeves and get to work THEM: I might be able to give it 6 months or maybe a year. ME: Then you just need to go do something else. THEM: Oh no this is my calling. ME: OK. Where have you played or performed in the last year? THEM: No where. It's really hard to get a band together. ME: Do you write your own music. THEM: No I don't really know anything about music. I'm a singer, besides Carrie Underwood didn't write her own music. You get the idea. No one wants to hear that you need to know something about music or that you need to get a band together and learn some skills. Ply your craft. Get GOOD at it. Have some FUN. Be creative and write some songs. Play EVERYWHERE you can... and THERE is the secret. Do it like the Beatles did it. Do it like Trace Adkins and Toby Keith did it. Do it like "The Jackson Five" did it and the Doobie Brothers. They played till their fingers were sore. They learned the business from the inside out. When the time came they were smart, they were good and they were ready, and most of all they are STILL around.

So here's what I ask of you. Watch American Idol. Root for your person. Vote for your person. Have fun doing it. BUT ALSO.. find a good young hungry artist in your area that has put a band together, gone in debt, bought a van and a PA rig, works all day, sings all night, writes songs and is doing it the "old fashioned" way. Through hard work, guts and determination. Then.. talk about that artist on face book, encourage others to go to their performances, buy their merchandise, buy them a beer, get on their street team and help create a "buzz" about them. If EVERYONE that watched Idol would adopt an artist that is truly committed to music and is busting his or her hump to be successful then the future of the music business would certainly be brighter.

Cloudwatcher.. signing off...