Fame and fortune...

Music of the Day
The Bad Plus – Suspicious Activity
Neal Morse – Testimony

Nothing of much import happened today, other than the latest e-bay purchase arriving – The Bad Plus’ album “Suspicious Activity” their latest and the one which I forewent paying £15 for at their gig a couple of weeks ago. What an excellent album it is – the only downside being my cheap e-bay purchase is one of the original pressings which has now loaded the infamous Sony virus on to the PC...

And so, with nothing of much import happening, I thought I’d just quote you a very insightful piece of writing by fellow Edinburgh musician and Robert Fripp fan, Norman Lamont who, incidentally, shares my birthday and my love of Mr Fripp’s soundscapes....

I recently instigated a debate on the Out of the Bedroom website as to what really is the most important thing in music, citing the recent cases (Sandi Thom, Arctic Monkeys, Nizlopi) where an artist has been, seemingly, catapulted from obscurity to UK-wide fame and success, purely by using the internet, apparently completely on their own with, no outside help...

Of course such a story appearing in the mainstream media is an obvious PR ploy by the people working for the artist, be it management, record label or indeed, PR company and the conventional media stories are what then takes people to the internet to have a look at what’s supposedly happening....

The debate raged around what people ought to do to be “successful” in the “music industry” and so, the most important thing in music ranged from “lyrics and tunes” to “moving to London” to “using PR and marketing”...

After much heated discussion, Norman gave a very considered response, possibly influenced by his understanding of Mr Fripp’s career as musician and all the frustrations such a career can throw up when a situation of “conventional music business success” occurs...

(1) To have a career as a famous musician: master the business side, master PR or get linked to someone who can, and be prepared to spend three years in London. You will still occasionally play music, when you are recording or on tour. The rest of the time it's business. You will find yourself financially tied in ways you hadn't thought possible. If the idea of a mortgage scares you this isn't the place for you. The odds against success - well you know.

(2) To have a career as a musician: play folk or jazz, become technically proficient and be a session musician, play standards on cruise ships, or teach music. Don't expect to get rich, but be glad you can play music unsupported by another job. It is 100% certain you will play, compose and collaborate in far more music than person (1). Define success in these terms and we all know people who have achieved it.

(3) To have a pure relationship with music, to play the music you love, and to explore it: find another way to support yourself, so that when you are playing music you are doing it on your own terms. Try to build an audience using whatever PR methods are available to you, but do not form binding financial ties to anyone. You will be playing 100% more of your own music than (1) or (2).

Nail, head.

Highlight of the Day : The arrival of more Bad Plus music