Music Buisness

MUSIC BUISNESS

The Silent “ / ”

Music, as all art, is subject to criticism, admiration, inspiration, and popularly, sale. Equally popular are answers to this such as “the media is an evil force that brainwashes the minds of any young listeners in its path!” Wait, isn’t that what angry parents were saying about rock and roll 5 decades ago? Statements such as those often prove irrational; so allow me to offer a second opinion. Let us first dissect the phrase “Music Business.” Business is the art of making money, and Music, the art of making…music. All art has its price, no doubt, just the same as you would pay someone for cooking you a good meal. But if you knew that in the kitchen, there were businessmen paid to distribute and publicize the food in return for part of the creative control and ingredients, naturally, some suspicion would arise. I am not the least bit offended when a respectable band signs its self to a major label, or when an old band past its time allows its hit to be the central theme of a sports car commercial. Bands like these had all the time in the world to wave the “I will never sell out” flag. I am, however; offended when Ashley Simpson can get caught lip-sinking, failing at lip-sinking, doing a little jig, then walking off stage in a fit of shame as her paid professional band (whose names you will never hear) play on with more talent and dignity than poor Ashley will ever have. And to think; she is the only one who got caught! I have also heard of Rob Zombie and Disturb’d doing the same from musicians whom I know that have worked with both groups. Art is a form of self-expression other than casual dialog, and Artists should gain popularity and respect only for work that is truly theirs. If music is to be a tool for Celebes and fakes to use to rake in more cash, it is not music at all; let us again take a look at our definition of the word “BUSINESS.” Does it sound familiar yet? Given this, one can understand why there are so many sub-genres these days. Nobody should be afraid of using the word “emo” or “pop punk” because of reputation for attracting pre-teen girls, nor should we be scared of hip hop because its common form is the angry neanderthalic rankings