Pribek

Let’s take Elvis for instance.

If Elvis didn’t have…

a.) a guy, Sam Phillips, who had the ability to spot a unique talent that could gain mass acceptance
b.) the same guy who, also understood the way to push a record in a region
c.) after creating a regional buzz, outlets to reach every person in the country..

..would Elvis have happened?

See, that’s not even taking in to account, the power of the Colonel. Or, the major label later on or, Hollywood.

Sure, Elvis would have happened. Elvis was great. But, he wouldn’t have been the cultural “icon” that he is without marketing.

This morning, I made a comment at our semi-regular cracker barrel, where I used the phrase “market to a consensus”.

That’s how cultural icons came to be; they were marketed to a consensus. You don’t have a king of rock and roll or a king of pop without there being a consensus and you can’t get that if you can’t reach the masses as a unit. Now, you can’t and, in the future you won’t be able too.

There is no Ed Sullivan Show, there is no cover of the Rolling Stone, there is no Saturday Night Live that can put a performer in front of enough of the culture to parlay in to a consensus.

There are cultural icons that remain but, they came out of the old system.

The consensual huge, ginormous, next big thing is over.

If I’m right…is that a bad thing?

If I’m wrong, tell me why you think so.

Last week, the 2010 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees were announced. Let’s refresh…

ABBA
Darlene Love
Donna Summer
Genesis
Jimmy Cliff
KISS
Laura Nyro
LL Cool J
Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Chantels
The Hollies
The Stooges

Well, the respected fashion magazine, Rolling Stone, asked their readers who they thought should be nominated…

1. “Weird Al” Yankovic
2. Rush
3. The Moody Blues
4. The Smiths
5. Alice Cooper
6. Television
7. Beastie Boys
8. Deep Purple
9. Lou Reed
10. Jethro Tull
11. MC5
12. New York Dolls
13. Roxy Music
14. Tom Waits
15. Sonic Youth

I suspect that Weird Al’s rabid fan base organized a grass roots movement. That aside, I think it’s a better list. Ironically, Rolling Stone editor, Jann Wenner, has a choke hold on the real nominations.

Check this out…this is the headline from the lead story at Rolling Stone’s daily music news deal…

Woodstock Box Set Packed With Unreleased Dead, Who Tracks

Hunh!!??

Are you kidding me?

That’s not news. Stuff that didn’t make the cut for a live record that was released almost 40 years ago? “Unreleased tracks” by the Dead and the Who? Did the Who or the Dead knock it so far out of the park at Woodstock that we now need to put the culls under the microscope?

There is no music news.

Earlier this week, our good pal Sans Direction had a post in which he analyzed some goofy article where some guy had five ideas that will save the music “industry” and refuted the nonsense with pinpoint clarity. By the way Dave, I gave much thought to a comment but, I figured I might as well fill some space up here since…

…There is no music news.

Why do you suppose that is Jack?

Well, because the “music industry” hasn’t been “saved”. And, the fact is…nobody could have saved it anyway.

All the music industry has ever been…is a bunch of salesmen.

Remember “WKRP In Cincinnati”? When everybody used to bust on the pathetic guy in the ridiculous suit; the salesman? It was one of those deals where the joke worked but, the truth is; real radio stations don’t exist without salesmen.

The music industry doesn’t exist without salesmen. Nor do the newspaper, television, movie, magazine and, book publishing industries.

The music industry uses data as a commodity. Data is no longer a commodity.

Salesmen can’t sell something that is no longer a commodity.

Journalism is the next to tank. Journalism, news, is data.

Journalism needs to tank same way the music industry needed it. It has been a bloated bunch of manufacturing swill.

The news won’t disappear. Stuff will happen and word will get out. As the value of data decreases, communication increases.

And, music will survive. Cats who dig making it will continue regardless.

And believe it or not; there are salesmen who do it because it’s in their blood, in their souls. Those cats will seek out stuff to sell that they believe in and, that’s how it should be.

It’s the age of communication. It’s a righting of the ship. It’s a fucked up mess. Data isn’t a commodity but ideas will be and, it’s going to be OK.

We could use some salesmen in the music “community”. Cats who love to sell and can grasp the idea of selling ideas. Liaisons that that can foster relationships with fans and build careers. What we have right now is a bunch of talented musicians who are flailing around, spending valuable time, in a futile effort to sell themselves. The “idea” of themselves.

We could use people that can say; “You need to pay attention to this person. He/she/they have great ideas. Here’s a sample, take a listen.”, with passion and flair. That’s a true salesman. Some are throwing the term “trusted stewards” around. To me, it sounds like a diversionary tactic. Futurist babble. We need salesmen.

And, as we stumble through the fog, they will surface and re-surface. And…the show will go on. Trust me on that.