My world used to revolve around radio, music, and records. They were the inspiration and motivation that put me on the path to everything I have ever done on this spinning mudball. Why then, have these wonderful things become a point of contention and a pain in the ass for even those of us that woke up every morning wanting so badly to be a part of them…
There have been hundreds of suggestions from people that address the ongoing problems that face music and radio and even live performances. We have all read these suggestions, agreeing with some and perplexed by others, but almost all of them have been met with the same responses…apathy, and downright hostility.
More energy is spent shouting down the ideas put forth than the amount of energy exerted to come up with potential solutions, whether good, bad, lame, or self-serving.
How can this be? How can people whine and moan, and bitch about the state of their respective businesses, and then turn around and deride every single idea put forth, one of which could be a possible solution to their particular problem, or maybe lead to a solution down the line?
Regardless of the reaction, whether it be apathetic shoulder-shrugging, or out and out hostility, the ideas lay untried, shunted aside without so much as a glance, by people whose attitude simply doesn’t make any sense. Are they afraid to try anything for fear of losing their jobs? Is it fear of being wrong, and jeopardizing their (assumed) credibility? Are the ideas simply coming from the wrong source? Who knows? You can’t get a straight answer out of anyone. All you can hope for is listening to someone tell you that something won’t work. No one can tell you what will work.
That’s because no one knows what will work, and if they don’t start trying some of the ideas floating around out there, no one will ever know. All I DO know is this: People have been talking about what is wrong for well over a decade, but no one has DONE anything. It’s time to stop talking and start doing.
The Three Reasons everything is Fucked Up…
Failure to monetize Napster: The biggest mistake lawyers, managers, publishers, and record labels ever made. At a dime a download, everyone would have been happy. No warehousing, no shipping, no manufacturing, and catalogue gets a massive new life. Even then it would have been generating millions of dimes a month. Now, online downloading would be generating billions of dimes. That’s a lot of fucking dimes. The industry failed to understand that the consumer now had control. They still haven’t figured it out. Because of this massive misstep, Steve Jobs is able to overcharge for music, make it impossible to use without his hardware, and continues to lead the music industry around by the short hairs. The man is the purveyor of planned obsolescence, and will continue to dominate the music industry until they grow the grapes to dethrone him by monetizing their product on the internet with subscriptions, reasonable prices, and better releases.
The Homogenization of Radio through deregulation: As if shorter play lists, more commercials, and less musically qualified on-air hosts weren’t bad enough, radio found a way to chase more listeners away, and flat-out stop potential new listeners from ever coming onboard. Now one company can own multiple stations in the same market. The competition is now for advertising dollars, not listeners. Local music scenes are ignored in favour of what is selling nationally. On air personalities have not only a format to follow, but an over-all sound to adhere to as dictated by the corporations they work for. The history of the stations are ignored in favour of repositioning the station as the latest widget in that particular radio “familyâ€, for that particular genre. Passion is professed, yet ignored and oft times the source of dismissal. Creativity is limited to approval by consultants and management. Voice tracking, syndicated DJ’s and programming are used in lieu of homegrown jocks and specialty shows, and all night programming is handled from afar. Whatever the genre, all stations coast to coast play basically the same tracks. Do you really have to ask why no one cares about terrestrial radio anymore? The last time I heard a conversation about contemporary radio was in the Dufferin Mall last week. It was about Justin Beiber. The girls discussing hearing him on the radio were 10 and 11. They did not know the name of the radio station they were talking about.
Greed: Concert tickets, parking, and refreshments for a top ten act costs way too much. For what it costs for high end tickets and the rest for two to one of these shows, you can get a top shelf call girl and a room at the Hyatt for less. You can get dinner for four at the Harbour 60 for less, and you can have an overnight stay at a spa for less. Hell, you could buy a brand new LCD 60 inch television for the price of 2 high end Bon Jovi tickets…and how long do you think Wayne and Garth will be willing to spend 30 dollars to park the Gremlin and 10 bucks for a beer on top of the 200 dollar nosebleed seats? Cancelled shows and tours, anyone? 
Whose fault is this? From what I gather on the intertoobz, it’s a combination of artist, manager, ticket seller, and venue owners, all trying to make more money. Being old enough to have bought albums for $2.99, Beatle tickets for $5.50, and popcorn for a dime and beer for 50 cents, I have to admit that what people pay today for the same things seems positively reckless to me. No wonder the unknown Indies and smarter bands are packing smaller venues for reasonable prices. How much longer will the general public and casual music fans put up with this nonsense? Even the Circus has decently priced tickets, parking, and refreshments, and isn’t that what all these mega-stars today are…a Circus?
While most live events gouge the consumer with exorbitant prices, radio fires people in the name of cutting costs, downsizes its sales staffs, and then adds more commercials to already overloaded stop sets. Record companies (and what’s left of retailers) overcharge for CD’s that contain one hit and a pile of filler.
All of this is done in the name of maintaining the status quo…the money that these industries used to generate back when the music, the shows, and the radio were worth what you paid for them. Now, the record companies want a piece of the live action and want radio (who advertise the label’s product by playing it) to pay for the privilege of playing the music they produce and manufacture. That’s absurd.
Everybody needs to lower their expectations and start dealing quality to the consumer. It is what they will gladly pay for. As much as I dislike the underbelly of what Steve Jobs has done, I do respect the quality of his products, and so do the millions of people who buy his wares. When the batteries are replaceable, the upgrades are free, and he adds at least a USB port to the iPad, I may even buy an Apple product at some point, but not yet.
Forcing change…
The music industries have been dragging their feet for years when it comes to implementing changes that could reverse their fortunes. Maybe it’s time for the powers that be to step up and do something instead of forming committees, stone-walling suggestions, and working hard to get a larger slice of the diminishing pie…
Next: Turning Apathy into Action…
That’s enough for now. Email me at segarini@fyimusic.ca with your comments, complaints, and thoughts…and remember…don’t believe a word I say.
Bob “The Iceman†Segarini was in the bands The Family Tree, Roxy, The Wackers, The Dudes, The Segarini Band, and Cats and Dogs, and nominated for a Juno for production in 1978. He also hosted “Late Great Movies†on CITY TV, was a producer of Much Music, and an on-air personality on CHUM FM, Q107, SIRIUS Sat/Rad’s Iceberg 95, (now 85), and now provides content for radiothatdoesntsuck.com with RadioZombie, The Iceage, and PsychShack. Along with the love of his life, Jade (Pie) Dunlop, (who hosts and writes “I’ve Heard That Song Before†on RTDS), continues to write, make music, and record.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Bob you mentioned Bon Jovi… woo, that hit a sore spot with me because of the shameless tactics they use to promote their big stars. Sure Kid Rock opened for him, but the promoters for months held a contest for someone to start it off. The winner was Chris Cadell (The Wreckage). The tickets said 7Pm show time. What time did these guys put the winner of the contest on?? 6:30 PM.. hardly anyone in the Rogers Centre. No lights, no screens to see him on stage for the ones who were there early… Nothing. He didn’t even have more than mere water in his dressing room!
We had Chris Cadell on Liquid Lunch the day before the concert. He’s a young upstart from Belleville. He was really good. He shows Promise.. Wrote a beautiful ballad/song on his own.. and what did these fucks do? Put him on way too early.. over charged the tickets, and who won out in the end? Bon Jovi, and his re-gusting Promoters. I use re-gusting because it’s a re-occurring disgusting event of power plays, scams, and fraud!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlLrNF7HoP0
Stella Hunt
Guest Booking/Co-Host Liquid Lunch
I loved radio and records, too, Bob, but the business has changed. Unfortunately, people who are in the business think it’s changING and refuse to move forward. Better to hang on to remnants by your fingernails than admit the truth.
The one mantra that you chant on an ongoing basis is one I now hold close to the vest— that music is stronger than ever. The problem is, no one knows how to find it (and most are too lazy to try). It is down to the grass roots and the tools are right there by our feet— networking, sampling, free downloads, blogs, music columns…. All it takes is a few minutes a day brushing those musical teeth (for the unimaginative, that means actually trying to find new and good music) to keep the old oral (aural) hygiene intact. What I’m saying is that radio obviously isn’t there anymore, nor are most of the other avenues to find good music. Time for Finding New Music 101. We have to be re-taught. No transistor radio, no more MTV, no more CMT, no more of the old ways, outside of listening to what friends pass along. Time to branch out and use the tools of the Internet— sampling, comparison sites (If you like…., you might like…) and a whole lot of communicating and reading. That is, IF we want new music. IF it is important enough to us. The business? All they care about is IF they can make money. Kick it to the curb.
A lot of people don’t listen to me anymore. I won’t talk Beatles or Green Day or Bieber or Gaga. I don’t know how to. I barely have time enough for all of the buried music that should be getting attention— the Ali Milners (thanks for that, BTW) and The Weaver Twins and The Research Turtles and Shade and so many more. Man, those artists are HUNGRY! They LOVE it when people listen! That’s why they do it! THEY are the future.
Of course, why would anyone listen to me? Or you, for that matter, Bob? Our yearly Top Tens are a graveyard of great music. Try getting someone you don’t know to listen when The Weaver Twins and The Research Turtles are one-two on your list when all they want to talk about is the “industry” Top Ten. It is a conversation destined for hell.
Still, I try to stay positive. Your column helps keep me sane. Keep it up.
Frank, I think many of us do need the likes of you, Segarini and Lefsetz to say, “Hey, this band is great, check them out.” It’s important to read opinions from people who are passionate about music.
The internet is now the main source of music discovery. I don’t have time to search through all the websites so when I find someone with a good grasp of what’s new…or who can tell me about music and artists I might have missed the first time around…I’m grateful.