Breakthroughs, Bitterness and Biopics

Breakthroughs and bitterness go hand in hand in the music business. An exploration of the phenomenon through the classic music biopic, including recent documentaries on Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, plus weigh-in from Nashville songwriter and music artist Allen Shadow.

‘It’s tough to beat up a guy that never quits’

Babe Ruth said “It’s tough to beat up a guy that never quits,” and Yanks’ slumplng Nick Swisher revived that ungrammatical gem as motivation for his next plate appearance in the Bombers’ World Series bid. The axiom is applied here, too, to the career-grind of the music artist.

Dog Guru

A musician’s dog serves as guru as he trusts his nose to guide him through his twisting career path. He cites literate outlaws in country music, like Jamey Johnson and Steve Earle, who live it “their” way.

You’re So ‘Yester-moment’

You’re So ‘Yester-moment’: Internet guru Michael Moritz – backer of Google and Yahoo – says, “Perpetual movement is the essence of survival and prosperity online.” In other words, the Web 2.0 atomizing machine is heading for mach 3.0. Implications for the music artist, blogger.

Viral, Schmiral (‘Greatness’ Pt. 2)

The ups and downs of musicians’ microcelebrity on the Internet as examined in Bill Wasik’s new book, “And Then There’s This: How Stories Live and Die in Viral Culture,” and other sources. Explores the questions: Is enduring success better in the new business model?; and, How should 2.0 artists arm for battle?

Musician: Why Your ‘Greatness’ is Missed

What the tale of a snubbed famous musician tells us. World-renowned violinist Joshua Bell’s social experiment of going undercover as a street musician earned a Pulitzer Prize for the Washington Post as it opened our eyes and ears. What aspiring music artists should take away from this.

Singles Strategy Radiohead Style

The album is dead. But, isn’t that old news? Tell that to the music industry.
As a music artist – and one who develops thematic albums – the death of the full-CD is something I’ve come to terms with. In fact, I’m all right with it. Really. Only thing is, try to exercise a business strategy [...]

‘On the Road’ to Woodstock 40 Years After

My adventures on the road to Woodstock in the summer of 1969, which was part of a 10,000 cross-country trip. A look back at the significance of the festival and the impact the hippie generation had on music and culture. The piece touches on three notable dots on the map of the summer of 1969: Woodstock, the Apollo 11 moon landing and the Tate-LaBianca murders.

Manson Family: Still Evil After All These Years

The 40th anniversary of the Tate-LaBianca murders, brings renewed calls for release for members of the Manson family. Filmmaker John Waters, for one, is on a media quest on behalf of Leslie Van Houten. Meanwhile Sharon Tate’s sister, Debra presses to keep the Manson clan behind bars. This post sides with Debra Tate as it chronicles the events of the historic of the summer of 1969.

Moon Landing is Backdrop to Song

The Apollo 11 moon landing is backdrop to Allen Shadow’s song “Miss America, a raw tableau of the nation. Here, Shadow discusses the song’s background, which includes his experience of the landing and Cronkite’s role in the event.