Favorite things:
The Morse Theater in Chicago. Saw Taj Mahal there this year. . .wow. . .what a great intimate place to see a show.
Mozy.com: The only real way to back up my music online. Now, I'm no longer afraid of losing my digital files!
Elvis impersonators are actually REALLY fun to have at your events.
The Cirque du Soleil show music rocks.
- I still love hearing a great Bill Wither's song on the radio when I'm least expecting it.
The Past/Future:
Still excited about the future of music, there are always great things coming our in a variety of genres.
Things I'm tired of seeing:
Feigned attempts at creating appeal through ridiculous costumes, makeup, etc. Kiss did it well, Rammstein does it pretty well, most don't. Let's just hear the music, enough with the makeup and masks already.
People getting record deals just because they're "somebody". Joe the plumber has a record contract? Are you kidding me? Are we really getting that lazy in the A&R world?
Actors as singers. Pick a genre and stick with it. When was the last time you saw Bruce Springsteen in a movie? Unless you're the type of actor that loves musicals, why are you cutting records? There are SO MANY, SO MANY talented musicians out there with the skills AND the business sense to make it, why are we settling on teaching actors how to be artists? The easy way isn't always the best way.
Things I can't wait to see:
The return of radio. I still think radio a staple to introducing great music to people.
More affordable ticket prices. (Maybe this is a dream that'll never happen)
A more fluid route to success for bands that helps both labels and musicians find one another. There really isn't a good way to do this still. . .even with technology at seemingly the right place to make it happen.
An understanding by the RIAA that music fans, are the lifeblood of the industry.
About Me:
Doc Kane is the owner of Roscommon, a professional writing services firm from Chicago where he helps companies create stories that sell. He is also the editor of MusicBusinessPage.com an online music business advice site that has been online since 1994. Email subscribers to the site get a free 60 page book about surviving in the music business just for signing up on the site. He is also the author of The Music Industry Guidebook: A Clear Guide to Getting a Job in the Music Business . . .Fast!. It's a ten dollar book that'll put you on this fast-track to a career in entertainment in only ten days.
This year, Doc is working on a new site: MusicIndustryJobs.com. The site is a searchable index of music industry jobs from all around the United States, and will soon include jobs overseas. Check it out at: http://www.musicindustryjobs.com.
