BS: payola ...how prevalent ?

Subject: RE: BS: payola ...how prevalent ?
From: PeteBoom
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 11:16 AM

Some breaks just happen - right place at the right time. Most "breaks" are made - One guy I know got called an "overnight sensation" a while ago. We were joking about that review a few weeks later and agreed that the night that it was "over" lasted about 15 years....

As far as "payola" goes - you bet - We gave shirts and cd's to the sound and light crew that worked our show last Saturday AND to the booking manager for the group that hosted us.

Pete

Subject: RE: BS: payola ...how prevalent ?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 11:11 AM

Hi Faswili

I just watched a fascinating documentary on a Canadian artist named Roberta Michelle. It doesn't really matter to me that her type of music doesn't really interest me...it was the 'procedure' that was fascinating.

Every minor detail of her music, her appearance, her personality, and her willingness to give up everything to focus on her career, was under a very strong microscope.

She was left with very few independent decisions...EVERYTHING was taken care of by others. Once the complete "package" was put together, and her recording and video (yup that's a part of it these days) were sent to the stations, a whole NEW group of "experts" sat in judgement about whether the "package" would get any exposure.

After all that, the REAL crapshoot begins. The film was made two years ago, so I checked all over the net to see whether this lady had indeed found some kind of fame. Hardly a word. It would appear that Sony had dropped her after barely a year.

I think that one way to get your music out there is to set aside a couple of years for nuthin' but touring. Small clubs, lousy money, and probably a fair number of hassles....but some DO break through without the "machine" behind them. The folks in those small venues will let you know pretty quickly if your music turns their cranks.

Rick

Subject: RE: BS: payola ...how prevalent ?
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 11:58 PM

The "breaks come from"
1. Being BETTER than GOOD
2. Being ORIGINAL, but close to the popular trend.
3. Getting exposuer
4. Luck - when talent meets opportunity

A good friend of my closest friend (this DJ I've met over 200 times) is a major DJ on the national level. He barely made it out of high school. He has been mentored by one of the "international greats," and is on the golden road to riches and fame.

Secret to his success = talent - hardwork - sacrifice - luck. His life story reads like a Garth Brooks' song. It was PLUCK, not fuck or suck that got him to where he is today.

Subject: payola ...how prevalent ?
From: uncle bill
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 11:42 PM

Just got back home from SXSW in Austin. Is it impossible for the independent label/artist to get airplay anymore? Do the big labels control every record that's sold at retail? Can a lessor-known artist still get a break by sending out cd's. I see so many extremely talented people who shud be big-time but only make it regionally. Does it still take a rich, sugar daddy to grease someone's palm to get airplay or promoted at Tower/Goody's/sound whse/or any no. of indy fm stations out there? WHERE DO THE BIG BREAKS COME FROM? Consider me a naive and disappointed fan of all good music because a real pro that I love and respect told me today that payola is more prevalent than ever and audience tastes are dictated by the bigshots at the big labels.