Rusty Gregory
I’m sitting here listening to outtakes from Steely Dan’s "Royal Scam" reading hundreds of e-mails.
I’d like to thank the community for turning me on to a brilliant track, the Ricky Skaggs/Ashley Monroe version of the Raconteurs’ "Old Enough". You can hear it here:
and if you’re truly interested in the backstory, you can check it out here:
I could rant on about Web 2.0, network effects, but this is the advantage of the Net, you can get consensus, you can get turned on to things almost instantly.
Speaking of consensus… Yesterday I was hipped by two readers to discount pricing at Mammoth Mountain. There was a town meeting in Mammoth Lakes, wherein the CEO of the ski resort, Rusty Gregory laid out the issues facing the area
But what is even more fascinating is Mr. Gregory’s participation on the Mammoth boards. It’s as if Jimmy Iovine started posting comments on Perez Hilton or the Velvet Rope.
It’s fascinating. No PR person vetted Mr. Gregory’s comments. So when someone is stupid, he calls them out on their stupidity. He takes no guff. And in addition to clarifying, explaining the truth behind the rumors and laying out future business practices, he interacts nicely with those who are civil to him. It’s positively revolutionary.
At first the record labels hid behind Hilary Rosen. The same way the acts now hide behind Ticketmaster. Let them take the guff, we’re innocent. But now the labels are a shadow of their former selves. Having fought "piracy" for a decade, they’ve become marginalized, with touring revenues now the key to fattening your wallet. Doug Morris waded into cyberspace, granting an interview to "Wired", but after appearing a buffoon, stating Universal didn’t know where to look to for Internet advice, Doug has gone back into his hole, counting his millions.
What about Warner’s YouTube policy? Wherein acts signed to the label can’t even link to their own videos? Who was responsible for this decision? Can this faceless bastard come out of hiding and explain himself online? Just maybe, he’ll sway the public, the same way Rusty Gregory has made fans. You can’t convince everybody, ten percent of the audience will never pay, will never be reasonable, but most people are open to being educated.
Give Irving Azoff props, at least he responded to Bruce Springsteen’s concerns. Whereas in the past, there might be a statement from some unknown press agent days later. Do you believe Irving? You can make up your own mind. But at least he stepped up to the plate.
Steve Jobs went online and explained why variable pricing was sheer greed and DRM had to go. There are legendary stories of people e-mailing him and getting a response. But how would you reach Rob Stringer? Never mind Lyor Cohen. These people are living their private lives inside walled gardens. And if you think it’s working for them, you’re delusional.
The labels have done their best to alienate their customers for a decade. And they show no effort to contradict this behavior.
What people want is access. They want an explanation. They want honesty. They want truth. What is preventing the RIAA from creating an open forum, wherein questions are answered by the heads of the labels themselves, unfiltered? Hell, Rick Rubin just has to drop in somewhere and the word will be Twittered instantly, and the public will show up.
But the public doesn’t have a problem with Rick Rubin. That’s just an inside story, people willing Sony Music to fail. But they do have a problem with each and every record label in general. And the publishing companies. And the corporate PR people advising these institutions tell them to choose their words wisely, if they speak at all.
Like I said, this obviously isn’t working. The public hates the labels and their business is declining. Time to come out of the bunker. Time to speak your truth.
Then again, is the truth that you’re overpaid and riding the CD wave to the end and then headed for retirement? No wonder you don’t want to venture into the agora. But the business will survive you. Someone’s got to come out of the woodwork and explain what’s going on. Someone with a name, that we recognize.
Sure, the Web is vicious. But that’s where public discourse takes place. Not in the "New York Times" or the "Wall Street Journal", but on FaceBook and message boards.
I’m calling you out. Who’s going on record first? Really, it should be you Jimmy. You say you’re the artist’s friend, you say you’re open to new ideas. Can you come out of hiding and explain yourself? Answer questions, tell us what the fuck is going on?
Mammoth thread: Gregory to Speak and Take Questions at Town Council Meeting
Rusty Gregory’s handle is "Rusty". You can start reading his comments/responses towards the bottom of the first page, his first post being on Thursday Feb. 12, 2009 at 8:57 PM. He joined earlier that day, at 9:57 am, under his real name. Those with balls don’t need to hide, they’ve got the truth on their side.
