He was reluctant. The Stern show is the go-to place to hawk your wares. Obviously someone told Plant this, but he didn’t really get the memo, that you were supposed to disgorge your history and inner feelings in an expurgation of your life. Robert was just there to promote his album. He wasn’t sure what […]

‘Bang! The Bert Berns Story’ There’s a moment in this movie, when Solomon Burke is sitting on his throne, telling the story of “Cry To Me,” when he opens his pipes and starts to sing a cappella, that your heart will melt and your body will tingle because you know you’re in the presence of […]

They are going to pay more and own less but they are not going away. Think of the labels as marketing entities. They can help grease your path to success. But do you need them? Only if you make popular music, i.e. songs that are on the hit parade, i.e. the Hot 100, otherwise they’re […]

She should have stayed country. In the world of pop you live and die by the hit. In Nashville once you’ve made your bones you’re a star forever. You see Taylor miscalculated. She put out a pop album when hip-hop rules. Doubt me? Check out the Spotify Top 50, where “Gorgeous” is only #6. Sure, […]