WhoseTube?

I hate the way he bends over backwards to give EMI props, but you should read this for the statistic embedded deep within.

Yes, embedding is the point.  When EMI disabled this feature, forced everyone to watch OK Go’s videos on YouTube, viewings of the famous (pre-embedding embargo) treadmill video dropped from 10,000 to 1,000 a day.

Whew.

The Internet and the cacophony of information has turned the promotion of art upside down.  It used to be about getting tastemaker filters like radio and television to approve of your product, whereupon it got exposed to the public and got a good shot at sticking and becoming financially viable.  Now, it’s the reverse.  No one outlet provides all the eyeballs, few provide many, and your main goal is to get attention. You want nothing to stand in the way.  In other words, if people don’t know about you, they can’t like you, they can’t buy your music or come to your show, it’s like you don’t even exist.

They used to say no act ever broke on the Internet.  That no longer seems true.  We can dissect everyone from Jonathan Coulton to Justin Bieber to Ingrid Michaelson to even Lily Allen, making note of where labels/handlers manipulated the system for acts that truly were not independent, but there’s no denying that an online groundswell contributes more and more to the breaking of acts today.  Even if you get a bit of traction in the traditional media, it’s the Net that spreads the word.  We ultimately listen to our friends most, whether real life or Net-only. We’re immune to advertising, to hype.  We pay attention to the links of those we know.  This is how we get turned on to stuff.

So you don’t want to short circuit the process.

Save me the hate mail.  Wherein you protest that the walls should be rebuilt and it’s just not fair.  Did Smith-Corona complain that the Apple II was unfair?

Damian Kulash says a band needs money to make it.  Ingrid Michaelson would argue with that, but the question is, does that money have to come from a traditional record label, one of the Big Four?

Think about it.  Do you really want to sign with EMI?  Which is struggling for its very existence?

The fight in the sixties was for artistic freedom.  Ironically, that seems to take a back seat to marketing freedom today.  Possibly you’ll listen to the label tell you what to record, the companies regained this power in the eighties and nineties, unfortunately, but you don’t want your hands tied behind your back when it comes to selling your music.  Because now, more than ever, you’re selling your music yourself, even if you’ve got a major label deal.  There are fewer people working at the label than ever before.  And they tend to be in traditional areas.  Great if you can get on the radio.  As for the new media department, that’s usually one person…your friends from college can do a better job for free than this employee who may not even be a geek.  You’re responsible for the buzz, for getting traction.  At best, the label seems to be able to build upon your efforts, crossing you over to the mainstream after you’ve done the hard work.

But the hard work is done by the band.  And its management.  And possibly the agent.

Which is why, unless you’re a pretty face working with a name producer, major labels only want you if you’ve got a track record.  But after doing all that work, why should you sign over control to these doofuses?  Who specialize in saying no as opposed to yes?

And believe me, yes is what you want.  It’s as simple as, "Will you listen to my music?"

You’d be surprised how often the answer is no.

Getting to yes is hard.  Damian Kulash found a way.  Through sheer creativity.  You don’t see this creativity at a major label.

This is a giant middle finger to the jingoistic Americans who believe you must play by the rules to triumph, who excommunicate those who don’t agree, who believe in mind control.

That’s the America we’ve now got.  You’re either with us or against us.  Look no further than Washington, D.C. for evidence.  Republicans won’t play with the Democrats, they offer no solutions, but they can’t be seen as weak, they’re fearful of Rush, Sarah and Fox News, they’re members of a horde as opposed to individual thinkers.

What kind of crazy fucked up world do we now live in where heroes are homogenous, pureed for consumption, sans any rough edges for us to hold on to.  Go back to the Super Bowl…  One of the reasons we’ve got codgers performing is because Justin Timberlake played along, sold out Janet Jackson, apologized instead of admitting his complicity, absolving himself of responsibility in order to salvage his career.

No wonder Paris Hilton and the Kardashians are stars today.  Because the real stars have abdicated their role.  They’ve shorn off their rough edges or become cartoons in order to avoid scrutiny, in order to avoid blowback.

Bode Miller is the most talented and most decorated ski racer in American history.  But his predecessor atop the throne, Phil Mahre, couldn’t congratulate him, only criticize him, as a skier and a person.  Huh?  If it’s all about winning, isn’t that enough?

No, we’ve got to win for our country.  We’ve got to spout platitudes.  As if athletes are not jocks doing it for personal glory.  And cash.  That’s the real story.  But we don’t want to admit it to ourselves.

Bode Miller celebrated winning the World Cup by drinking champagne, to the point he skied the following morning’s now irrelevant race hung over.  Let me ask you, you didn’t get drunk after passing the bar exam, you didn’t celebrate your wedding with a little drink?  How come you’re so hypocritical?  How come the media twists the truth to make a sexy story?

Bode didn’t win in Torino.  You’d think he’d let down the whole damn country.  But where was the country when he was winning the World Cup before?  Completely tuned out, people didn’t give a shit, they were watching the NFL and the NBA.  But now, Bode has to ski for them!

Individuality has gotten a bad name.  The goal is to be just like everybody else.  Check in with the younger generation, first and foremost you’ve got to be a member of the group.  The oldsters used to revel in their uniqueness, letting their freak flags fly, but now they’re calcified, sitting in judgment, demanding conformity.

The new American sport is apologizing.  You barely have to offend before some nitwit demands you whip out a confession admitting your crime and expressing regret.  Huh?  Maybe the person meant to do it.  Maybe they’re just not like you.

Barring a back of the field miracle, Bode Miller will get a silver medal in today’s Super G.  Which makes him two for two.  Maybe not gold, but pretty damn good nonetheless.  What is America gonna say now?  About an athlete who did it his way and triumphed?

This was the essence of rock and roll.  The stars of yore didn’t play by the rules, didn’t kiss corporate butt, and fans LOVED them for it.  Rained down cash.  To the point where old bands still generate the most live revenue.  Who wants the young ‘uns, working with the usual suspect producers in it for the fame as opposed to the music.  You might not like Lil’ Wayne, but at least he’s not complaining about piracy, he’s putting out mix tapes for free, he’s about the MUSIC!

We’ve got to terminate this conformity hogwash in these United States.  We must realize we welcomed immigrants with open arms, and the diversity of our populace is what truly made us great.  Hell, if you’re not willing to listen to a contrary opinion, you’re only going to hear back what you already know, avoiding growth, like a major label CEO.

Look back.  Our heroes were always the outsiders.  From James Dean to Steve McQueen, from John Lennon to Grace Slick.  Unafraid of speaking their truth, we gravitated towards them.

Bode Miller is a modern day hero.  Someone who took the slings and arrows and still excelled, still triumphed.  We labeled him a loser because he disappointed us four years ago, what are we gonna call him now?  Are we gonna realize we were wrong, or make like he just doesn’t exist?

Just like the oldster beautiful music people of the sixties made like the Beatles, the British Invasion and the San Francisco Sound didn’t exist.

Led Zeppelin was excoriated in their heyday.  For their heavy music and offstage antics.  But decades later, the music remains.  We want new Zeppelins, but they’re nowhere to be seen.  Because we no longer nurture this kind of talent.

Bode’s medals are now in the history book.  Hell, he might even earn more.

He’s just a constant warning to take the other direction.

He was the first skier to use shaped skis.  Revolutionizing the sport.

He’s got more natural talent than seemingly anyone out there.

But he isn’t a me-too sheep beholden to a false game.

I’d say that’s a plus.  I’d rather have a kid who’s a Bode than a Lindsey any day of the week.  I want someone who can think for himself, make independent decisions, question authority.  That’s what drew me to the rockers of yore…  Rules were irrelevant if they were thoughtless.  If you can’t think for yourself, you’re no friend of mine.

We make it tough to be an independent thinker.

But they are our biggest winners.  Our beacons.  From Steve Jobs to Bob Dylan to Bode Miller.

Yesterday I hosted a panel entitled "All-In Ticketing: Why Can’t We Do The Math?" at the Pollstar conference:

Pollstar Live 2010

Nathan Hubbard did not appear.  Which was a shame, because Nathan has very definitive thoughts on ticketing and he’s committed to progress.  Whereas the panelists who took the stage with me ultimately agreed that ticket buyers are resentful of add-on/service charges, but I could not get one person to agree to progress.

It reminded me of Washington, D.C.  They were acting out of self-interest.

That’s the modern music business in a nutshell.  Let me protect my pocketbook at all costs.  Even if it hobbles me in the future.  Better to proceed with an old model than take any risk.

And we can see how well this has worked out.  The labels have faltered and live business is about the occasional extravaganza, most people just sit at home in front of the big screen, going to a show is like going on vacation, a once a year event.

I grew up in the sixties.  When altruism and the greater good were not only catchphrases, but goals.  Not only did we have Martin Luther King, pushing the envelope to gain rights for all Americans, most specifically those with black skin, but there was a plethora of young leaders from college campuses who ultimately convinced LBJ to not only wind down the war, but to not run again for office.

Sure, it took a few years for the war to come to an end.  But credit leaders on the left with forcing closure on an unwinnable escapade.

And, also give belated credit to LBJ.  He might have screwed up Vietnam, but he nurtured and ultimately strong-armed legislation through Congress, most notably civil rights.  LBJ knew how to use his experience, and his power, to get things done.

Unlike Barack Obama.  Who gave health care to Congress to screw up so badly that Massachusetts voters revolted, elected a Republican and the whole thing went down the drain.  What a waste of both opportunity and time.  But Obama didn’t want to piss off health care companies.  And doesn’t want to alienate the Wall Street robber barons who put him in office.  I mean show a little backbone, show a little cunning, show a little finesse, lead damn it!

Where’s the leadership at the label level?

Zach Horowitz and Doug Morris are so busy protecting their market share that they’re holding back the progress of music distribution to the detriment of the entire populace.  All they know is "no".

As for Sony…  It’s a joke.  They try to develop hit records.  The only reason there’s been no criticism is because EMI is in such a state of disarray, disintegrating as a hedge fund he-man and a bank argue over dollars.

Warner is preparing for the future, but it’s playing it safe.  And you never win by playing it safe.  You’ve got to go for it.  And Bronfman learned how to say no from his old employees Zach and Doug.  Edgar agitated for higher Guitar Hero royalties as the franchise disintegrated, not realizing like boy bands the game was a fad.  And Spotify may not be the answer, but you can license for brief windows and then rescind, but if you’re afraid of giving away the whole store, you don’t give up anything, you don’t innovate.

All those indie promoters carping about the merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation?  They’re not princes.  Mostly old wave concert promoters who are bettors, not innovators.  They risk dollars for a return.  Try something new?  Why?

Give Goldenvoice credit.  They built Coachella.  Lost money until they built an institution, and are trying with Stagecoach too.

Ashley Capps and Coran Capshaw built Bonnaroo in Coachella’s wake.  They get props.  We now have a burgeoning festival circuit in the U.S., years after Europe, but promoters took some risk.

And Phil Anschutz laid his dollars down and built a concert promotion company from scratch.  Installed Celine Dion in Vegas, put concerts in the O2.

And Irving Azoff went to all-in ticketing with the Eagles.

The Eagles?  Aren’t you supposed to experiment with an expendable act?  EMI doesn’t experiment with the Beatles, why should Irving experiment with the Eagles?

Because he’s got the power.  Because he can do it.  He can go to all-in ticketing overnight.  And he did.  And is experimenting in Sacramento with new levels of house scaling.

And Irving implemented what is now known as "I Love All Access".  While bands are selling worthless fan club memberships that don’t get you the tickets you want, Irving said let’s charge a fortune for great tickets, for a first class experience.  Question the customers of "I Love All Access".  They’re all thrilled.  It might have been expensive, but it was worth it.

And you’ve got Michael Rapino with his No Service Fee Wednesdays, and his four-packs…  He’s the one coming up with new ideas, not those who opposed the merger.

Yes, John Scher and Metropolitan have gone to all-in ticketing, and I applaud them for this, but where is everybody else?

Did you catch today’s news?  About Steve Jobs’ meeting at the "Wall Street Journal" where he lambasted Adobe’s Flash?  Many people buy Macs just to use Adobe’s Photoshop, do you want to alienate the software publisher, it might just pull out of your platform.  But Jobs is willing to push the envelope, for a better computing experience for all, risking his own company in the process.

Who is doing this in music?

I’d say the best examples are Azoff and Rapino at what is now called Live Nation.

Azoff broke the major label stranglehold and opened up the Wal-Mart paradigm with the Eagles.  Now the legends don’t want to make a deal with a major label, and they get the lion’s share of the revenue.  Now Irving is opening up ticketing at Wal-Mart.

Rapino is trying to improve the concert experience while selling more tickets.  Hell, the more people we get to the show, the better it is for all. From the acts and their handlers to the customers.

The foregoing is why I supported the TM/LN merger.  Sure, everybody involved wanted to make money, but they also wanted to try new things.  Napster might have weakened the major labels, but the TM/LN merger will put the stake through their heart.  A bad thing?  I think not. Speak to an act, being on a major is indentured servitude.  You always got screwed, and now the label wants 360 degrees of revenue?

But where are the leaders in other spheres?

Radiohead gave away their album, but the horde of acts behind them just saw this as a marketing ploy.  Who, other than Trent Reznor, has pushed the envelope since?

And where are the twentysomething entrepreneurs, creating heretofore unthinkable paradigms?

Not working in music, but tech.  Creating Facebook and iPhone apps.  Because the usual suspect rights holders refuse to take risk, refuse to allow anybody else to carry the ball, to lead.

It’s hard to quantify the negatives of add-on charges.  But one can see how Dell’s lame tech support created "Dell Hell" and the company has never been the same since.  You can see how high prices and low demand have got the public waiting for the very last minute to get concert tickets at a discount.  You can see this is going in the wrong direction.  That the public is not with us, but against us.

In order to prosper in the future, we need leaders.  Who are willing to take risks, to do something different, as opposed to playing by the old handbook and refusing to change.  We like acts that push the envelope, where are the businessmen who do the same?  Where’s the agent who will force his act to do an all-in ticketing deal?  Where’s the promoter who will squeeze the agent to get to a final price?

Nowhere to be seen.

And that’s what we’ve got.

It’s infected America at large.  It’s all mine for me.  I’m not willing to sacrifice, I don’t want to take a chance.  Health care reform must die, but don’t touch my Medicare.  Yes, it’s not only those in charge, but the minions too.  We want government to solve our problems, but we insist on lower taxes.  Huh?

How did America get so screwed up?  When did everybody become so entitled?  When did we become so two-faced?

There’s a way out of this.  By taking chances, by leading, by agitating for what’s right as opposed to what’s expedient.

Not everybody loves Steve Jobs, many revile him.  But at least he’s out there, putting his neck and his company on the line.  In the music business, the fat cats want no publicity, unless it focuses on their exorbitant lifestyles.  Huh?  This is how you win the public over?  By screwing them and then demonstrating what you do with the proceeds?  The whole business is like a bad rap video, with misogynist males raping and pillaging, abusing women while they ride by on giant rims.

Russell Simmons was a leader.

But he flamed out.

Who’s next?

Julia Mancuso’s dad went to prison for dealing dope.

Now if that ain’t an American story…

Too hot for the American press.

Not that Ms. Mancuso cared.  Hell, she even posed as a Lange girl.  Check her out here:

Vintage Lange Girl Gallery

But there was no backlash, unlike with Lindsey Vonn’s bathing suit photos in "Sports Illustrated".  Because no one was paying attention.

Now everyone’s paying attention.  Because Julia medaled again today.  Ascending to the podium after fully and speedily executing the slalom portion of the Super Combined, difficult for someone who focuses on speed events like the Downhill and Super-G.

I’m just saying there was no hype about Julia Mancuso prior to the Olympics.  Hell, she was injured last year, she was shunted aside in favor of America’s sweetheart, Lindsey Vonn.  Who DNF’ed in the slalom portion of today’s event.

The media loves a pre-delineated story.  But real life ain’t that way.  You’ve got to play to find out the results.  Which are oftentimes surprising.

Truth is stranger than fiction?

Absolutely.

Used to be the mainstream media controlled the narrative.

Now, online, the picture is much hazier.  You’ve got full time fans defining the story for their brethren, and then when the occasional lurkers weigh in, they show their lack of knowledge.

So let’s say Lindsey Vonn doesn’t win another medal.  She probably will, she should triumph in the Super-G.  Odds are much lower in GS, especially slalom.  But let’s say Lindsey does not.  And Julia Mancuso ends up with her two silver medals.  Does she become the story?  Can she become America’s sweetheart?

Or does the fact that her hair veers towards brunette instead of blond and she didn’t grow up with all the advantages mean that we can’t rally around her?

P.S. I found out Lindsey DNF’ed via Twitter.  Google News had nothing.  nbcolympics.com wasn’t even up to date.  And up to date is how we like our information.  Twitter might not be the final answer, but if you want to know what’s going on right now, it’s the go to site.