What kind of crazy, f*cked up world do we live in where Morgan Wallen outstreams Ed Sheeran?

One in which Latin and country eclipse the traditionally narrow hip-hop/pop music perceived to be dominant in America.

“‘To a large degree, the charts you mention are engineered by whoever has the biggest financial resources anyway; it massively matters how much money you put behind a track to reach or stay at No.1. Why is that not changing? Why are shareholders not becoming more nervous about this narrative?

“The fact is, even if nobody spent money on marketing new music you would still have charts, because consumers drive those charts, and consumers would still discover new music.'”

That’s Hartwig Masuch, departing head of BMG.

You can read what he says here: https://bit.ly/4397m8x Bottom line, he can’t understand why the majors keep investing in profitless hit product when the money is in catalog:

“If you look at the body of work the majors have, if they’d have focused much earlier on maximizing the relevance of their catalogs versus building zero-EBITDA-producing, huge-revenue labels, their numbers would look great from a dynamic perspective. I think that’s now dawning on them.”

Of course the devil is in the details. As in what is considered to be catalog, and you’ve got to make new music to generate catalog revenue. Also, hit music is not a world BMG plays in. But…

Is the era of the hit single history?

Of course it’s not, but never has a hit meant less. And never in the modern era has recorded music been less of a percentage of an act’s overall revenues.

So, if you’re building your act from the top down, you’re experiencing headwinds, you might make a splash, but also make no money. But if you come from the ground up…

Well, Ed Sheeran came from the ground up. And he has the second most streamed track extant, i.e. “Shape of You.” Why is the public not mesmerized, not enticed, not streaming his new album?

It’s not like you can fault the hype. Sheeran bared his soul on Howard Stern, and unlike many “artists,” despite lacking education Sheeran is intelligent and articulate.

And there was that streaming special on Disney+. I mean we can’t sit here and say the public is unaware…

But maybe that’s not true. Because the traditional ways of reaching the active audience punch way below their historical weight. It’s actually hard to reach anybody. And the younger you are, the more you live online, where centralized hype reaching everybody…doesn’t.

It’s not like Ed Sheeran will stop selling tickets.

The dirty little secret is not that many people go to the show.

Let’s say you play thirty stadiums. That’s 1,500,000 tickets. Give or take. Some stadiums don’t even hold 50,000, and this is assuming you sell out. But the bottom line is a million and a half people is an almost insignificant portion of the population of the United States. Sure, traditional media outlets might be bowing at your feet, you may even get the key to the city, but does all that matter anymore? 

Furthermore, Sheeran is taking no chances, he’s doing arenas this time around.

But why is “-” streaming so poorly? The album has been out almost two weeks, but most tracks have been streamed in the single digit millions on Spotify, and not high single digit millions.

Then again, the initial single, released towards the end of March, “Eyes Closed,” did not burn up the chart. As a matter of fact, it’s presently #70 on the daily Spotify chart, going down.

Going back to the manipulated chart…

Sheeran sold 81,000 copies of his new album last week. You know, the physical mania driven by vinyl, which ends not long after an album’s release. That should have put him at #1 instead of #2, right? Especially against an album as “old” as Morgan Wallen’s “One Thing at a Time,” which sold only 5,000 copies in its tenth week of release.

But Wallen’s album had 179 million streams, whereas Sheeran’s had 38 million.

But wasn’t Sheeran just everywhere, winning that copyright suit, being perceived as standing up for the integrity of artists, beating down the troll? I mean who wasn’t aware of that?

But it didn’t drive streams.

In addition the paradigm of yore doesn’t exist today. Yesterday, in the physical era, the goal was to sell as much product as fast as you could, before people were even aware of whether the album was good or bad. Longevity was great, but it wasn’t necessary. Today longevity is everything.

And Morgan Wallen’s “One Thing at a Time” is number one for the tenth week. Eclipsing not only Ed Sheeran, but Metallica.

Somehow people are resonating with Wallen. He’s perceived to be authentic. There’s no jet-setting, he isn’t seen everywhere, he somehow still seems attached to his roots, unlike Sheeran and so many.

And maybe screwing up made Wallen even more relatable. If you haven’t committed any faux pas, you’re drawing way too far inside the lines. How can people relate to someone who is airbrushed physically and when it comes to identity?

But Sheeran is scruffy…

Maybe people are just sick of the movie. Sheeran never leaves their consciousness.

You could say Sheeran’s new album is an artistic disappointment, but the reviews are quite good. But today reviews are meaningless, more important is what your friends have to say.

And I’m not saying that “-” won’t be resuscitated. But for a superstar, this is a poor debut.

And I’m not saying everybody is going to like Morgan Wallen. Or even Bad Bunny. There are many titans today, in many genres. It’s hard to cover all the bases, and this is what the major labels do so poorly. Today you have to play in all musical verticals, because if you hit enough singles and doubles, they add up to even more than one home run.

So what we’ve got here is a media industrial network acting like it’s still the twentieth century when nothing could be further from the truth. We no longer live in a monoculture, MTV is deep in the rearview mirror. Today most acts are unique, operating as an enterprise of one. It’s not about the competition, it’s about you and your audience. And your audience wants to own you, believe that you’re playing to them, not those who don’t care, who you’re desperately trying to add to your flock. And instead of asking where you are on the chart, you should be asking how many people are diehards, in it for the long haul. Sure, if you need awards, this philosophy might not get you any, but awards are b.s. anyway. Who cares what members of the Academy who are unknown by the public have to say, most with minimal musical careers to begin with. You don’t need an award to make yourself feel good. The adulation of your fans is enough.

The game in days of yore was to reach every last person on the planet and try to get them to buy your record, this would be a multi-year attack, as you dribbled out singles.

But today you want to put out product more frequently. Satiate your fans, not a broken down system. And casual fans don’t pay dividends, they don’t come to the show, at least not every tour.

What you’re selling is belief.

People want to see Ed Sheeran, but do they believe in him?

People believe in Morgan Wallen.

And it’s not like Sheeran didn’t try to buy insurance, he cowrote “Eyes Closed” with Max Martin, Shellback and Fred Again, and four producers are credited, those three and Aaron Dessner. Maybe in the process of trying to create a hit truth was excised, the track was polished to the point that people couldn’t relate to it. This is the major label paradigm, redo and remix until you get it perfect. But that’s not art, art is about inspiration.

Not that Morgan Wallen didn’t have contributors, many in fact. But the end result sounded more personal.

And Wallen did originally get a boost from TV.

But the bottom line is there’s room for everybody today, even you.

Well, that’s not true. You can post your music to Spotify and literally no one can listen. But if you have a spark, that touches people, you can have a career. You don’t need the major label, you just need you. It’s all about you, don’t let anybody tell you otherwise.

Netflix trailer: https://bit.ly/42Yob5O

This starts off slow.

“War Sailor” is a three episode series on Netflix. It’s Norwegian. I’ve actually been to Norway twice, it’s different from Sweden. First and foremost not everybody speaks English. And, the country used to be backward economically but as a result of finding oil decades back, it’s now incredibly wealthy. And despite oil throwing off all that money, 80% of the new cars in the country are electric, you can read about it here: https://nyti.ms/3IhH4sr

But this is about long ago. Before WW II. And then…

Germany invaded Norway. Took over the country, but…

So what we’ve got here is a war story. But it’s not a battle story. This is not those in helmets loading up their bazookas, rather this is about merchant marines, who can’t come back to their homeland because it’s been possessed.

So…

The first half hour or so is set-up, you’re not exactly sure what is happening.

And then the war begins…

The horrors of war. The tensions of war. When so many ships are sunk, what are the odds you’ll survive?

And then you see friends die.

And then…

Let me just say “War Sailor” portrayed, made me feel the horrors of war more than any other movie or TV series I’ve ever seen. The psychological cost. You become numb, worried your number is going to come up.

Maybe you can watch in English, but it’s always best to watch these shows with subtitles. You can burn through “War Sailor” in an evening. And when it is over, you’ll be silent, you won’t have much to say, because you will get it, the cost of war.

Highly recommended.

P.S. I’d only watch the trailer if you need convincing, it gives away too many plot points.

P.P.S. Life is slow. It takes time. Which is oftentimes boring, as in nothing significant happens. But you’re thinking all the while. “War Sailor” is not “The Diplomat,” it’s rapid-fire in neither action nor dialogue.

P.P.P.S. I don’t expect many people to watch “War Sailor.” Because I keep getting e-mail from people telling me they loved “Ted Lasso” and to recommend more shows like that, that are uplifting. But there are few shows like that, because that’s not how life works. You’re living in your brain 24/7, contemplating, making choices, trying to forget that which you cannot. War might not be your physical experience, but you’re at war in your head all the time. Inner life, it’s everything, but for too many it’s taboo, they can’t talk about it, don’t want to hear about it. They’ll talk about sports long before they’ll reveal how they feel. And men have just as many feelings as women, whether they articulate them or not.

P.P.P.P.S. We run on hope. And sometimes what we hope for arrives, but the end result is not what we anticipated, it’s not really what we want, do we abandon our desire or stick with it?

P.P.P.P.P.S. The world runs on misinformation, misconception, most of what you hear is wrong, or not in detail enough, not comprehensive enough to render the complete picture. If you’ve been diagnosed with something serious, get a second opinion. Don’t make life decisions based on conventional wisdom. Seek out experts. Try to get it right. It makes all the difference. You don’t want to change your life based on falsehood.

Official Netflix Trailer: https://bit.ly/3o6dz6b

It wasn’t good.

Well, that’s not completely true, when Gadsby referenced her autism, it was interesting, but if you were a fan of “Nanette” and “Douglas” you will be sorely disappointed.

In case you never watched “Nanette”…

Do so immediately.

Most comedy is just jokes. Sure, Chappelle might go further, certainly Richard Pryor did, and of course Chris Rock tests limits, but Gadsby made it by evidencing her personality, what it was like to be her.

What is it like to be you? I can’t imagine it’s that easy, it’s not that easy for me.

In life we are alone. You can be desperate, like Jerry Maguire, but most people can smell it on you, they can read it, and they keep you at arm’s length.

Or you can try and be the life of the party, or suck it up and be conciliatory.

Life is about negotiation, can’t anyone accept you for who you are, do you always have to be on guard?

So Hannah Gadsby is an Australian lesbian who was just about to give up the comedy game and then decided to lay it all on the table. Furthermore, she employed her area of expertise, art history, to do so. “Nanette” was more than a comedy special. It touched your heart more than all the dramas that try to do so. Because it was honest.

Not that you could identify. But you could relate, because you too have an identity, you too dream, you too are confounded and confused, how do you navigate?

“Douglas” deals with Gadsby’s autism disorder.

Now one of the hottest comedians out there is Taylor Tomlinson, and in her latest Netflix special she talks about being diagnosed as bipolar.

In other words, these comedians are not like you and me. That’s the way our star musicians used to be too. They had to work hard, but in truth they never fit in, they needed to do this to express their anxiety, to be accepted, to be loved.

As for paying dues… Tomlinson started in church, after her mother died. She’s been in the game for a long time. Tomlinson is a step above the riff-raff, there’s something honest at the core of her act too. As the other, as a single woman trying to navigate romance, as…

So Hannah Gadsby’s new Netflix special is about happiness…

WHO WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT THAT?

I don’t know Gadsby, but I think she has dealt with a lot of blowback about the viewpoint/material of her last two specials, and therefore she reacted thereto. Don’t listen to the critics, never. Because they don’t come from the same place. An artist and a critic are radically different. A critic might be able to tell people whether something is good and why, whether you should experience it or not, but that’s got nothing to do with the process of the creator.

To create…

You’ve got to clear your head, you’ve got to channel your identity, the other. Oh, don’t tell me about the hacks that work really damn hard to make B level work, even B+, we’re looking for the transcendent. Actually, that’s Rick Rubin’s secret sauce, he removes the pressure, the feedback from acts, and tries to get them back to the garden, their essence.

But those are usually acts that have wandered from their peak.

Do I believe Gadsby is overwhelmingly happy?

No. First and foremost that’s not the human condition, never mind her background/experience/identity.

Do I believe she is happier now that she’s married?

Yes. But marriage can’t solve all your problems, and the high wears off.

So Hannah is a lesbian icon, the other. But she’s crossed over, she appeals to all people. Actually, one of the good parts of “Something Special” is when she talks about interfacing with Jodie Foster, a famous person, she doesn’t know how to act. But what I’m trying to say here is sometimes your audience, especially when you’re the other, embraces you based on who you are more than the work, and you don’t get the feedback you need, just having the identity is enough. Gadsby toured “Something Special” for a year, no one told her it was barely funny and not that insightful?

I laughed out loud twice. I wanted to turn it off but Felice wanted to continue to watch. And I’m glad I did, but I’m sore I have to wait at least another year for the next Hannah Gadsby production, where I hope she is true to her identity and viewpoint.

Doing universal comedy… Her parents, how they act… We’ve seen that a bazillion times. And Gadsby isn’t that good at it.

You’re allowed to talk about love, but Gadsby could have portrayed more of the dark side, the insecurities, the worry, like we all have.

This happens all the time. Someone off the radar screen, to the side of the mainstream, digs down and does what they want to, everything else having failed, and voila! Success!

Think about David Gray, losing his major label deal and then cutting “White Ladder” in his house.

Because all bets were off. Or as Bob Dylan said, “when you ain’t got nothing, you got nothing to lose.”

And in truth you think you’re accepted by society, but you’re just flavor of the moment, you’re one of many, you get the attention and then what…people move on. Which is why you have to stay true to yourself.

But what you are looking for is acceptance.

But in truth our great artists are never going to be accepted. They have to accept that. That this is their burden, to do it alone, to hopefully have a small core who they can understand and relate to. Actually, that’s all of us, we only have a small core who we can understand and relate to. But life is so hard, we’re looking for answers, and we look to the iconoclastic artists to deliver this. But when they try to be just like us, it doesn’t work. Because they’re not.

The personal is universal. The things you’re most ashamed of you’re dying to share, and if you did, you’d find that others would relate and understand, but maybe not the people you’ve surrounded yourself with.

Hannah Gadsby had her finger on the pulse, she delivered as an artist.

And then she pulled back, punted, thinking this is what we want.

We don’t.

Netflix Official Trailer: https://bit.ly/3LYMR7q

It will make you want to join the foreign service.

Then again, “Law and Order” and “Perry Mason” might make you want to be an attorney, when in truth very few lawyers go to court and most of the time being a lawyer is incredibly boring.

Let me see, on an absolute scale, I’d give “The Diplomat” a solid 8. Meaning I highly recommend it. Not only was I intrigued, it called out to me, I wanted to watch it, I wanted to finish it, it took me away from the everyday world and made life interesting, both in plot and personality.

The star is Felicity, i.e. Keri Russell. Who is now 47, if you can believe that. Her breakthrough was “The Americans,” which I highly recommend bingeing. You can watch from beginning to end, whereas with “The Diplomat” we’re going to have to wait at least a year to find out the result of the cliffhanger. Russell plays against type. As in she is not glamorous. That’s part of the appeal of her personality on the show, she’s all about the work. She doesn’t want to wear dresses, she doesn’t want to wear heels, she seems to care not a whit how her hair looks, she’s the antidote to the endless tsunami of online influencers from the Kardashians on down, who are all about the looks.

You want a job that consumes you. Just like you want a great mattress. After all, both are where you spend most of your time. To do unfulfilling work… Even worse, to be at work and be bored… You can see your life dripping away in front of you.

Furthermore, Felicity/Keri Russell/Kate Wyler does not want the spotlight, she wants the adventure, she wants to make a difference.

As for the Administration… Michael McKean is the president. Funny how this comedian has a new career as a serious actor. But he’s at odds with the secretary of state. This is always the case. You’d like to think these officials have the country’s best interests at heart, but they mostly care about themselves and their careers.

Speaking of careers… Ato Essandoh as Stuart Hayford’s first choice is not the foreign service, but when you lose enough in your primary field of endeavor, you give up, or do you? Essandoh/Hayford, the deputy chief of mission for the U.S. embassy in London, isn’t completely obsequious. He’s got a backbone, but he is constantly weighing whether to exercise it or not.

Just as fascinating is his girlfriend, Ali Ahn/Eidra Park, who works in the CIA. We hear about the CIA, but it’s always portrayed as dark and secret and… Ahn/Park is just doing the job. A career spy, but she can laugh, she’s human, whereas most CIA members are portrayed as automatons.

And then there’s Rufus Sewell, who bears a distinct resemblance to the dearly departed Ray Liotta, but Rufus, who plays Keri’s husband, is English. I didn’t believe it, his accent was so good.

And then there’s the three-dimensional prime minister, Rory Kinnear as Nicol Trowbridge. At first you think he’s a wimp, then you think he’s a hothead, and then you think he may have his finger on the pulse of modern England.

And “The Diplomat” is very modern. Unlike most of the shows from the past few years it doesn’t try to be timeless, Brexit has happened and there is war in Ukraine and…

Somewhere I read “The Diplomat” is a drama with comedy. I wouldn’t say that, it’s definitely a drama. And it all rings true except for one domestic roll in the hay that doesn’t happen in bed and doesn’t involve sex.

I guess “The Diplomat” gives the impression that people have power, in a world where we feel powerless. That you can choose a path and make a difference. And that fame and money are not the highest calling.

However I could never be a diplomat, because it’s a weird combination of kissing ass and exercising the aforementioned backbone. At least in this series.

In regular life, unless you run the organization, you must play politics all the time. You can’t offend anybody or your upward path is stymied. It’s a game. Whereas in “The Diplomat” people will set a pick, stand up to someone else and not candy coat their words.

However, the process of diplomacy is very slow, unlike in this series.

Now I must say that my sister and our shrink both watched one episode and moved on. So maybe not everybody will be enticed by “The Diplomat.”

But I was.