You don’t mess with people’s money. Social issues are one thing, cash is another. That’s how we got into this mess, people left behind by globalization and the crash of 2008. Or did we? Did Trump supporters want their piece of the pie, or were they just racist whites railing against change?

We may never know.

But one thing we do know is Trump is single-handedly putting the market in the dumper. And the market affects everyone. Not only their job, but their savings. How many people are so ignorant as to think otherwise? Maybe these same people who survive on government safety net programs and vote Republican.

Trump is a man for the internet/social media era. The only problem is he’s President. Trump understands that in an attention based economy, you’ve got to make news every day. Only he’s no longer just the host of “The Apprentice,” but running the country. How long until the outrage spreads?

Maybe never. Maybe his acolytes are like those of Taylor Swift, dug in deep, supporting everything she does. Ever criticize a social media/entertainment star? Be ready for your inbox to explode, everywhere online you’ll be excoriated, to the point where most people retreat. That’s their game, getting you to shut up. Opponents are working the refs every day, to cause a chilling effect. That’s what the Supreme Court decides, whether a law inhibits free speech, not only literally but whether it inhibits people from speaking. Then again, the Supreme Court is now stacked, because people with little power don’t see that courts are their last resort, and the more they’re in the hands of corporations, they’re screwed.

But corporations and banks used to be the enemy. Wall Street broke the economy. GM and Chrysler were not prepared for change. Now it’s the government. The government used to fix the problem, now it causes it? Lincoln spoke of a “government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish.” Then again, the Gettysburg Address was uttered when the country was tearing itself apart, south versus north, and that division is happening again today. There’s a faction of America that wants to keep the status quo, that refuses to move forward, and if you don’t think suppression of the ACA is such, then you don’t understand how health is the bedrock of humanity. In Canada, you can change your job and keep your health insurance, in America, you’re tied to your gig, which may be expiring due to no effort of your own.

So they say that Trump got elected because of a backlash against 2008, that no one went to jail. So what happens now?

When the Oscars take place, there’s no doubt that the best movie of the year was Trump and his shenanigans. If it wasn’t true, we wouldn’t believe it. Untold twists and turns. Riveting. It dominated, everything else was a sideshow. It was the only thing we could watch.

Because our lives and livelihoods hang in the balance.

They got a wall in China
It’s a thousand miles long
To keep out the foreigners
They made it strong

Paul Simon’s solo debut, not counting the “Songbook” album that was rushed to the American market after the success of “Sound of Silence,” was a commercial disappointment. Sure, “Mother and Child Reunion” was a hit, and “Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard” had impact, but the audience was expecting Simon & Garfunkel and got something darker and more introspective.

But those who purchased the LP were rewarded with some of Paul Simon’s best work. Like “Armistice Day” and “Duncan.”

And seemingly pissed at the lack of acceptance, little more than a year later, Simon released an album with a hit that dominated the airwaves and sold prodigiously.

That LP is entitled “There Goes Rhymin’ Simon.”

At this point, Paul Simon is seen as an appropriator of foreign sounds, known primarily for “Graceland,” and one must applaud Simon’s continuation of exploration, his decision not to rest on his laurels, but if you go back and play “Rhymin’ Simon” you’ll be stunned, it’s one of the best albums ever made.

They say rock is dead. The call Elton pop. But back in the early seventies, it was a big tent, it was all rock. Guitars were king, piano accepted, real strings too, and we appreciated it all.

Now when “Rhymin’ Simon” came out, FM radio was in full swing. But every car did not have that band installed, so AM still counted, and “Kodachrome” was ubiquitous, so somehow in rock history “Rhymin’ Simon” has been forgotten, seen as not hip enough, neither fish nor fowl, then again the best stuff always is.

And the above lines from “Something So Right” have been going through my head the past week or so, as the government approached a shutdown and then closed. You see it’s about the wall.

Nixon visited China in 1972, knowing that you could not ignore a nation this large. But now, as our country is entwined with the foreign power, we’ve got a White House that’s trying to separate us from it, teach China a lesson.

But those days have passed. Why do Republicans want to jet back to the past? We live in a global village, globalization happened, it’s to our country’s advantage, you’ve got to adjust to it.

But our nation abhors change, no one can lose their job, no one can sacrifice, meanwhile the Silicon Valley titans sewed up the globe.

Think about that, a prodigious wall built long ago. Has China maintained it? No, other than as a tourist attraction. It’s kind of like guns, if you think they’re going to keep you safe from government overreach, you know nothing about technology, a world in which a drone can kill you in your own home. Building a wall to keep foreigners out in the twenty first century is not only ignoring technology, but practicality, what’s preventing immigrants from utilizing a really big ladder? There cannot be guards on its entire length… We’ve got invisible dog fences, but somehow nitwits see a giant edifice as a solution. Then again, what is the problem? Net immigration from Mexico is zero, once again, it’s about preserving a past that no longer exists, our nation is no longer white, it’s more homogeneous, did you ever watch MTV decades ago, have you ever looked at the ethnicity of the hit parade?

Now as I’ve been playing “Rhymin’ Simon” today, another track jumped out. That’s what’s intriguing about great art, it’s set in stone, but it reveals itself over time, you grow with it, as you age and gain experience.

You got to learn how to fall
Before you learn to fly

This is why I’m against outsiders in government, people with no experience coming in to “fix” things. Politics is a profession, experience counts, as does failure, isn’t that the mantra of Silicon Valley?

Oh, and it’s the same old story
Ever since the world began
Everybody got the runs for glory

Men driven by testosterone, looking for attention and accolades, whipping out their members to show how powerful they are, what a joke. This is why women run the world, they’re more balanced, they’re big on a sense of community, men are oftentimes solo vessels, believing they need no one else when that could not be further from the truth.

And every day there’s news from the White House. As Trump whipsaws the country.

As “Learn How To Fall” continues, it says:

Nobody stop and scrutinize the plan
Nobody stop and scrutinize the plan
Nobody stop and scrutinize the plan

It’s all over Twitter today, there is no adult supervision, there is no plan.

Now if you’re rich and you support Trump, I get it, after all, he lowered your taxes.

If you’re anti-safety net, I get it too. But just admit it, you want no takers, you want everybody in America to fight on their own. Then again, be sure you yourself are not a beneficiary of government money, just read about Harlan County, Kentucky in yesterday’s “Times”:

“Where Government Is a Dirty Word, but its Checks Pay the Bills”

Then again, you probably don’t read the “Times” if you’re a Trumpster.

And I don’t expect to convince you, and don’t expect to convince me, I’m just lying on the floor listening to a forty five year old record with more wisdom than anybody in the executive branch.

They Got A Wall In China

There are two kinds of people, those who check their Twitter feed incessantly and those who don’t. And those who do are newshounds.

Lumped in with Facebook and Snapchat, Twitter evolved into something completely different, and it’s running our country.

Forget all the people seeing Trump’s tweets, the news media is addicted, it disseminates anything of interest.

And that brings us back to followers. The numbers are inflated, not only by bots, but by dropouts. People are intrigued by Twitter and then abandon the service, they say it’s too hard to figure out, but the truth is it’s not providing what they’re looking for, amplification of their identity, attention. You can tweet and it’s like a tree falling in the forest, does anybody hear it? Usually not. Whereas if you post a pic on Instagram, people can ooh and ahh, theoretically you can sell advertising, theoretically get rich, but there’s no getting rich on Twitter, it’s all about information, have you got any?

Sure, famous people have huge followings. But you rarely hear about what they post because it’s only interesting to their acolytes.

But really, Twitter is where you link to stories, post facts, where news breaks.

The major media outlets are afraid of breaking news, unless it’s confirmed, they’re worried about their credibility. So their writers play on Twitter first. The “New York Times,” “The Washington Post,” “The Wall Street Journal.” As for Fox, the TV station is mostly opinion, and it’s rarely off the cuff, it’s set in stone long before, then again, what is said can make it on to Twitter. As for Fox’s website, it’s full of minor stories, it’s more Facebook than news outlet, more “People” magazine than the “Economist.”

As for Facebook… That’s about family, it’s about sharing. As for advertising, the rules are such that unless you’re a hefty player, you can’t, because the service makes you pay too much to reach people. It’s easy to reach people on Twitter, assuming they’re following you and are reading, and those are two big assumptions. Meaning, if you’ve got a minor story, chances are it will not be heard, sorry.

As for news for the rest of us, never underestimate Apple’s News app, which has now made it to the desktop. It’s curated and better-looking and more easily used than Google News. But Apple has a tiny market share.

But Apple News is not interactive, like Twitter. You can play if you’d like.

But mostly, Twitter is where you graze and pick up stories, where you get the temperature of the country, where you find out what’s going on.

The 280 character limit increase made no difference. Because it turns out those complaining about restrictions were not regular tweeters. Twitter is not a game, it’s the heartbeat of America.

THE RICH GET RICHER AND THE POOR GET POORER

This is what the internet has wrought, people flock to the popular. In a sea of chaos, you migrate to what is anointed. Therefore, Drake rules and your rock band is unknown.

For those not rich it’s important to do an attitudinal reset. Try not to get rich, try not to be a household name, focus on your fanbase, extract cash from it and depend upon these fans to spread the word and grow your audience and career. Don’t e-mail unsolicited songs to “tastemakers” and “gatekeepers,” it’s a complete waste of time. Don’t hire a publicity person. Don’t do anything but make music and post it online. And if you want to throw in some social media efforts to fan the flame of fandom, that’s good too. Bond with your audience, know who your fans are, not only with an e-mail list, but saying hi at shows. Fans will be there and do anything for you, don’t be afraid to ask. But don’t be tempted into thinking you’re just a step away from stardom, you’re not. But there’s plenty of money to be made. Instead of bitching about streaming payments, be thrilled that everybody can hear your music for free if they choose to. Chances are in the old, pre-internet era, you wouldn’t have a career at all. Play live. This is where the money is made and the fan relationship is cemented. You can make a ton of money being a semi-known. And if trends turn, there’s a chance it could be your turn for stardom, but don’t count on it.

THE MONEY IS ON THE ROAD

You can make and distribute a record without Universal, but you can’t tour without a promoter, most notably Live Nation and AEG. Michael Rapino and Jay Marciano are much more important than Lucian Grainge it’s just that the media has not caught up with this fact. The story has been about the loss of recording revenue and the recent rebound as a result of streaming, meanwhile live has been burgeoning for decades. Furthermore, live is a one of a kind experience in a digitally replicated world, it’s the difference between having sex with a significant other and masturbating to porn online. And, once you’ve made it, the promoter gives you all of the gate, whereas the label owns your recording, pays a low royalty and screws you on the payment thereof. Expect continued disruption in the recorded music space. The majors’ power is in radio and TV and newspapers, all of which mean less than ever before and will continue to shrink in power. You do need a bank, you do need a team, but not necessarily the Big Three.

STREAMING IS HERE TO STAY

If you hear anybody bitching about Spotify, stop listening to them.

THE CHARTS ARE BROKEN

The only meaningful chart is the streaming one. The Nielsen chart in “Billboard” is a complete joke, factoring in sales, streams and album equivalents and… Future players will look at it like the incomprehensible Rosetta Stone. Then again, this ridiculous chart that counts ticket bundles serves the players, anybody can be number one for a week. But it’s like winning a Grammy, people instantly forget, if they even know. We will go to a pure streaming chart, but not soon enough.

ALBUMS

What is it? A collection of songs? Up until the internet, the length of an album was determined by technology, it was limited. Now albums can be forever! Don’t tell me about needing an LP for reviews, reviews are meaningless, across the board, in music, television and movies, even politics! It’s about word of mouth. You want to satisfy two masters, yourself and your audience. You want to create enough to satisfy yourself and put out enough material to satisfy your audience. Fans want more material. Don’t think about satiating potential fans, satiate the ones you’ve got. Keep in constant contact so they know when you’ve got a new release. Do live stuff on YouTube, Matt Nathanson put out an EP of Def Leppard covers. You may not know, you may not care, but his fans do. Take risks. But don’t get locked into the old syndrome of ten tracks every other year.

HIP-HOP

It dominates, but it won’t forever, it’s just a matter of when. Hip-hop embraced streaming when rock rejected it. Hip-hop gave it away for free when rock was bitching it could not get paid. Hip-hop is today, rock is yesterday, but what is tomorrow? Know that melody and changes and a good voice never go out of style, NEVER! That’s your easiest route to success if you’re not a rapper. Do what you want to, what you feel inside, don’t follow trends, that’s for amateurs.

THIS BEAT IS KILLING COUNTRY MUSIC

Watch this video, all ten plus minutes of it. This evidences how lowest common denominator sounds are killing popular music. Grady Smith calls it “snaps.” I call it an electronic sound that debuted in the eighties and was quickly superseded, kinda like synth solos, which Elton John and Keith Emerson employed and then abandoned, or maybe synth drums! This is what makes experienced listeners lament the quality of today’s music.

This beat is killing country music