The Evolution of Southern Rock. The Dead 27’s - Chase Your Devils Down

It is often said that to know where you are going, you must also know where you have been. With the recent release of their debut album, Chase Your Devils Down, The Dead 27’s (Trey Francis, lead vocals; Wallace Mullinax, guitar; Will Evans, guitar; Oliver Goldstein, bass; Daniel Crider, drums) reveal a firm grasp of the historic journey of Southern Rock while also painting a soulful, eclectic and limitless vision of the road ahead.

When listening to this album, the musical influences that drive the Dead 27’s are immediately evident. This album pays homage to the distinctive and historic sounds of Southern Rock while incorporating a unique blend of blues, rock and a bit of 70’s classics.  On the track, “Don’t want to live my life without you,” we hear a distinctive 70’s melodic influence complete with high harmonies and a bass line that simply makes you want to groove. Moreover, with such deep influences, there are some comparisons to be made on this album.

One comparison that immediately came to mind was that of Trey Francis’ vocal performance on “Don’t Comfort Me.” On this track, Francis sounds surprisingly similar to Chris Robinson, formerly of The Black Crows, and now lead vocalist for Chris Robinson Brotherhood (CRB). Considering that these guys have recently opened for the CRB and these bands all embody the evolution of Southern Rock, the influence is understandable. Yet, Francis delivers plenty of individuality on this album, clearly defining his unique vocal ability and range.

Southern Rock is traditionally known for incorporating powerful bridges and this album certainly delivers plenty of those. In fact, when listening to this album, I can imagine the sound engineers were challenged to balance Francis’ vocals with the band at times. In a few instances I thought the amazing talents of guitarist Wallace Mullinax competed with or somewhat overplayed the vocals of Francis. This is more a testament to the individual talents of these guys rather than a criticism. Anyone familiar with the Charleston, SC music scene is well aware of the instrumental chops that Mullinax possesses. Throughout this album, he delivers defining riffs while the band communicates and blends seamlessly.

While Chasing Your Devils Down is an album anyone can and should enjoy, to fully appreciate what the guys have delivered here demands a level of investment and listening maturity rarely found in the music industry today. Like a genuine Lowcountry boil, Evans, Goldstein and Crider provide the meat, while Mullinax and Francis provide the spice. This album incorporates some delicious musical influences with a fresh approach that leaves you wanting more and hitting the replay button often.

Visit the Dead 27’s official website at http://www.dead27s.com/.

Music at the Speed of Sound – An Industry Struggles to Keep Up

It hasn’t been all that long ago that I can remember heading to the mall to hit the music store in order to pick up the newest release from my favorite artists on CD. Those days have quite simply come and gone. Like the days of vinyl, 8-track and cassettes, the CD/DVD is on its way out, giving way to a radically new world of on-demand digital entertainment. Moreover, the sheer speed at which one can create, post and share new music and media has forever changed the business model of the industry and it has the once powerful gatekeepers struggling to keep up.

While the Internet has officially been around for over four decades now, very few people at its inception or today have been able to predict the direction and impact it will have on future generations. Again, not very long ago, the original Napster had the music industry up in arms about piracy laws and its fear of losing revenue. The irony in neutralizing that file sharing threat is that it hasn’t stopped the overall movement of the industry to one that is becoming increasingly based upon a digital on-demand platform. This shift to the digital platform, which coincidentally, Apple in its visionary mindset saw coming long ago, has left artists, record labels, distribution outlets and the entire entertainment industry scratching their heads trying to figure out how to wrangle the beast.

The industry solution at this time, at least as it relates to music, seems to be in trying to secure a portion of the market through proprietary digital music platforms. To me this seems so blatantly a Johnny-come-lately approach, that I feel it is likely to fail before it even gets off the ground. Why? The problem as I see it is that industry professionals are missing the bigger picture and are selfishly focusing on the immediate monetary aspects as opposed to seeking to understand the larger movement and what it means for the industry two to three decades down the road.

In a 2013 article entitled, Caught In Time: The Music Industry’s Struggle To Adapt, Hypebot contributor Justin Stansbury shares my sentiment and view of the lack of vision by industry executives. Furthermore, I share Stansbury’s genuine view and approach in wanting to aid truly talented individuals navigate their way through the industry. As he states in his article, listeners have long ago embraced a new model for themselves.  The power lay with them and if you are an artist in this fast paced industry, or an industry executive, the key does not lay in finding a new way to control the industry and the market. The key lies in the heart of the digital movement.

The heart and future of the digital movement is underlined by global connections, shared values and personal experiences. Personal influencers are the new power brokers and at the end of the day, the new digital audience places their trust in these influencers because of their shared values and experiences. More importantly, they place their money in those products that come from this shared position as well. If you want access to your target audience in a world where music quite literally moves at the speed of sound, you have to be tuned-in to your shared values and more importantly those personal influencers driving individual choices.

Oh, and if you are a big label executive out there reading this and it hits you that maybe it is a rebirth of celebrity sponsorships, you’ve already missed the point and the future of the industry. Personal influencers are more likely, outside of a very few powerful celebrity influencers, to be a friend, co-worker or someone we know personally, with whom we have a placed a genuine level of trust. Therein lies the key to those who opt to listen and if you are listening and reading, then I may already be ahead of the industry professionals struggling to figure it out.

Digital music image via Shutterstock            

  

The Indie Revolution – My Music My Way

A revolution is upon us and it has the music industry scrambling to find the key to control. The music industry has been undergoing an over decade long paradigm shift. For a very long time, big labels, big marketing and big production ruled the day. However, in the 2000’s, the industry witnessed an over 50% drop in total revenues going from a $14.6 billion industry to a $6.3 billion one in a single decade (Goldman. 2010.)  Contributing factors that lead to this drastic shift were new social technologies that drove changing consumer demands, and a severe economic downturn resulting in two recessions. For some industry professionals the results were unrecoverable. For others, especially those in the independent market, it brought about a more level playing field and opened doors that historically had been closed.

In the past, major recording labels held all the cards and were able to control and manipulate the market through enormous market budgets and distribution channels. The Internet and its proliferation forever changed that model and the music industry never saw it coming. Instead, the social movement it brought about and music sharing sites like Napster forever changed the face of the industry. The industry has fought back against so called “free” music, but the financial damage has already been done. Shutting down sites such as Napster and the introduction of paid sites has begun to corral the market. Yet, new social arrivals such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter have once again shifted the power back to the consumer.

I have been, and will always be, a fan of the underdog. It is a uniquely American thing that we love to see someone fight insurmountable odds and come out on top. It is the same thing in the Indie Revolution. We love watching talent shows hoping to witness a rags to riches story or a diamond in the rough show up and belt out an amazing vocal. The consumer has become so empowered by the access the Internet, that we now have the power to choose how and when we get the music we like. More importantly, social media has given us a way to share our favorites with like-minded individuals. 

The big winners in all this are those unsigned indie artists who are not only looking to build an audience, but looking to find their way into the record labels themselves. As the old saying goes, there is strength in numbers and indie artist are building their fan base up through like-minded individuals connecting to their music. While major record labels still retain a certain level of control over the industry, the tides continue to shift. Never has there been a time in the industry when an Internet video by a South Korean pop singer could be the first to reach a billion views and surpass that of major label and industry mega star Justin Beiber’s “Baby” (wikipedia.com).

The indie revolution continues to grow and it was never more apparent than at the 56^th Annual Grammy Awards. Indie artists took home half of all the Grammy’s awarded in 2014 (hypebot.com. 2014). This is the highest since the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) began tracking the awards in 2006. With that being said, join the indie revolution and support your favorite artists at all levels. Have your music your way and support those with talent and ambition to reach their dreams.

Goldman, David. 2010. Music's lost decade: Sales cut in half. CNN Money. Retrieved from: http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/02/news/companies/napster_music_industry/

2014. Independent Music Wins 50% of 2014 Grammys. hypebot.com.  Retrieved from:

http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2014/01/independent-music-wins-50-of-2014-grammys.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+typepad/DqMf+(hypebot)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangnam_Style

Keeping the Human Element in Entertainment

Ever find yourself in a room full of people that you intentionally set out to be in and then look around and wonder why on earth you are there? I unfortunately have encountered this scenario more times than I care to mention in my lifetime. It is a love/hate thing I have with what I do for a living, but it seems to me that no other industry in the world is as intent on perpetuating its own stereotype more-so than the entertainment industry.

In recent months, there have been numerous experiences that have caused me to reflect upon the direction of the industry as a whole. Some have been very positive and reaffirm my faith that the entertainment industry has much to contribute to quality of life. Others have left me asking the question, where is the human element in all of this? 

Rather than ramble on about specific scenarios, I have come up with a simple do and don’t list I feel can be a guide to keeping the human element in our industry. Perhaps these will influence one or more of us to retain a little of our soul and debunk the stereotype that we must offer up a little of it for a shot at success.

DO:

Check your ego at the door

Regardless of your position in the industry, you are never that big or successful. The art, the industry and the fans will be around long after you are gone and most of us will be long forgotten without a trace.

Someone who gets it:

Be true to yourself

While change is necessary on both a personal and professional level to ensure growth, understanding one’s core belief system will allow you to sleep better at night and more importantly be proud of what you contributed to your craft. Change might just be the spark that allows you to go platinum, just be wary of how much change that will take and the true cost.    

Show respect for the craft

Whether you are a musician, actor or author, you should always show a proper level of respect for your craft. So, you want to do something that has never been done. That type of enthusiasm and passion is exactly what could make you a star. Yet, keeping things in perspective and showing respect to the history, progression and what it takes to master it, can keep you from becoming a footnote.

Find your niche

The entertainment industry today is experiencing a flooded market. Reality shows, social media such as YouTube, etc. have turned everyone with even the slightest bit of ambition or talent into a self-proclaimed star.  That is a good and not so good thing. I love the underdog and giving more people a chance to shine helps everyone in the end. Healthy competition can only deliver more talented individuals and a more diverse product to the market. Yet, this access means that to be heard or seen, one must find a way to stand out and deliver something that is fresh and different. Putting time in to narrowing your focus and carving out your own little corner of the market can lead to success.

Put in the Work

There are no set hours in this industry, which makes it even more important to be hungry and truly want it. A hit song may come to you at 3:00 am, you may need to network with industry executives on an evening you have a conflict or you may have to be on set for 24 hours straight. There are talented musicians out there right now singing on the subway for change. If this is truly your calling, no one is going just show up at your door one day and say here you go, here is a million dollar recording contract. Put in the work! Even if you don’t make it to the top, you’ll be better off for it.

DON'T:

Forget that you are human

You are going to make mistakes. Learn from them! You are going to struggle, want to give up, expect more and get less. It’s called being human. You know what else is human; the realization that there are countless others going through the exact same emotions each and every day. Don’t isolate yourself in the experience.

Focus on the tangents

The entertainment business is made up of endless tangents. By that, I mean that if your passion is music, focus on your craft. It is sometimes easy to lose sight of why you started the journey and get pulled off on another path, whether it is the social life, the money or numerous other distractions. Stay focused on your passion and why you started on the journey in the first place.

Become all consumed

It is wonderful to have a passion, a calling that emanates from your very soul. Pursue that passion, but don’t let it consume you. As human beings, we all are multifaceted. Engaging in your other interests can serve as your muse and inspire you in other aspects of your life. Dance, fall in love, read, travel and explore. Life is best experienced by engaging in it. More importantly, it may just inspire your next big character, song or novel.

Leave debts on the table

Whether personal or financial, debt can be extra weight holding you back from reaching your true potential. I’m not referring to the old “scratch my back I’ll scratch yours” mentality. I’m referring to genuine debt incurred by way of receiving support from someone who believed in you along the way. It may be emotional support, financial support or any form of lifting up that a person has shown you along the way. It may not be a debt you can pay right away, but acknowledge the support along the way and when the time comes that you can, repay the debt in kind and if the situation allows, pay it forward as well. 

Expect everyone to get it at first

Sure, mass appeal means more money, but if you are producing a product that you are proud of, the people that should get it will. Many in the industry find it difficult to not go “commercial” at some point. There is money in it and let’s face it, more of us need the money than don’t. I say hold off. Keep producing from the gut and while not everyone will get it, before long enough people will and those who don’t will soon find themselves on the outside looking in.

 

Association of Talent Agents – It takes a village

I’ve never been a guy who felt a need to belong to any type of larger collective. Perhaps it was a deep-seated desire to break free from my childhood and growing up as part of a large family, or maybe I was just destined to be one of those lone wolves. Whatever the case may be, as I grew older, wiser and began to climb the corporate ladder, I quickly realized that there was something really appealing about belonging to a group of like-minded professionals. Sure, at first it may have been the mega conferences with their open bars, complimentary alcohol suites and gift bags, but I soon discovered that trade associations bring far more to the table.

The Association of Talent Agents (ATA) is the largest trade association for talent agents. ATA promotes a two-fold mission. While protecting and promoting the creative endeavors of artists, ATA members benefit from a wide array of services to include “negotiation of franchise agreements with industry guilds, interpretation of agency/guild and state regulations, professional development resources and seminars, dispute resolution expertise, a residual tracking system, and discounts on legal services (http://www.agentassociation.com/frontdoor/faq.cfm).” They also bring to light the legal differences between a manager and an ATA agent? In most states, agents must be licensed by the state; city or appropriate governing body, while managers are not regulated and are not required to be licensed. This could have dire consequences as invalidated contracts and relinquished commissions can result from rendering agent services without a license.

In addition, with an every changing regulatory and financial landscape in the entertainment industry, ATA offers members a way to stay informed and engaged in the future of their industry. It also gives agents validity and resources at a time when potential clients are expecting more services and results in a highly competitive talent market.

As I look to the future of BLBC, the ATA has a lot to offer my agents and I as we forge our place within the industry. The benefits of belonging to an association such as the ATA will aid us in better serving our clients and ultimately help us create a wholly successful environment for our company and our clients.

Who knows, there may even be a sweet swag bag in it for me somewhere along the way. For more information on the ATA visit: http://www.agentassociation.com.

Beautiful Music – What makes a hit?

As a mostly right-brain thinker, I spend the majority of my time and engaging in creative thoughts and things. Yet, I also am very keen to mathematics and logic and enjoy solving complicated problems as well. There are many occasions when I find myself in a paradoxical situation where the situation calls for one or the other and I must make a choice. In the music world, some so called “hit machines” seem to find ways to continue making hit songs year after year. Do they know something that the rest of us don’t? Have they figured out a formula that combines the best of both worlds in that they can mathematically assemble hit songs one after the other based upon a set equation? Some would say yes.

Many of you may have probably by now either seen this in a video or perhaps even performed live by any number of bands, but there is indeed somewhat of a formula for hit songs. There is a 4-chord structure that can be applied to a varying range of popular songs. This video by The Axis of Awesome says it all.

In addition to the 4-chord hit structure, almost all music has some form of repetitive structure. It is in fact this same repetitive structure that we find in poetry as well, that along with a rhythmic melody creates what we humans would call “beautiful” music. Now certainly, based upon the lyrics, the instrumental arrangement and the intensity, the view may vary on whether one person finds a song to be beautiful or not based upon their taste in music. Yet, almost all music contains some sort of mathematical repetition that connects with our human sense of rhythm and balance. Yet, what would happen if a song were created without any repetition whatsoever? What would that sound like?

In a 2011 TEDX talk by Scott Rickard, he brings to light some amazing computational mathematics that for the very first time in history, allows us to lay ears upon a song without any repetition at all, either in form or timing of the played notes. Take a look and listen and decided for yourself. Is this the ugliest song ever? More importantly, what would it mean to the music industry if it were to take on a challenge of not recycling those same 4 chords and what if artists began experimenting with a more random or original form of musical structure. It just may be that beauty, in fact, is in the ears of the beholder, and who knows, we could see an entirely new form of music arise.

Promises and Pitfalls

Now that you’ve proven that you have the talent, the moxie and the passion to pursue your dream, it isn’t as easy as just jumping on the bus and going on tour. I for one certainly wish it were. However, as I pointed out in a previous post, a key element in the equation is to seek representation. Yet, beware the promises and pitfalls that come along with not only choosing representation, but also that exist within the entertainment industry as a whole.

There are a lot of things no one ever tells you about making it in the industry. Following your dream and not giving up is a great place to start, but there are many entities out there that may or may not have your best interests at heart. The fact is that there are many who are only in it for their benefit and are willing to sacrifice your future for their short-term gain. The worst place to start your dream journey is by being naive, uninformed and ultimately exploited.  

Peter M. Thall is an attorney in entertainment law in New York City and has been in the game long enough and has seen the good, bad and the ugly. He offers aspiring artists, as well as seasoned professionals in the industry, insight into the inner workings of the business in his book entitled, What They'll Never Tell You About the Music Business. Thall’s book contains these topics and much more.

• Is one person's money another person's motivation
• What a personal manager should and should not be expected to do managing your money
• How 25% can equal 100%
• Radio promotion
• Touring concerns
• Merchandising
• When your publisher forgets you
• Copyright issues

The bottom line is that before you sign on the dotted line and jump in head first, make sure you read the fine print, do your research and surround yourself with those you trust to guide you along the way. The decision to pursue your dream is as big or bigger than any you will ever make in your life. Approach it as such, while understanding that even those who have your best interests at heart may not always be able to work miracles. It is a difficult industry for even the most talented individuals and those who represent them. Yet, being prepared and understanding some of the pitfalls that you can expect along the way will put you in a position to lay claim to your future and find success in pursuing your dream.