Sorry. I’ll try again tomorrow.
Reblogged from agrammarMuch-appreciated readers and Tumblr-followers! Some of you will have already noticed this, but: today begins an adventure in which I write a monthly column for Pitchfork. It’s called “Why We Fight,” and the first installment — about Joanna Newsom, Lady Gaga, and how indie might eat itself — is…
This whole column is essential and worth anyone’s time. I’m especially drawn to this paragraph near the top:
And in the small and geek-heavy world of indie fans— where people pride themselves on being shrewd, unique, opinionated, and sensitive to bullshit— this is a pretty meaningful development. Now, instead of just figuring out how we feel about music in relation to our friends, enemies, scenes, or schools, we’re also figuring it out in relation to a whole far-flung network of people who share our taste. (Suddenly, amazingly, we live in a world where a high-school kid in Montana can talk about how sick she is of minor trends in Williamsburg.) It means a whole lot of what’s happening revolves around our conversations and our different postures toward music— and toward our fellow fans.
I spent much of my evening writing two show previews that took up more time than I expected, so I don’t really have time for much of an entry tonight. Fortunately, a new video from Lady Gaga was released today, for her single “Telephone”.
I can just post that and watch the traffic pour in.
--Tagged under: lady gaga--
Jody Rosen notes “Yet she is an indie-rock star: ‘The Milk-Eyed Mender’ and ‘Ys’ (pronounced ‘ees’), from 2007, sold 200,000 and 250,000 copies respectively, huge numbers for independent-label releases, especially in the anemic 21st-century record marketplace. But sales figures don’t tell the whole story; her popularity is a phenomenon of depth, not breadth.”
This had got me thinking that Joanna Newsome very well could have a platinum album for her newest album, Have One on Me. It’s a triple-album, so RIAA will count it as three units sold when issuing gold and platinum certification (Billboard doesn’t when measuring album sales charts). If her last album, Ys, sold 250,000, Have One on Me, should sell more because it’s getting overwhelmingly positive reviews from reputable sources. Only 333,334 copies would have to be shipped for it to achieve platinum status, if my understanding is correct. That seems reasonable, maybe even likely, for a triple CD priced around the same as an LP (it was $15.99 at Easy Street Records in Seattle when I saw it last weekend).
--Tagged under: joanna newsome--
In the course of the evening, not going to explain the context - sorry, I was asked how one doesn’t get bitter or cynical. A video of 5th graders singing “Lisztomania” helps.
--Tagged under: phoenix--
"…I think people just have no idea how hard it is to make a living as an artist nowadays. If they would buy music, it would be so much easier for us. But I feel like that’s just a sea change that’s happening especially with the younger people. They don’t even feel guilty about downloading music for free. Like, they’ll come up to the merch table — rarely, but occasionally — and ask me to sign a CDR. It’s like, that doesn’t make sense. How can I explain this to you? I’m at the merch table with my CD."
—
Laura Viers in the Seattle Weekly being asked if her thoughts on file-sharing have changed since she started running her own label.
Even before my actions (five years ago or more) reflected my conscience, I was never comfortable with the idea that “music should be free”. To me, it was always a flimsy excuse to justify file-sharing.
Sticking it to the greedy record labels may sound nice in theory (and getting free music out of it isn’t a bad secondary benefit) but this quote from Laura Viers shows why there are repercussions beyond just taking a few dollars from Sony or Warner Brothers.
Studio engineers, producers, the people who manufacture CDs, the artists who make album art, publicists, managers, etc… still invoice their services - and they should. By downloading a song from a P2P network, it makes it that much harder for artists to make a living. Why would someone buy a CD at a show if they already have it on their iPod? Conversely, this also forces more bands into 360 deals, where their label gets all of their revenue (CDs, t-shirts, etc…) in exchange for some money up front. Yes, it is easier these days for artists to self-release their music and hold on to the rights, but no one ever said that was easy.
Anyone who goes to a merch table and asks an artist to autograph a CDR of their music is either tone-deaf or worse. And they’re certainly not making it up to the artist by buying t-shirts, regardless of how many flawed studies say otherwise.
Reblogged from mauraThe Hood Internet - Absorb The Lip Gloss (Lil Mama vs. Marnie Stern)
This song might have everything I love about music in one place.
Completely agree. I thought this mashup was pretty close to perfect the first time I heard it.
Reblogged from richaodI would bet physical money that anyone agreeing with this either/both: a. Constantly makes broad generalisations about the perceived vacuity of ALL pop music or b. Has not listened to the Fame Monster, and enjoys passing off uninformed “commentary” as authoritative.
However, I do think Gaga really needs to speed up her promotional - that is, SINGLES - cycle - as good as it is, riding the crest of Bad Romance for four months is pushing it. Makes her look like she’s running out of material when she really has, what, at least five more potential singles up her sleeve? (yes, I know the Telephone video is about finished, really couldn’t have come sooner)
The NME would kindly like you to get the hell off of its lawn.
The most frustrating thing about pieces like this is that it could be written about anyone enjoying anywhere near their fifteen minutes of fame. Just rewrite this post and change the names and a few other details to whoever you want and presto! you now sound like a “serious social commentator”. Some blog commenters who are equally dismissive will even say “great job” (we saw it with the indefensible “Is Indie Dead?” piece a couple of months ago). Congratulations, hacks.
--Tagged under: lady gaga--
I found out about this song and video this afternoon and love every single thing about it.
I really enjoyed Kate Nash’s first album but she fell of my radar after a lackluster live show when she played in Seattle (and earned no bonus points for taking the awful Trachtenberg Family Slideshow Players on tour with her) but now she has a new album due out in April, I believe.
--Tagged under: kate nash--
Over at TIG, I write about the inspiration for this blog’s title.
--Tagged under: little boots--
