Comments on: Downsizing Hits The Music Business http://shaungroves.com/2008/10/downsizing-hits-the-music-business/ Official site of Shaun Groves - musician, speaker, advocate for children living in poverty Thu, 24 May 2012 02:50:01 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: David http://shaungroves.com/2008/10/downsizing-hits-the-music-business/#comment-4132 David Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:25:04 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/10/downsizing-hits-the-music-business/#comment-4132 <p>Having studio musicians who act as a group of friends and colleagues, who support your vision as an artist and lend to a spirit of creativity that gives a record personality, is a great luxury, and not something I would look down on a record or an artist for. </p> <p> Failing that, I think it’s kind of cool when an artist can compose and perform a lot of that sort of stuff on his own and give it the illusion of there being a band present. (Then it’s just a matter of working out logistics when going on tour - but stripping it back to an acoustic performance in a live setting ain’t a bad thing, either.) </p> <p> But either approach is preferable to hired-gun studio musicians who believe it’s their job to turn in faceless performances and basically stay out of the way. Records get criticized for being overproduced because money is spent on extra bells and whistles that don’t always need to be there. I’m not one of those guys who think all rock records should sound like they were recorded in your basement or anything - technology is our friend and we can accomplish some wonderful works of it with it at our disposal. But I do think that this downturn in the economy might force a few record labels and producers and artists to be more, well, economical - and for some of the more mainstream stuff made for mass consumption, that might not be a bad thing. </p> <p> Though people being out of jobs is always a bad thing… </p> Having studio musicians who act as a group of friends and colleagues, who support your vision as an artist and lend to a spirit of creativity that gives a record personality, is a great luxury, and not something I would look down on a record or an artist for.

Failing that, I think it’s kind of cool when an artist can compose and perform a lot of that sort of stuff on his own and give it the illusion of there being a band present. (Then it’s just a matter of working out logistics when going on tour – but stripping it back to an acoustic performance in a live setting ain’t a bad thing, either.)

But either approach is preferable to hired-gun studio musicians who believe it’s their job to turn in faceless performances and basically stay out of the way. Records get criticized for being overproduced because money is spent on extra bells and whistles that don’t always need to be there. I’m not one of those guys who think all rock records should sound like they were recorded in your basement or anything – technology is our friend and we can accomplish some wonderful works of it with it at our disposal. But I do think that this downturn in the economy might force a few record labels and producers and artists to be more, well, economical – and for some of the more mainstream stuff made for mass consumption, that might not be a bad thing.

Though people being out of jobs is always a bad thing…

]]> By: Andrea http://shaungroves.com/2008/10/downsizing-hits-the-music-business/#comment-4131 Andrea Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:10:12 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/10/downsizing-hits-the-music-business/#comment-4131 <p>Shaun, <br /> Just found your blog and want to say how much I love your music.  You did a concert at a little Lutheran church in Fargo a few years back, and it was so amazing!  Also, I’m pretty sure I might have seen you at a bookstore that same week, but I was too star-struck to say hi.  Heehee.  Keep up your amazing ministry! </p> Shaun,

Just found your blog and want to say how much I love your music.  You did a concert at a little Lutheran church in Fargo a few years back, and it was so amazing!  Also, I’m pretty sure I might have seen you at a bookstore that same week, but I was too star-struck to say hi.  Heehee.  Keep up your amazing ministry!

]]> By: Rachel http://shaungroves.com/2008/10/downsizing-hits-the-music-business/#comment-4130 Rachel Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:50:45 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/10/downsizing-hits-the-music-business/#comment-4130 <p>Well, that little box of wonderment can do all its tricks and flash all its shiny lights...but it still can’t write a song.  </p> <p> It’s sad (and oh-so-convenient) that the studio experience is becoming reduced to this. Marginalizing the human element just doesn’t seem right to me. </p> Well, that little box of wonderment can do all its tricks and flash all its shiny lights…but it still can’t write a song. 

It’s sad (and oh-so-convenient) that the studio experience is becoming reduced to this. Marginalizing the human element just doesn’t seem right to me.

]]> By: Veretax http://shaungroves.com/2008/10/downsizing-hits-the-music-business/#comment-4129 Veretax Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:37:33 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/10/downsizing-hits-the-music-business/#comment-4129 <p>Like home values, I feel that many music companies have overvalued the cost of music, and have since the innovation of the CD.  That is why I believe that piracy has been such a problem for the industry, because in economic terms the ‘black market’ if you will has risen up because of those higher prices.  If there is one industry that really needs to retool and reorganize how it delivers its product, I’d say the music industry would be near the top of the list.  Especially considering that people on fixed incomes can’t really afford the splurge on music when they have to worry about food or other necessities. </p> <p> I’m sorry your friends are out of a Job, but I’ve long felt that the RIAA and music execs that have been pushing after pirates have missed the real problem, and that being they are not rethinking their delivery systems.  </p> <p> Here’s hoping this down economy does not stay down for too long so that those folks can make a come back one day. </p> Like home values, I feel that many music companies have overvalued the cost of music, and have since the innovation of the CD.  That is why I believe that piracy has been such a problem for the industry, because in economic terms the ‘black market’ if you will has risen up because of those higher prices.  If there is one industry that really needs to retool and reorganize how it delivers its product, I’d say the music industry would be near the top of the list.  Especially considering that people on fixed incomes can’t really afford the splurge on music when they have to worry about food or other necessities.

I’m sorry your friends are out of a Job, but I’ve long felt that the RIAA and music execs that have been pushing after pirates have missed the real problem, and that being they are not rethinking their delivery systems. 

Here’s hoping this down economy does not stay down for too long so that those folks can make a come back one day.

]]> By: Mr. Police Man http://shaungroves.com/2008/10/downsizing-hits-the-music-business/#comment-4128 Mr. Police Man Sun, 12 Oct 2008 01:32:26 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/10/downsizing-hits-the-music-business/#comment-4128 <p>I’m a cop in California and this past week we laid off 18 people within the department and 100 for the city. This is just the beginning. </p> <p> I took an interest to this specific post because I have/had always wanted to go to Belmont Univ. in Nashville to become an engineer. God had always shut the doors. Maybe he was looking out for me? </p> <p> Shaun, you and Brody are in my thoughts. If you need something please let us/me know. </p> I’m a cop in California and this past week we laid off 18 people within the department and 100 for the city. This is just the beginning.

I took an interest to this specific post because I have/had always wanted to go to Belmont Univ. in Nashville to become an engineer. God had always shut the doors. Maybe he was looking out for me?

Shaun, you and Brody are in my thoughts. If you need something please let us/me know.

]]> By: Nancy Tyler http://shaungroves.com/2008/10/downsizing-hits-the-music-business/#comment-4127 Nancy Tyler Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:26:58 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/10/downsizing-hits-the-music-business/#comment-4127 <p>A notorious New York composer used to produce the music for the TV ad campaigns I work on. It was wonderful sitting in the studio for a couple days at a time as a parade of live players would come in to do their parts. They were all old timers and full of great stories. Those days are long gone; my music comes from a Los Angeles-based ‘box of wonderment’ now. It’s well-styled but, eh, it’s just not the same. </p> A notorious New York composer used to produce the music for the TV ad campaigns I work on. It was wonderful sitting in the studio for a couple days at a time as a parade of live players would come in to do their parts. They were all old timers and full of great stories. Those days are long gone; my music comes from a Los Angeles-based ‘box of wonderment’ now. It’s well-styled but, eh, it’s just not the same.

]]> By: Isaac Downing http://shaungroves.com/2008/10/downsizing-hits-the-music-business/#comment-4126 Isaac Downing Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:01:24 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/10/downsizing-hits-the-music-business/#comment-4126 <p>We all (at SMI) just wish we could’ve seen you when you were here in Peoria a couple weeks ago. </p> We all (at SMI) just wish we could’ve seen you when you were here in Peoria a couple weeks ago.

]]> By: Mike Miller http://shaungroves.com/2008/10/downsizing-hits-the-music-business/#comment-4125 Mike Miller Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:57:14 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/10/downsizing-hits-the-music-business/#comment-4125 <p>Micah’s making sure you’re not eating or drinking anything that’s not healthy for you. </p> Micah’s making sure you’re not eating or drinking anything that’s not healthy for you.

]]> By: Shaun Groves http://shaungroves.com/2008/10/downsizing-hits-the-music-business/#comment-4124 Shaun Groves Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:12:55 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/10/downsizing-hits-the-music-business/#comment-4124 <p>HOLY COW!  Seriously? </p> <p> Thanks for what you do, Micah.  Seriously.  Thank you.  My family gets all the medical care they need because of you.  THANK YOU! </p> <p> (I think you and I just made a commercial of sort, Micah.) </p> HOLY COW!  Seriously?

Thanks for what you do, Micah.  Seriously.  Thank you.  My family gets all the medical care they need because of you.  THANK YOU!

(I think you and I just made a commercial of sort, Micah.)

]]> By: Micah Repke http://shaungroves.com/2008/10/downsizing-hits-the-music-business/#comment-4123 Micah Repke Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:04:42 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/10/downsizing-hits-the-music-business/#comment-4123 <p>Hi Shaun, <br /> It’s great to watch you at work from my work...as your Samaritan Ministries member service team leader <img src="http://www.shaungroves.com/images/smileys/wink.gif" width="19" height="19" alt="wink" style="border:0;" /> <br /> Micah Repke <br /> samaritanministries.com <br /> themorningcenter.org </p> Hi Shaun,

It’s great to watch you at work from my work…as your Samaritan Ministries member service team leader wink

Micah Repke

samaritanministries.com

themorningcenter.org

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