[Daryl D]

Where are the people in the music industry who will step up and do what it takes to keep this music playing? That has been a constant question in my mind for over 3 years now.

Martiniinthemorning.com is one of a rare breed of both streaming thru the Internet, along with their station in Phoenix, KPHX 1480. I've been on board with Brad Chambers as both a listener and one who has been very involved with sustaining this music going back to the days of the old radio stations in Los Angeles. I've written about the lack of a station playing the standards in the city of Los Angeles where the music business is based. To me it's truly unconscionable.

The commitment of Brad Chambers, both professionally and personally and what he has given the music is something I could talk about for hours. This is a guy who has more passion about this music and what he feels is his "calling" than most people will ever experience and he's backed it up with every monetary option he was able to access.

So here we are 3 years later and for those of you who are constant listeners and participate in "our family" in the chat room, you know how close we may be to possibly seeing the end of this music stream and the Phoenix station. Personally, I don't know how I'd get thru my days without this amazing place to come to, listen to, and be part of each day. It's filled with amazing music and a rarity today, genuinely terrific people.

I go back to my original question...... Where are the people who create this music and have the ability to be part of keeping that music playing? Who will step up to the plate? I see them come in and Brad interviews them when they have a new CD to sell. We hear about "possible investors" but those people seem to disappear. Please someone tell me, if the few who play those songs disappear, how will this music both old and new versions get played? Where and by whom? These aren't struggling artists I'm referring to, although there are plenty of those out there and Brad seems to be the only one playing them. But these are people who have the financial ability to put their $ where their mouths are.

Please understand that I'm not directing this to anyone specifically, but I do wonder with all the financial abilities within the music business, where are the investors?

Just some of my thoughts and please, if you're inclined to do so.... come on over to Martiniinthemorning.Com, listen and chat with us. We'd love to have you join our family.

Daryl




MartiniIntheMorningCom... Live, Love, Lounge and Come Listen with US

[bottsbuble]

Oh Daryl
i can not even begin to give u a reasonable reply
It will get better- as onedoor closes another opens.....something will come about.

joey

[Daryl D]

Joey,

You are very sweet to offer such a lovely response.

What my main concern is... is who will play this music if streams like Brad's disappear? No one on radio plays it. Michael's music is heard briefly at best on the radio at large. It's many young singers I'm concerned for. There is so much talent out there, who may not be "mainstream" in today's standards but who have astounding talent. Who will play their music? Who plays Tony DeSare, Erin Boheme, Sara Gazarek, Matt Belsante, Renee Olstead? Who plays them? Once in a while, if you radio is on in the car, you might hear a cut... but no one plays them like Brad does.

The music business as a whole is not in good shape. I could site numerous labels that are in trouble at the moment and might one day simply not exist. Some of it is their own faults in not supporting talents they have signed to them. Part of it is giving in to mediocrity. I find myself appalled at what "music" is sold in the millions almost overnight. That kind of "music" will not sustain the test of time, but we are saddled with the reality that society as a whole has lowered it's "aspirations" of what is good music to what we see and hear today. This is a reflection of our expectations of ourselves as a whole. Mediocre is ok.....

I suppose that is what drew me here in the first place.... Michael has this gift. I've stated it before and I guess I'm repeating myself, but it's wonderful and it's a burden. He has a once in a lifetime talent, but with that talent, goes a torch and responsibility to the music and presenting it to generations that may not have heard it before. From there, Michael introduces them to Sinatra and Bennett, Jack Jones, and so many more. He shared these amazing lyrics and melodies in his so individual way. No One "covers" a song (gosh I hate that word) like Michael does. He finds a way to make it his own. This is how the music is passed on.

But... I come back to my original question... where is the music industry supporting this guy in the valley with all this passion? There is a lot of lipservice in the biz, but very little action.

Hugs,
D

[bublesue]

DARYL,
SEEMS LIKE PEOPLE IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS JUST WANT TO MAKE A FAST BUCK NOWADAYS !

REAL TALENT SEEMS TO BE PASSED BY AND GIMMICKY TALENTLESS PEOPLE ARE PROMOTED

FOR A WHILE , PEOPLE MAKE MONEY OUT OF THEM THEN THEY ARE TOSSED ASIDE.

IT'S THE WAY OF THE WORLD NOW EVERYTHING IS DISPOSABLE !


BUT MICHAELS TALENTS SHINE THROUGH HE IS ONE IN A MILLION, CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEW CD.


SUE
ILUVBUBLE

[FeveredByBuble]

Oh Daryl,

As you know, I'm a regular listener to the show and it will be a great loss to this genre of music.
We need people like Brad, who has done a sterling job to put this music out there and keep it alive, and
I will be very saddened indeed to see it disappear. Words fail me, and I truly hope there is some way that it can be saved and put this music back where it belongs. We need a campaign to save MITM!!

[vegi]

Daryl D, on May 8 2009, 08:02 PM, said:

Joey,

You are very sweet to offer such a lovely response.

What my main concern is... is who will play this music if streams like Brad's disappear? No one on radio plays it. Michael's music is heard briefly at best on the radio at large. It's many young singers I'm concerned for. There is so much talent out there, who may not be "mainstream" in today's standards but who have astounding talent. Who will play their music? Who plays Tony DeSare, Erin Boheme, Sara Gazarek, Matt Belsante, Renee Olstead? Who plays them? Once in a while, if you radio is on in the car, you might hear a cut... but no one plays them like Brad does.

The music business as a whole is not in good shape. I could site numerous labels that are in trouble at the moment and might one day simply not exist. Some of it is their own faults in not supporting talents they have signed to them. Part of it is giving in to mediocrity. I find myself appalled at what "music" is sold in the millions almost overnight. That kind of "music" will not sustain the test of time, but we are saddled with the reality that society as a whole has lowered it's "aspirations" of what is good music to what we see and hear today. This is a reflection of our expectations of ourselves as a whole. Mediocre is ok.....

I suppose that is what drew me here in the first place.... Michael has this gift. I've stated it before and I guess I'm repeating myself, but it's wonderful and it's a burden. He has a once in a lifetime talent, but with that talent, goes a torch and responsibility to the music and presenting it to generations that may not have heard it before. From there, Michael introduces them to Sinatra and Bennett, Jack Jones, and so many more. He shared these amazing lyrics and melodies in his so individual way. No One "covers" a song (gosh I hate that word) like Michael does. He finds a way to make it his own. This is how the music is passed on.

But... I come back to my original question... where is the music industry supporting this guy in the valley with all this passion? There is a lot of lipservice in the biz, but very little action.

Hugs,
D

hey D, it seems like sometimes we talk and no one listens. I've talked about this before, but there are a lot of new posters or people that need to be reminded. The changes CAN happen, but they will have to be made by US. The big mistake is that people complain about what they hear on the radio and what they don't hear, and expect the music business to change. Well, the business has changed and unfortunately, those changes have come because of the world around us and because the market has changed. Only we, the buying public, can change things for the better.

The bottom line is that the music business is a business. It's a business that has been decimated by technology that makes it easy for people to steal music and not get caught. CD sales are way, way, way down. Profit is down big time, and a lot of people have lost their jobs. So the labels have less money to invest in new talent or to produce music in the less popular genres. When they are laying off thousands of people, they just aren't going to be able to risk their finances on things that are not proven to be successful. There's just too much at stake. So if a Kanye or a Katy Perry is selling millions and some trad pop singer sells 10,000 units, things just aren't going to improve.

That doesn't mean there's no hope. It's important to understand how this works. Look at it this way: buying music is like voting. You're voting for the music you want to hear with your dollars. If people spend their hard-earned dollars on this music, the industry sees there is a real market for it and it continues to build. And it's easier than voting, because you can "vote" more than once!!!

So what can we do? First of all, it's important to pay for ALL the music you have. That means NO file-sharing and illegal downloading. By anyone in your home. In other words, you have to say NO to your kids and not allow any stolen music in the house. And explain to them WHY it's not allowed. They wouldn't walk into a store and shoplift; downloading is no different. If they realize that people are losing their jobs because of this, they may understand there are moral issues at stake. Even if they're downloading music we hate, the cost to the industry affects all of the industry, including the music we love.

Support the music you love with your dollars. Buy it, and buy as much as you can. Business is about numbers. If you need a copy for your car; buy it. Give music as gifts. Birthdays, holidays, just because... those extra cd sales will make a difference. Support the music by going to see it live. Skip some of the overpriced coffees and go to the shows, big and little. See the big names in this genre like Michael, but support the little artists too. When you see a live show, let the club know you want to see more of this kind of music. Get on their mailing lists. Often they'll have a place for comments where you can let them know what you want to hear, who you want to see. Let them know that if they support this music, you will support them. And then do it. You're creating a demand for this music. As for the radio, let them know too. Call them. Email them. Let them know what you want to hear. Let your local record stores, and don't forget the indie stores, know that you want to be able to buy this music in their stores. Let them know that if they carry it, you will buy it. And keep to your word.

Whether it's venues or record stores or radio stations, nothing speaks more than the power of the consumer and their dollars. If you want something, you've got to ask, no, INSIST upon it! You've got to support it and educate those around you. Turn them on to the music and create more demand. Support things with your dollars and your time. It's not easy, but it's the only way. D, I know you do these things, but everyone needs to do this or Michael will be the exception, not the one leading the way.

[Daryl D]

You are so right Vegi with all you said about "purchasing" of the music and the consequences to both the recording industry and the performers. Supporting ones favorite performer is so very important and we can only do that by purchasing CD's, going to concerts, etc. Labels are cutting back on salaried personnel all the time. Producers who were on salary are being "let go" due to budget crunches. The labels are feeling the same crunch that all industry is at this time. Unfortunately, as you mentioned with all the illegal downloading that goes on, one has to give the music industry a little extra thought and consider what their actions mean when they decide to "cheat" to get a CD.

I believe my main frustration is more due to knowing there are performers who have the ability to keep this music actually playing over the airwaves, ala streams like Martiniinthemorning.com and don't step up. Who plays Bennett, Bolton, Stewart (now working on Standards CD #5), Tyrell, etc? You won't hear them played anywhere on "regular" radio, except for the now and then play when a station might defer from their regular programming. Or, on Sirius radio, which one has to pay for. What I am amazed at is that "air play" sells CD's. If they aren't heard, how will those who've never heard them, ever be exposed? Brad plays more of all of these entertainers and doubles of Michael 24/7.


I get the feeling when I watch interviews in the studio that the attitude is that the label will just take care of getting their CD's sold, even no one is really playing them. Hope this makes sense... it's kind of difficult to express the day to day struggle that I watch and am involved with. When you see the passion this guy has for this music and the entertainers who produce it, one has to think, "what else can I do to keep this going?" Just gives me pause for many thoughts.

I might be over thinking all of this, but I so love what this guy is trying to do in keeping this music playing. I haven't seen this much passion about music in a long, long time.
Hugs,
D