Nashville is the Silicon Valley of the music industry – a concentrated cluster of musical talent, venues, studios and all the inputs required to make music. So it’s no surprise the city take the music business seriously. In May 2009, the mayor launched a Music Business Council (h/t: Ian Swain -my MPI colleague, music project collaborator and DJ). To signal the initiative’s importance, he sits on the council whose members not only include label execs and entertainment lawyers, but also musicians like Emmylou Harris and Jack White. The Council’s goals extend all the way from supporting and expanding the presence of music festivals in Nashville to aiming to develop the best music education program of any public school system in the world.
July 25th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Thanks for writing about this topic. Too often when we talk with folks about the creative class, they think this means only hyper-educated, technology-oriented, or classical fine arts folks need apply. But the Nashville example shows that creatives in one enterprise usually are creative in other ways as well.
July 28th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
As if it were not enough for them to be musicians and songwriters, to be considered part of the creative class. To survive they must become good contractors and business owners at least.
Outside of the big 4 music towns, most non-classical musicians work in the worst conditions (smoking venues), the worst and longest hours (setup to teardown), a hostile or dysfunctional work environment, for the least amount of money, of most of the creative class.
Many of the people who support that standard are hyper-educated, technology-oriented folks, creative and otherwise.
So pervasive is the cultural devaluation of musicians that I’ve seen younger musicians at songwriter open mics talk and noodle around on their instruments to the point that amazing stage performers can’t be heard. Hosts, fearful of losing their $75/night gig (if they’re lucky), don’t want to rock the boat and lose any of the crowd.
Bear in mind I’m referring to “the rest of us” – the majority of musicians and songwriters are not in the top 10% income, not riding in limos or collecting royalties from their latest cut.
July 29th, 2010 at 12:38 am
Speaking of music, Atlantic Records is holding back the next release from one of the most talented, creative and authentic artists alive today: Lupe Fiasco. There’s a grassroots petition drive underfoot to convince this label to release Lupe’s latest musical artwork from reaching its desperately wanting audience. Lupe’s work not only promises to be ear-pleasing but also mindfully inspiring in a truly pedagogical way. Below you will find the template letter some of his more dedicated fans would appreciate you sending to his label:
You may already be aware of the current situation involving Artist Lupe Fiasco and Atlantic Records. With millions of fans around the world waiting with high hopes for Lupe Fiasco’s third album, “L.A.S.E.R.S.” Atlantic Records has refused to release the album or even set a release date for months now. Lupe Fiasco himself has stated that the album was done months ago and out of his hands.
The inaction and stalling by Atlantic Records has caused mass protests from his fans. The have created Facebook pages, contacted news agencies, and even started a mass petition which has been signed by thousands of supporters. All of this protest by his fans and still no action by Atlantic Records. Feel free to contact me back and check out these many links that show a record of the protest.
2010 PETITION for Atlantic Records to Release Lupe Fiasco’s LASERS!!! Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/group.php?gid=113753041976694&ref=ts
IN DEFENSE OF LUPE FIASCO’S LASERS LP
Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/IN-DEFENSE-OF-LUPE-FIASCOS-LASERS-LP/103945642988446?ref=ts
THE PETITION: (Has typo’s but has thousands of supporters)
http://www.petitiononline.com/Beaming/petition.html
Lupe Fiasco’s Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/LupeFiasco?ref=ts
Atlantic Records Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/atlanticrecords?ref=ts
Lupe Fiasco’s Lastest Freestyle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0eMPlYfHqo
Thank You for your time please feel free to investigate this matter further.
Signed,
A Supporter of Lupe Fiasco
(Your Name Here)
November 28th, 2011 at 9:14 pm
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