tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704984.post8552810568033295477..comments2023-09-25T12:03:00.637+01:00Comments on Tom Morton's Beatcroft: "A toxic pit of snake-infested slime. And diamonds."Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704984.post-43542780247248250852014-01-24T17:36:13.960+00:002014-01-24T17:36:13.960+00:00Tom, I admire your courage in saying, articulatel...Tom, I admire your courage in saying, articulately, what you think. You certainly didn't deserve the heap of (some of it very personal) opprobrium that was heaped on your head as a result of the FB post. My own feeling is plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. <br /><br />I spend my working life teaching piano for a living (being one of your many wannabees – singer, songwriter, pianist, who never quite ‘made it’ in the music industry (thank God – the exploitation of young females being altogether a different topic for another day)). However, I love music, want to be immersed in music, and it breaks my heart, on occasion, that I do not have the wherewithal to share my passion and talent with others in a way that feeds my ego and makes me feel wanted and loved.<br /><br />Music, as I frequently tell my students, is a soul to soul communication and is one of the most important, naked, and wondrous elements of being human. And so I share your revulsion and visceral reaction to music being commodified, and the justification of the prostitution of musicians ‘just so they can put bread on the table’.<br /><br />BUT, it has ever been thus. Whilst my heart is immersed somewhere between U2 and the Choir of Young Believers, my need for food on the table (or university accommodation for my offspring) leads me to spend a lot of time researching some of the great musicians and communicators of bygone eras. There are not many musicians who were recognised and rewarded in their lifetime. Many died in penury and before their time. Much of the most wonderful ‘classical’ music of all time came from a place of disease, anguish and broken hearts – Bach losing 10 of his 20 children, Mozart dying in poverty and dumped in an unmarked grave, Chopin dying of consumption. Beethoven, deaf and isolated – totally unable to compose for several years after witnessing the siege of Vienna. All only lightly recognised during their lifetimes, and only in the 20th Century when music could be reproduced for a wider audience, reaching the kind of recognition that they craved. <br /><br />In order to feed themselves and their children, many were forced to take menial jobs, and those whose composition survives at all, were the ones who were lucky enough to find a philanthropic sponsor, who paid for them to live and compose. Had McDonalds, or RBS, or Wonga been around in Mozart’s day, I have no doubt at all he would have taken his tics to their boardroom and lambasted them into taking him on board, just so that he could get his music out there. HIS need to be wanted and loved and his music to be heard. His voice, his passion. His need to communicate whatever was in his troubled soul.<br /><br />So, I wonder, does it matter? The cover of Lou Reid’s Perfect Day survives as an unusual piece of music long after whatever it was advertising has long been forgotten. Will Rachel’s music survive the association with RBS. If she’s good enough, yes. Not so sure about the guitarist with Wonga, mind, but if the music and the musician and what they are saying MATTERS enough, they will rise above where they get their money from. Does anyone remember who sponsored Chopin?<br />Jane Greenhalghnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704984.post-72943219397622988972014-01-24T13:40:25.679+00:002014-01-24T13:40:25.679+00:006- Don't assume you’re going to be rich. Don&#...6- Don't assume you’re going to be rich. Don't give up your day job. Music is no longer a passport to wealth beyond the dreams of Beckham. Do it because you love it. Because you've got something to say. Because you want to change the world. Do it because you have to. Because you're brilliant at it. Because it's who you are. Really, do it because you don't have an option. Otherwise, stop. Or stick to karaoke and folk club floor spots.<br /><br />Ok so if you dont give up your day job, how exactly do you progress past your local music scene? If this logic was applied all over then we would very quickly run out of music to get excited about. Getting music out to an audience involves alot of touring, time and effort that means keeping a job is pretty much impossible. I dont support rbs however if this opportunity gives the singer you are obviously referring to the chance to continue to make her art and support herself whilst doing so then surely thats a good thing for everyone concerned? <br /><br />I strongly disagree with your comments about making lots of money and "wealth beyond the dreams of Beckham." I work in the music industry and know for a fact that most artists I work with don't make a lot of money, but do manage to survive and make a living, work their asses off and are incredibly grateful for the position they are in. Its not easy thats for sure, but it is possible, and if they took the advice to "avoid the music industry all together" there is no way they would be where they are today. Also you would never have heard the music, which is kind of the whole point is it not?<br />iainisontourhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08220506876267936266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704984.post-56652172428626995152014-01-24T00:11:30.023+00:002014-01-24T00:11:30.023+00:00That was a good read.
Although it did highlight t...That was a good read.<br /><br />Although it did highlight that I must be the only band manager that is truly happy doing it for the love of the game.<br /><br />(I have genuinely never made a penny.)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08686192998109322413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704984.post-11369545342086438962014-01-23T15:18:17.236+00:002014-01-23T15:18:17.236+00:00Tom, great as usual. So much of the beautiful thin...Tom, great as usual. So much of the beautiful things in life are corrupted by money, music is just one of the casualties. Stewart Kettlesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704984.post-70875138063344212432014-01-23T04:27:06.807+00:002014-01-23T04:27:06.807+00:00Great rant Tom :-)Great rant Tom :-)jimra56https://www.blogger.com/profile/06473251111991548947noreply@blogger.com