Aspen

You know I go every year, to Jim Lewi's Aspen Live conference.

It's the peak of the annum. Primarily because of the hang. Most other conferences are focused on breaking bands, most of which you don't want to hear, and there's little cohesiveness, you're either part of the inner circle or you're left out.

Aspen is different. There are no bands. And there's limited attendance. And although there are cliques, everyone's open to conversation.

And that's what it's all about. Conversation. That's why the skiing element is so important. You get to know someone on the lift in a personal way, which cements bonds for eons thereafter. We've been doing this since 1996, and if you're an alum, you're part of my inner circle. And I'm sure my fellow conference-goers would agree.

But the reason I'm writing this is Lewi has secured Anita Elberse as a speaker at Aspen Live this year.

Here's her Wikipedia page: http://bit.ly/UmTK4y

Here's her Harvard faculty page: http://bit.ly/12GpLtY

Yes, Anita Elberse is a Harvard Business School professor, the one who wrote "Blockbusters," which I quoted on October 16th, you know, the one stating that the odds of selling your track if you're not a star...are abysmal.

"The Most Important Thing You Will Read All Day": http://bit.ly/16fSySr

This is the turning tide. This is what all the hope-givers, the people mooching off the wannabes, won't tell you.

It's getting really cold out there for newbies. Few make it, and most depend upon money.

Because money is power. Money buys mindshare and influence.

Kind of like this Obamacare thing.

As superior as Obama's team was in utilizing data to get the President reelected, that's how bad they are in explaining the Affordable Care Act. Instead of defining it and showing its advantages, the Administration is constantly in a rearguard position. Apologizing for this and that. To the point where even smart people are not in the know. My doctor today talked about people losing their insurance. Even the vaunted Edie Littlefield Sundby of "Wall Street Journal" fame is telling half-truths. She had a catastrophic policy and her insurer left the state. She's going to get cheaper and better service under Obamacare, never mind being able to get a policy to begin with, since preexisting conditions won't prevent her from getting one.

And don't e-mail me with your right or left wing position. That's not my point. My point is the Republicans and the right wing media, the WSJ and Fox News, have defined the debate. They're winning the information war. To the point where my admittedly Democratic physician is anti-Obamacare based on misinformation.

And what kind of topsy-turvy world do we live in where politics, which is show business for ugly people, is more advanced than entertainment?

Politics realizes it's about data and money and message.

And right now it's the same in music.

The power of data is just beginning to be understood. And if you don't have the money to make your message ubiquitous, good luck. Chances are you're going to be sitting on the sidelines for the rest of your life, no matter how good you are. Virality is now for the rich and supported, not you at home. Believe it.

And Anita Elberse wrote the definitive book.

Which you should read:

"Blockbusters: Hit-making, Risk-taking, and the Big Business of Entertainment": http://amzn.to/1c3BXEB

But not only is Ms. Elberse going to be there. But Lynda Obst, the movie producer who wrote "Sleepless in Hollywood: Tales from the New Abnormal in the Movie Business": http://amzn.to/1beolER

Ms. Obst's productions include "Sleepless In Seattle" and "Contact" and now she's moved into television with "Hot In Cleveland," she's changing with the times, are you?: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynda_Obst

Life is what you make of it.

If you want to come to Aspen with a Missouri attitude, i.e. the Show Me State, and cross your arms and be uninvolved, maybe your time won't be so good.

But if you're willing to integrate, to make friends, it could be the experience of a lifetime. Or the beginning of a new life.

Now not anybody can go. You can click on the Contact link and get ahold of Jim Lewi to find out if you can attend:

http://www.aspenlive.com

And yes, my picture is on the homepage, but I'm not doing this to help Lewi so much as I am excited about hearing Elberse and Obst and so many more, see the agenda here:

http://bit.ly/HqwD4J

And what I like about Elberse is it's not generalities, it's not feel-good hope, but cold hard facts. The studios make these big time movies because it makes economic sense.

Which is the same reason labels are not interested in your band.

Check out the book, even if you don't show at 8,150 feet. It'll depress you, but it's the truth.

P.S. In case you're interested in the Edie Littlefield Sundby health care debate, I'm providing the links below. But notice he who strikes first usually wins the information war, meaning publicity people and marketers are the new powers in entertainment. Carefully craft your message and spread it!

"You Also Can't Keep Your Doctor: I had great cancer doctors and health insurance. My plan was cancelled. Now I worry how long I'll live.": http://on.wsj.com/17B6rRc

"A closer look at the WSJ's newest Obamacare horror story": http://lat.ms/17HMOal

"The Real Reason That The Cancer Patient Writing In Today's Wall Street Journal Lost Her Insurance": http://bit.ly/1hHgZjq


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