Mailbag

From: Allen Kovac
Subject: Re: Music Is Like Politics

I really appreciate your view. However, it's already happened. Independent labels are primarily, not in the hip-hop business. As a matter of fact they are not into pop.

Independents have almost a 40 percent market share. Beggars, Big Machine, Glassnote, E7, and the other indies are developing artists. They do not suffer from the stress of manufacturing a hit for a quarter. They are wholly owned and operated, with a mission of artists development. They build careers for artists that tour for decades.

Manufacturing music for artists that tour only 20 major market, and a handful of capital cities, is a disaster for the majors. These artists who average 9.1 writers per hit song are perishable. They have a short shelf life. Hence they won't replace The Stones, The Eagles, U2, Prince.....

What are promoters to do then? What are the majors going to do? The first answer is Live Nation, through Liberty Media, has Ticketmaster, Promoters, SiriusXM, and now Pandora. Universal labels have all concentrated on hip-Hop and pop, and are now selling 50 percent. Why, because they know they have dropped out of career artists development. The haven't built catalogs for 20 years. Why else would they sell 50 percent when streaming is at a very early stage?

Allen

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From: Ritch Esra
Subject: Music is Like Poitics

"Yes, now is when major labels should be developing acts. They think if anything gains traction they'll be able to hoover it up. But that's so last century"

Bob,

Such a great piece. You have no any idea prescient your above statement is and it's already started to occur on a small (BUT VERY CONSISTANT LEVEL)

For the last 2 days, I have been shooting interviews for my youtube channel MUBUTV (Music Business Television) with Major Label A&R Executives, Managers, Producers, Artists as well as some of the new Label Services companies (BMG & AWAL) and one of the things that the Major Label A&R executives told me they continue to confront over the last 2 years is finding new artists and acts they really love WHO DON'T WANT TO SIGN WITH MAJOR LABELS at all.

The really smart ones (who have done all of the very hard development work over the last few years) no longer believe that the Major Labels can take their career to the next level.
(The only exceptions to this were pure Top 40/CHR Acts)

Many spoke about how the majors have "completely abdicated the development process to the natural forces of the marketplace" – One guest said it's like they're saying "You tell us (via streaming, social media, etc.) if there's an audience for your music because we certainly haven't got a fucking clue"

I was told on 3 separate occasions "The success of new models (BMG Labels Services, AWAL, etc.) etc. have successfully in many cases put an enormous amount of pressure on Major Labels to change certain "long held policies" if we want to continue to be competitive in the A&R process today"

On a much deeper level, it's that the "Definition of Success" today has radically changed and more and artists no longer believe that Major Labels can automatically deliver that to them and that's not a tide that they see changing anytime soon.
?
R

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From: Seymour Stein
Subject: Re: Mailbag
To: Sally Grossman
Cc: Bob Lefsetz

So glad to see and read your e-mail in today's Lefsetz report. Tried calling and left message on one of your lines.

Your e-mail brought back a flood of memories about you and Albert. So sorry that we haven't seen each other in a while. I've been incredibly busy working on building new situation(s,) since leaving Warner's in August. Please call me if you're coming to New York. If Mandy comes to New York we'll come visit you.

Sally, you and Albert have always been hero's of mine. Sadly, there are not enough managers inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I don't think people realize that management is as or more important and difficult than A&R and/or running a successful label.

Andrew Loog Oldham was inducted for Rolling Stones and Brian Epstein for the Beatles I'm certain Andrew feels strongly about Albert

Albert managed worked hard and n some cases discovered and was certainly instrumental in building careers of Bob Dylan, Peter Paul & Mary, the Byrds, Janis Joplin. Todd Rundgren, Paul Butterfield and one of my favorites, Ritchie Havens.

Albert also founded and successfully ran Bearsville label.

I can think of several people who have been thus far overlooked with regard to HofF, but no one, more important comes to mind than Albert.

I'm reminded as I write, that Paolo Della Puppa and I were set to have dinner with Albert at MIDEM the night he was meant to arrive. Instead, the evening was turned into into a memorial service on the grounds of Moulin de Moulin's run by legendary chef Roger Verge.

Although there were many of the Jewish faith at MIDEM, the role of conducting the service fell to me. Because of my Orthodox upbringing, I was able to remember most of the prayers by heart.

Afterwards, we were hosted by Roger for dinner. Everyone respected Albert. Everyone respected Roger, especially Shep Gordon who soon after, started managing chefs, first and foremost Roger. It even rubbed off on Paolo who runs some of the best restaurants in New York and LA. _____ will be pleased to take you to Via Quadronno, when you are next in New York.

Much love, Sally.

Seymour

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From: Rivers Cuomo

Hey Bob,

Long-time reader here! I've been following you since your Coldplay piece that came out around 2008. You've turned me onto many great things including Spotify, Stranger Things, and the Amazon Echo. I really love the way you write--simple, yet always poetic, like the best song lyrics.

In fact, I used a couple of your lines on the new Weezer album :)

'I'm still trying to figure out my life' in the bridge of LIVING IN L.A. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEzSWs5Q1_s

'I'm so high on cookies it's INSANE' in the pre of TOO MANY THOUGHTS IN MY HEAD (not out yet)

They sound great. I hope you don't mind.

Keep up the good work!

Your fellow Connecticutian and Santa Monican,

Rivers (from Weezer)


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