Election/Music Business Analogy

ELECTION

Mainstream media doesn't reach everybody, even though the Democrats thought it would.

MUSIC BUSINESS

Print means nothing, TV little, except for SNL and CBS Sunday Morning, yet the labels keep focusing on these outlets. As for radio... Find me anyone under 20 who listens to terrestrial radio, I can't. But labels keep focusing on radio, even though radio reacts last. It's a circle jerk between them and the stations, because they don't know what else to do.

ELECTION

Republicans knew that new media was everything, the right podcast is better than a scattershot approach

MUSIC BUSINESS

Want to game social media, and therefore can't acknowledge the truth, which is acts break on social media, but really no one has control, you chase as opposed to create.

ELECTION

Republicans said if Trump didn't win the game was rigged.

MUSIC BUSINESS

Game the chart into irrelevance. Such that there's a false #1.

ELECTION

Republicans knew the game had changed, Democrats still thought it was all about the ground game, knocking on doors. Democrats had all the money, but the Republicans used the new tools to better effect.

MUSIC BUSINESS

Same as it ever was. There's lip service to the new tools, but there's a belief that the old ones still work.

ELECTION

It's rigged

MUSIC BUSINESS

Spotify is rigged, I'm not making any money. Never mind that you may not have a good deal with your label, never mind that no one might be listening, you're entitled to riches, just like Harris was entitled to victory, but she wasn't.

ELECTION

Perception was that Harris was going to win.

MUSIC BUSINESS

Perception is that the Spotify Top 50 is everything, when it's never meant less.

ELECTION

People had had enough of the system, they wanted to turn over the table, they wanted change.

MUSIC BUSINESS

The majors release ever less product in ever fewer genres yet the public hungers for other stuff. Billy Strings is bigger than so many in the Spotify Top 50, he sells out arenas when many of those acts can barely sell a ticket. Streams are not everything, they're just one indicator. You've got to look at the overall picture. But some don't want to do this, because it's too murky, they'd rather have a false definition than chaos.

ELECTION

Heartland.

MUSIC BUSINESS

Country is bigger than pop. The acts at Stagecoach last, those at Coachella come and go.

ELECTION

Old school DNC thought it knew everything, when it knew little.

MUSIC BUSINESS

Boomers and Gen-X'ers who made their bones in the pre-internet era think they still know what is going on, but they're clueless.

ELECTION

Despite years in the public eye, many still didn't know who Harris was.

MUSIC BUSINESS

Despite hit after hit, many have never heard a single cut by those in the Spotify Top 50.

ELECTION

Throw the bums out, we want something different.

MUSIC BUSINESS

We'll give you the same damn thing, year after year. We're in control, you've got no choice, when this is patently untrue.

ELECTION

Public is hurting economically.

MUSIC BUSINESS

Acts are hurt by the labels. Live Nation is their bank, not Universal Music.

ELECTION

The Democrats believed the candidate didn't matter, it was all about values.

MUSIC BUSINESS

We'll serve you the same damn thing, it's easier that way, that's what you want, right?

ELECTION

About a minute of analysis, then blame, that's how the Democrats are taking their loss.

MUSIC BUSINESS

Zach Bryan, Billy Strings, Chappell Roan... They seemingly come out of nowhere, but the labels still don't want long term investment and they still want something that sounds like the old thing.

ELECTION

You don't have to play the game. Trump didn't debate, his Republican competitors or Harris more than once.

MUSIC BUSINESS

If you don't prove you're worthy, we're not interested. Show us the data, your streams, your socials, if you ain't got them we ain't interested, because that means you're not really that good.

ELECTION

Trump is a renegade living outside the system, like a rock star of yore.

MUSIC BUSINESS

Everybody's looking to sell out, to get in bed with the Fortune 500.

ELECTION

Stop thinking you're better than us, stop dictating to us.

MUSIC BUSINESS

Trot out Springsteen and Beyonce, Taylor Swift will make sure Harris wins.

ELECTION

Move fast and break things.

MUSIC BUSINESS

Move slowly, try to maintain control.

ELECTION

Trump is a cartoon.

MUSIC BUSINESS

Rap battle between Kendrick and Drake is a cartoon. You may be invested, like the Trump followers, the rest of the public is rolling their eyes and thinking it's ridiculous.

ELECTION

Trump demonized the system.

MUSIC BUSINESS

Everybody's buying into the system...this business used to be built by renegade outsiders, but we haven't had that spirit here since 1969.

ELECTION

Salt of the earth Kid Rock.

MUSIC BUSINESS

Katy Perry.

ELECTION

People are over it.

MUSIC BUSINESS

Won't let a good thing go, keeps forcing the same damn thing down our throats year after year.

ELECTION

Biden stayed too long, wouldn't give up power.

MUSIC BUSINESS

So many have been too long at the fair.

ELECTION

People could see with their own two eyes that Biden was compromised, and then they told people not to believe what they saw when he was clueless during the debate.

MUSIC BUSINESS

You love all those acts that win the awards and are everywhere in the news. Taylor Swift is America's sweetheart! If you say anything negative you're a hater and will be shouted down and ultimately be labeled a pariah.

ELECTION

Too much second-guessing by Harris. She was afraid to speak her truth.

MUSIC BUSINESS

Acts and their campaigns are micromanaged, whereas modern people know it's nearly impossible to gain traction, that you get into the marketplace early and stay there.

ELECTION

The Democrats knew better.

MUSIC BUSINESS

So many know better, it's the ethos of rock and roll. What you listen to sucks, it does not belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Let us tell you about this outside act that is good on paper, this is what you should be listening to.

ELECTION

Insiders missed it.

MUSIC BUSINESS

Never have insiders had less control, despite believing they still have said control.

ELECTION

It was about Trump.

MUSIC BUSINESS

We need stars. People who test boundaries. Icons who both represent the people but are above them. We're looking for leaders, soothsayers.

ELECTION

Make fun all you want, but most people wanted to vote for Trump.

MUSIC BUSINESS

So many of the acts hated by those who know better are warmly embraced by the public.

ELECTION

Changing demographics, Blacks and Latinos voted for Trumps in heretofore unseeable numbers.

MUSIC BUSINESS

Latin. An underserved market that has risen as a result of the easy accessibility of streaming.

ELECTION

A felon became President.

MUSIC BUSINESS

Going to jail is a badge of honor and enhances your career, it doesn't hurt it.


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