In this Indie Movement, we’ve seen and heard it all from those who’ve railed so hard against the recording industry for a more level playing field. What we’ve ended up with is a democratized business model where the majority vote controls the minority. That’s what democracy means — at least 51% majority wins.
Somehow being No. 1 on web-based radio in the city where you live is now akin to being No. 1 on the Billboard radio charts. Radio transmitting hit songs over the airwaves all across the country is not exactly like people one at a time listening to a song on any web-based platform.
The definition of publicist went from having relationships with real college-educated journalists to shipping a poorly written one-sheet with no angle, no pitch, no journalistic prowess, to a web-driven database for distribution among media outlets that target funeral homes for all we know.
It’s all quite insignificant in the big picture. We really must stop the deception about what this all means. If your goal is to actually sign with a record label…the indie model means absolutely nothing to them. No amount of PRWeb press releases, promotion to ReverbNation fans, or hits on YouTube is going to change their mind.
Radio promotion does not mean getting fans to listen to songs on ReverbNation. Residency does not mean playing in a venue more than once over a succession of time. And I hate to break it to so many indie movers and shakers, but,
nothing about the term or definition of A& R has changed
Here is Wikipedia’s definition:
Artists and repertoire (A&R) is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label; every activity involving artists to the point of album release is generally considered under the purview of, and responsibility of, A&R.
An A & R executive works for a record label.
An A & R executive is authorized to offer a record contract typically in a short form document called a deal memo.
A & R execs oversee the process of development working with an artist up to the point of record launch, including making decisions in suitable repertoire for a recorded work.
For artists who do not write their own music, A&R executives maintain contact with their counterparts at music publishing companies to get new songs and material from songwriters and producers.
Over the past decade the demand for a democratic music system has become Fantasy Island using hypocrisy as a means to an end. The end of great music, that put real money into a real economy, with real professionals at the helm of a real art form.
All too many use music biz terms very loosely to fit their own agenda so they are able to fool some of the people most of the time. Without question, they are fooling themselves all of the time.
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