Lissen Up Ya Little Whipper Snappers. We're Old & LOUD! We're Musicians! Huh?
A New Business Model
I don't like to work at music. I don't mind it when something grabs me and I spend six days looking for just the right sound or mix, causing my wife to think I may have been abducted by aliens. What I mean is that for me enjoyment is the first and only reason I play. If the fun goes away, it becomes work. Because of this I have so far managed to avoid both wealth and fame. (Though I must admit that, given the right conditions, I would jump on that tour bus tomorrow.)
I can't help feeling, though, that I still might have some creative contribution to make. Recently I heard of a guy who manages to make his contribution without benefit (hindrance?) of the RIAA, DRM, or the "music establishment." His name is Johnathan Coulton, and his story is amazing. He set out to post a song a week for a year on the internet. His work ranges from social commentary (Tom Cruise Crazy) to toss-off novelties (Mr. Fancy Pants) to covers of artists as diverse as Rick Springfield, Leonard Cohen, and Queen. He was interviewed on This Week in Tech #133 and explains how he went from hobbyist/songwriter to contract writer for the video game Portal by Valve Software.
I should point out that his stuff is good. Lack of talent has never been an absolute roadblock to success. Otherwise how can you explain My Sharona? Coulton's music, though, is as catchy as the clap in a cathouse. You can hear his work for Valve at the end if the TWiT interview, or see an unplugged version on YouTube. You can also subscribe to the "Thing A Week" podcast on iTunes.
I don't mean to sound like a shill for the guy, but it makes me think. I probably don't have a song a week, but I might have a song a month or a song a season. I may yet put out the great American album, but it may take a few years. That's OK. I have waited this long. And who needs all that pesky money cluttering up the house, anyway?
I can't help feeling, though, that I still might have some creative contribution to make. Recently I heard of a guy who manages to make his contribution without benefit (hindrance?) of the RIAA, DRM, or the "music establishment." His name is Johnathan Coulton, and his story is amazing. He set out to post a song a week for a year on the internet. His work ranges from social commentary (Tom Cruise Crazy) to toss-off novelties (Mr. Fancy Pants) to covers of artists as diverse as Rick Springfield, Leonard Cohen, and Queen. He was interviewed on This Week in Tech #133 and explains how he went from hobbyist/songwriter to contract writer for the video game Portal by Valve Software.
I should point out that his stuff is good. Lack of talent has never been an absolute roadblock to success. Otherwise how can you explain My Sharona? Coulton's music, though, is as catchy as the clap in a cathouse. You can hear his work for Valve at the end if the TWiT interview, or see an unplugged version on YouTube. You can also subscribe to the "Thing A Week" podcast on iTunes.
I don't mean to sound like a shill for the guy, but it makes me think. I probably don't have a song a week, but I might have a song a month or a song a season. I may yet put out the great American album, but it may take a few years. That's OK. I have waited this long. And who needs all that pesky money cluttering up the house, anyway?
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