Happy viewing…

IN RESPONSE TO SISTAH TOLDJAH’S POST, “TOO DIGITAL/SAVE DR. WAX!”

I dunno J….

Being an “educated” artist myself, I’ve gone to school with artists, learned from artists, and even got a degree in music marketing. My whole approach to the new era of music is similar to what RemainAnonymous said in his/her post. I don’t quite react as harsh as “Maybe if we download enough free songs and abstain…..”, but I do understand the principle. In the years after the CD was made, the music industry got fat from older generations re-purchasing their vinyl collections into a more efficient, remastered format. The music industry was living good. We’re talking early 80’s here. I truly believe it is the fault of the RECORD COMPANIES converting to an ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. All of the big four (Universal, Song BMG, Warner Music Group, and EMI) are owned by conglamerates! That means these same companies sell cereal, toys, TV, radio, ETC. The music is just a product. This also makes the music industry an OLIGOPOLY (a system controlled by a few major players). In an oligolopy, they can do things like price fixing, which basically takes power FROM the consumer and allows the companies to place value on products. This is MAD clear in radio nowadays. Look at ClearChannel. ClearChannel runs every radio station. They control what is played, and those playlists are dictated by ADVERTISING DOLLARS.

Once I learned this I clearly said FUCK the system they have in place. There’s a RECORDING INDUSTRY and there’s an ENTERTAINMENT industry, and you must discern between them both. Why do you think NYC isn’t the one and only place to be anymore? Because money rules all. The minute Lil’ Jon started making songs that were making more money than any NY rapper/singer/producer, the music industry set up shop in ATL. They chase money, that’s all they do.

The smartest artists will abandon this typical, ancient, archaic business model and not rely on there album sales as directed by a major corporation. Peep this:

In 2006 The Rolling Stones grossed $147.3 MILLION dollars from their A Bigger Bang Tour.

$147.3 MILLION?? Crazy! But you know why? Because of the MUSIC. They’ve built their fanbase based upon the consistent fervor of the MUSIC so that when they tour there’s no doubt that they’ll get paid!! Artists like Prince, Radiohead, and even the rock group TOOL get DUMB paper, have the most devoted fans, and get the most money, WITHOUT radio airplay, music videos, etc. Isn’t that dope? So you’re telling me that the internet gives you a way to distribute your music at damn near NO cost whatsoever, solves the problem of paying for DISTRIBUTION, and you’re scared of it as an artist? YOU’RE BITCHMADE, artist. BITCHMADE. Embrace it!

Wanna know what the TOP SELLING ALBUM IN 2006 Was?? A fucking Disney Movie Soundtrack!! HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL went 4x platinum. I bet you Jay-Z wrote a couple kids songs after he found out about that! Why do you think Andre 3000 came out with a soundtrack to Class Of 3000? Cause the nigga is SMART!!. But that doesn’t even COMPARE to the money you can make with GREAT music and an independence, meaning not depending on record sales. Eventhough the High School Musical schitt went 4x, keep in mind that it was all in house and probably went straight back into the company. Disney owns ESPN, ABC, and a shitolad of other jawns. Fuck they gotta care about Hip-Hop sales for?

So for an artist in this day and age to be so caught up in album sales is BULLSHIT to me. Music SHOULD be free, the experience SHOULD be paid for, and in turn it trims the wack shit out of the industry.

This is what I started Blind I for. The old people don’t get it, but the KIDS should.

As far as Dr. Wax goes, I agree. It had ALOT to do with my upbringing. But unfortunately it’s now become an archaic institution, and if there’s no way to convince people to keep it alive besides HISTORICAL value, then it has ridden itself out of existence. It’s sad to say, but sometimes you just have to let shit go.

$aid my peace.
$

Hello children. Now, I know we are all technological hipsters, but I think it’s time we realize something. By acquiring all of our music digitally, we are doing a great disservice to the musicians we claim to love. Plus, the mom and pop shops that supplied us with dope sounds for all these years are closing their doors, because we are downloading everything (and half the time downloading it for free). For the (real) DJs out there, the loss of these stores is gonna be a huge problem, because it’s gonna hinder the ability to dig through crates of used records and buy random gems.

Common has a CD coming out Tuesday. We aren’t showing our support by downloading the whole thing for free. Remember- music videos have to be made, tours have to be paid for and when he finally marries me, I think he should help me pay back my student loans. Plus, if the records don’t sell, the artist doesn’t get too many other chances to record again. Go to a mom and pop and BUY “Finding Forever”. Then come back to this very blog to download remixes, lost tracks, etc. Or keep the CD in the car and download the whole album just for computer use.

Most of the Blind-I bloggers are from Chicago, and while I can’t speak for all of us, I know that I owe Dr. Wax Records in Hyde Park a HUGE debt of gratitude. Had it not been for that spot and the cats who work there who hipped me to so much music in my formative years, there’s no way I would have the ill taste in music I do now. It has come to my attention that the dopest record store in Chicago is scheduled to close it’s doors next month, due to the greed of the landlord and declining sales.

You were not/are not a Chicago Hip-Hop head if you weren’t hitting up Wax for that good underground bidness (Nacrobats, Molemen, Thaione Davis, etc.). Please go to www.petitiononline.com/drwax123 & sign the petition.If you are from Chicago, especially the South Side, then you probably know what a tragedy this is. Dr. Wax is a store that has done a lot for local and independent artists and is a great place to find rare music, as well as the new and popular stuff. Please take a moment to forward this to your friends, sign the petition and (if you are in the Chicagoland area) GO BUY SOMETHING!!!!

This is the music video to Deelishis’ “RumpShaker”.. YES the chick from flava uv luv 2.
–Make the money, don’t let the money make you..
DAYUUMMM! You KNO Flav wasn’t hittin dat right.. WHO is the OTHA brova in the video?

Hilarious. Notice the part when he’s running on the side of the car.

“Was he supposed to be ghostriding it???” –Saha from Cali

R I O