11 October 2011John, It’s really too bad that you aren’t dbeitang this subject, and seemingly just sticking to your point of view without taking into account an entire culture of the industry that has grown in the past 15 years. I don’t mean any disrespect at all, because like just about everyone else who has posted anything on your site I’m a life long fan of your music, your melody, your artistry, and exploration. But I AM the younger generation you speak of. The generation that you seem to think is doomed because of the internet. Well, speaking from experience, it’s not doom and gloom at all. It’s actually one of the healthiest times to be a part of the music industry. And if your management, record label, booking agent, or publicist are telling you anything different then I would fire today. You actually don’t need any of them at this point anyway. By employing just one person who has any kind of modern day internet/new media/marketing savvy, you could lower your overhead, streamline your product, create 10 times more traffic in all areas of your business, and of course that works out to be a crap load more profit than you’re currently making right now. The old school of labels, A&R, press releases, promo tours, record deals, etc etc is over. I don’t need to tell you that. But anyone who is successful right now in jazz, the way I see it at least, is in one of two situations:1) they played with MIles2) they didn’t play with milesCategory 1, which you most certainly fall into, and Jack Johnson is one of my favorite albums of that period, does a number of things for you. It allows you royalty like status in the jazz world along with Chick, Herbie, Stern, Sco, Bill Evans, Leibs, and all the other alumni that still have touring careers. And it’s one of the main reasons promoters will still book acts like that despite the fact some of them aren’t doing anything particularly new, and there are dozens of younger acts all over the world that are actually innovating the music. controversial? eh maybe. But it’s only my opinion, and we’re all entitled to that right? where would the world be without them?Category 2 is for the rest of us. And for the younger generation you mention it’s the only one available. And boy is it a good alternative when you didn’t happen to be alive when it was possible to come up with Miles, Blakey, or trane Now what isn’t acceptable in category 2 is whining about the industry or sitting around romanticizing what it must have been like to be on the road with Miles in the 70 s. It’s about re educating yourself after you get out of music school, because no school wants students to actually figure this stuff out while they’re at school students would realize how much of a waste of time and money school was and leave, bringing down a huge revenue stream in the education system. But eventually it’s going to happen, just because of how fast technology is moving. Those who embrace it and have a hunger for knowledge about it, will have the tools to build careers as successful as yours if they work hard. Those who don’t will become eventual music fans who have days jobs and end up supporting the art in the end. I would love to talk to you about this. Debate this, show you some data, some stats, help you turn what you have into something 10 times the size, and all without the use of the age old music industry infrastructure. I’m 32 years old, I’ve been on the road with guys like stern, randy brecker, hiram, and many pop acts (as well as my own group) for the past 10 years, and I already know I don’t want to have to hit the road hard until I’m 70 just to make sure my family is provided for. There are just so many ways to succeed in the industry, still make the music you want to make when you want to make it, and not feel like the industry is against you, piracy is rife, or that things aren’t what they could be. Things are what you make them, and right now every single musician in the world who can get to an internet connection and has a few good working brain cells can succeed on a very high level. Would love to hear your thoughts, and welcome your emails or communication any time. Janek20db
11 October 2011John, It’s really too bad that you aren’t dbeitang this subject, and seemingly just sticking to your point of view without taking into account an entire culture of the industry that has grown in the past 15 years. I don’t mean any disrespect at all, because like just about everyone else who has posted anything on your site I’m a life long fan of your music, your melody, your artistry, and exploration. But I AM the younger generation you speak of. The generation that you seem to think is doomed because of the internet. Well, speaking from experience, it’s not doom and gloom at all. It’s actually one of the healthiest times to be a part of the music industry. And if your management, record label, booking agent, or publicist are telling you anything different then I would fire today. You actually don’t need any of them at this point anyway. By employing just one person who has any kind of modern day internet/new media/marketing savvy, you could lower your overhead, streamline your product, create 10 times more traffic in all areas of your business, and of course that works out to be a crap load more profit than you’re currently making right now. The old school of labels, A&R, press releases, promo tours, record deals, etc etc is over. I don’t need to tell you that. But anyone who is successful right now in jazz, the way I see it at least, is in one of two situations:1) they played with MIles2) they didn’t play with milesCategory 1, which you most certainly fall into, and Jack Johnson is one of my favorite albums of that period, does a number of things for you. It allows you royalty like status in the jazz world along with Chick, Herbie, Stern, Sco, Bill Evans, Leibs, and all the other alumni that still have touring careers. And it’s one of the main reasons promoters will still book acts like that despite the fact some of them aren’t doing anything particularly new, and there are dozens of younger acts all over the world that are actually innovating the music. controversial? eh maybe. But it’s only my opinion, and we’re all entitled to that right? where would the world be without them?Category 2 is for the rest of us. And for the younger generation you mention it’s the only one available. And boy is it a good alternative when you didn’t happen to be alive when it was possible to come up with Miles, Blakey, or trane Now what isn’t acceptable in category 2 is whining about the industry or sitting around romanticizing what it must have been like to be on the road with Miles in the 70 s. It’s about re educating yourself after you get out of music school, because no school wants students to actually figure this stuff out while they’re at school students would realize how much of a waste of time and money school was and leave, bringing down a huge revenue stream in the education system. But eventually it’s going to happen, just because of how fast technology is moving. Those who embrace it and have a hunger for knowledge about it, will have the tools to build careers as successful as yours if they work hard. Those who don’t will become eventual music fans who have days jobs and end up supporting the art in the end. I would love to talk to you about this. Debate this, show you some data, some stats, help you turn what you have into something 10 times the size, and all without the use of the age old music industry infrastructure. I’m 32 years old, I’ve been on the road with guys like stern, randy brecker, hiram, and many pop acts (as well as my own group) for the past 10 years, and I already know I don’t want to have to hit the road hard until I’m 70 just to make sure my family is provided for. There are just so many ways to succeed in the industry, still make the music you want to make when you want to make it, and not feel like the industry is against you, piracy is rife, or that things aren’t what they could be. Things are what you make them, and right now every single musician in the world who can get to an internet connection and has a few good working brain cells can succeed on a very high level. Would love to hear your thoughts, and welcome your emails or communication any time. Janek20db