DJ Shadow: classic or dud?

what's the boldface summary of that?

ie i cannae be fucked to read it.

"Fuck you I won't do what you tell me" iirc

IF YOU DONT BUY MUSIC WITH MONEY PEOPLE WILL STOP MAKING MUSIC EXCEPT SIMON COWELL.

WARNING: RAMBLING TIRADE FROM A 37-YEAR OLD TECHNOPHOBE BELOW

Well, here we are again, another year, another decade. Optimism about the future is tempered with a nagging sense that underlying factors causing most of the misery in the world still exist. Lucky, then, that I’m a musician and not a politician.

Specifically, when it comes to the wallet, everyone’s suffering…of that there can be no doubt. And what of the financial prospects for musicians and recording artists in the years to come? Shaky, at best. Unless you’re one of the grotesque ‘Idol’-type pop disasters in the top 5, you’re looking at getting a day job or finding other sources of income. Conventional wisdom amongst my peers has been remarkably short-sided over the last decade: “Yeah, CD sales are down, but all the money is in licensing.” Not anymore. “Yeah, licensing money is down, but the video game industry is killing it.” Less so these days, according to recent data. “Well, the real money is in touring.” Really? When was the last time you saw a ‘new,’ post-record company artist headline a major music festival? At this rate, we’ll be stuck with Coldplay for decades (no offense intended).

Time for a little straight talk, from one reasonably intelligent human being to YOU, the reasonably intelligent reader. As distasteful as it may sound, the fact is that so many of our heroes: Jimi Hendrix, John Coltrane, The Beatles, whoever you care to name; generated much of their best art in return for financial compensation. If you take away the compensation, guess what…the art stops. For example, how many young rap artists are grinding away these days in New York, trying to get a deal? Not too many, certainly compared to the ‘80s and ‘90s. There’s no allure, no pot at the end of the rainbow. People have been asking for years now, “Where’s the next Nas, the next Jay-Z?” Be prepared to keep waiting…and for music, overall, to keep sucking. Why? Because only bottom-of-the-barrel, embarrassing pop tripe generates enough income to feed the machine. Anything unproven or risky? Nobody’s going to bankroll that kind of ‘experiment.’

Let me be clear: I love music. I love the culture of music, making music, playing music, geeking out over music from the past and present. I love old record company stories, and the characters that inhabited it. In other words, I have learned to appreciate the merchants of commerce as well as the art. If you love movies or cars, chances are you can relate to what I’m describing. What would Hollywood be without the larger-than-life, audacious personalities behind the scenes? What would cars be like if there had never been Detroit?

Gone are the recording studios (including the historically important Plant down the road from me in Sausalito), the record shops, and the music magazines. Replaced by the oh-so-cynical, oh-so-corrosive AM talk radio of the new millennium, the Internet. But I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know. Chances are, you may have even been one of those majority who danced on the grave of the falling record companies, pointed to Radiohead giving their album away for free and said, “See, look, if they can do it, why can’t everyone else?” Slowly, I turn…

Every artist is entitled to their own price point, just as every consumer has a choice in what they purchase. Nobody puts a gun to someone’s head and says, “Hey, buy this Picasso for 20 million.” Likewise, if $9.99 is too much to spend for one of my albums, so be it, your choice. But if you’re holding your breath, waiting for me to boost my cool-quotient by giving my music away for free, it’s not going to happen. The fact is that I feel my music has value. You may disagree, and that’s fine. But I know how much energy I put into what I do, and how long it takes me to make something I’m satisfied with. Giving that away just feels wrong to me. It’s not about money per se; I can donate a large sum of money to charity and not think twice, but I won’t give my art away. I’d rather sell it to 100 people who value it as I do than give it away to 1000 who could care less. That’s MY choice.

I realize these are all unpopular subjects. Artists are never supposed to address their flock about such icky subjects as business and commerce. (By the way, and I hope it doesn’t sound disingenuous, but now would be a REALLY good time to express my undying THANKS for your support, which matters IMMENSELY in my ability to retain music as my primary endeavor. As a fan of others, I always used to wonder, “does this artist or group really care about whether I buy their stuff or not? Do they care that I go to their show?” YES, WE CARE!!!!! Now, more than ever). Most think that I should stop whining, grow up and embrace the Internet, become more active, tweet more, hype more, give more stuff away, etc, etc. Honestly, I’ve tried…and will keep trying. But the bottom line is that not every paradigm or system is right for everyone. We’ve all been told for years that the Internet is our Savior; it’s cool, youthful, hip, the solution to every problem, and if you aren’t joining a new networking site on a weekly basis, you’re a social pariah. Sorry…I just don’t feel that way. I’m old enough to know that when 99% of the population is marching lockstep in one direction, sometimes it’s wise to break rank and go the other way. Plus, I simply don’t like sitting in front of a computer screen all day.

I’m not saying that I don’t use the Internet on a regular basis; I do. And obviously I’m very proud of this site and its ability to support itself through the store. Honestly, I just think a large portion of the dialogue and content available online is an utter shit fest: a Pandora’s box of violence, neurosis, bad impulses, and bad intentions. It has become the “Super Horror Show” the Last Poets could never have dreamed of, like bad television on steroids and angel dust simultaneously. CL Smooth memorably called television “a schism…negative realism.” And much like the TV of the ‘60s and ‘70s, you will NEVER hear or read anything negative about the Internet ON the Internet. There’s too much money to be made, by someone somewhere (and hey, why ruffle the feathers of the goose that’s laying the golden egg, right?). 20 years from now, it will be interesting to see what hindsight reveals. I predict a flag on the time-line: when we moved closer to becoming a passionless, listless, hollowed-out society, one in which art and nature could no longer provide the psychological shock to the system required to endure another harrowing day of terror alerts and super-bugs. Music can only suggest sex and violence…the Internet provides both, full frontal and full strength, 24/7. Maximum dose.

Whatever…what will be will be. As long as I breathe, I’ll make music, love music, support music. I used to get in fights at school to defend my right to listen to rap, and I’ll fight on against any institution or prevailing thinking that seeks to dictate to me how and when the music I make is to be disseminated. If there’s 50 of you, or 100, or more out there willing to accept my right to choose, as I accept yours, then welcome aboard…you are my fan base. The rest of you that don’t, and want me to play someone else’s game…I wish you well. Let’s just leave the subject at that and call it what it is: a mutual misunderstanding.

Regardless, it’s going to be a hell of a year. I am working hard on new music, and hope to share some of it with you in the coming months (really!). I’m fully aware that there are many former fans that insist my best work is behind me. Well, respectfully, I disagree. It’s not easy walking the tightrope between artistic validity and financial solvency, but I stand behind all of the decisions I have made to date. What matters to me is that EVERYONE reading this knows that I take my career, my music, and my fans EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY. When I started in music 25 years ago, my mission was to provide an alternative, to expand the scope of choice available to music lovers like myself; and above all to demonstrate a willingness to go the extra mile and put the MAXIMUM EFFORT in EVERYTHING I DO, so that the bar continues to be raised, not lowered. Whether that manifests itself on stage, on record, or as a character in a video game, I honestly feel that I have given it my best, win or lose, and I’m proud of that. I have to believe that your continued support is a vote of confidence, which I take great comfort in as I strive to create some of my best work to date.

I may not be the best looking dude out there…I may not be the most linked-in, the most prolific, the most successful…but I’ll be god-damned if I’m not up there with the most passionate. If you agree with what I’m saying, that so much music we’re fed is utter GARBAGE that insults the intelligence, then no matter where you’re at…the States, the UK, France, Japan, Canada, Australia, wherever…we’re ALL outsiders, and we owe it to each other to band together and fight for something better. Personally, I’m loving the challenge, and when the time is right, I look forward to reconnecting with all of you.

Until then…

DJ Shadow

That's kind of how I break it down to an extent

its a good read.

IF YOU DONT BUY MUSIC WITH MONEY PEOPLE WILL STOP MAKING MUSIC

i think he's mostly right, and you're kidding yourself if you think toherwise.

old josh really starting to sound like archetypical ilm semi-newbie about to go postal there ^^^^^^^^^^

poor lad we should invite him along

I think he's right but y'know blacksmiths and coalminers also crushed by the wheels of progress.

I think he's mostly right, too. I see no future for creativity if creativity is not rewarded.

Hang on I don't really think he's right at all. Death to the lol Free Market.

nah hes mostly OTM

it reminds me of the rants by the guy from that film network but more rational and sane

And much like the TV of the ‘60s and ‘70s, you will NEVER hear or read anything negative about the Internet ON the Internet.

this is a headscratcher for sure

Don't have any real bone to pick with his assessment of the music industry tho, I mean I guess most of us are rolling our eyes at lines like "so much music we’re fed is utter GARBAGE that insults the intelligence" at this point but eh it's DJ Shadow, what d'you expect him to say

yeah i mean we could pull apart the odd details of what he's saying quite easily, but the central thrust is still pretty true: if people don't pay for music then a lot less music is going to get made.

I mean I guess most of us are rolling our eyes at lines like "so much music we’re fed is utter GARBAGE that insults the intelligence" at this point

same as it ever was but i reckon its the other stuff that'll dry up first tbh

"the central thrust is still pretty true: if people don't pay for music then a lot less music is going to get made"

Yes, and his description of the Internet hell is pretty faithful too.

i haven't read it but the dude fucking made 'endtroducing' aged 25 or something so cut him some slack.

Cut him a ton of slack for his music but I am intrigued by this "music relies on market forces waaah market forces are killing music" argument.

It's not market forces that are killing music, it's a sudden, rapid, and radical change in distribution methods that labels and artists, for the most part, haven't been able to keep up with. Market forces haven't quite adapted yet either.

Em's just read the Alex James autobio and there's a bit towards the end where Alex meets the drummer or bassist or guitarist from Coldplay, one of the ones who looks like a potato, in a bar or at an aftershow or something, and says that he seems like a nice guy but very earnest and all he can offer conversation-wise is talk about how they've just developed a new strategy for expanding North American markets blah blah business speak. And my inference is that Alex James thought he was an alien for not leaving that side of things for someone else to worry about and concentrating on playing music / hanging out in The Groucho / making cheese / etc etc etc.

Not sure why I posted that, tbh.

Also this morning there was something on the radio about album covers being made into stamps and they played clips from a song off each album that's been stampified, and it was, like, You can't Always Get What You Want, and London Calling, and Starman, and they all sounded like great, classic, well-written pop songs for the ages, and then they played a big of the instrumental piano line from Clocks and it sounded like incidental BBC music rather than like a pop song for the ages.

Not sure why I posted that, tbh.

big = bit

funny that shadow wrote that bit about coldplay though as the outsider had quite a few mock-chris martin sounding songs on it.

Why hop-hop sucks in 2010; it's the lack of money.

"It's not market forces that are killing music, it's a sudden, rapid, and radical change in distribution methods that labels and artists, for the most part, haven't been able to keep up with. Market forces haven't quite adapted yet either"

This, and the fact that (for several reasons) music isn't at the moment perceived as something with an inherent economic value. With some interesting consequences, like bands giving away their music for free while sell through their site t-shirts and mugs.

eternal respect to The Shad, but that was a pretty boring rant I've read a thousand times before

"At this rate, we’ll be stuck with Coldplay for decades (no offense intended)."

Really, no offense intended? None?

Overall, I'm with Blueski - this article could have been posted 5 years ago. Or, replace 'internet' with 'tv' and just post it anytime in the past 50 years.

"20 years from now, it will be interesting to see what hindsight reveals. I predict a flag on the time-line: when we moved closer to becoming a passionless, listless, hollowed-out society, one in which art and nature could no longer provide the psychological shock to the system required to endure another harrowing day of terror alerts and super-bugs."

Yep, 20 years from now they're going to put a flag on 2010 to say 'this is when we became listless, and disinterested in art'. Because right up until that point, everyone was on board. They were giddy, exciting times the 00's, or 90's, anon

Why hop-hop sucks in 2010; it's the lack of money.

― exploding angel vagina (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, January 7, 2010 4:01 AM (Yesterday) Bookmark

!

What utter nonsense.

"the central thrust is still pretty true: if people don't pay for music then a lot less music is going to get made"

There seems be a real lack of music being made in the last decade, doesn't there. . . oh wait there is still a lot of music out there isn't there.

Sorry your old business model is fucked, Shadow, but it was a pretty fucked model for the most part anyway so whatever.

I don't really understand what people mean by "the old business model" - as though every label followed the same business model. Not every label is some sleazeball conglomerate - in fact in the years just before the internet we were seeing plenty of alternate business models springing up and doing quite well. The way things are going now hurt those too. But whatever helps you feel morally sanctified in getting everything for free.

"“When I started getting in touch with people who’d made the records it gave me a bit of a conscience,” he admits. “As a result I have no problem clearing big uses. But I feel that I’m a collage artist and if I use 60 songs on a record I can’t have 60 different lawyers claiming 75 per cent...... They can chuck me in jail if they want"

Shadown on sample clearance.

Now, I don't usually care two jots about sample clearance, but I also don't write 2 page long diatribes about the crumbling music industry all being the consumers fault. I do find it a little odd that a man who makes music from other peoples music, and doesn't think it would be at all realistic to pay everyone for their music, doesn't consider that this might make him look a little foolish as he's typing up his little blog post.

There seems be a real lack of music being made in the last decade, doesn't there. . . oh wait there is still a lot of music out there isn't there.

haha yeah, and how can there be climate shange if it still snowing in winter amirite

how about "an activity that human beings have always engaged in isn't going to disappear because 1 mode of production/distribution disappears" lol death to the music industry

"haha yeah, and how can there be climate shange if it still snowing in winter amirite"

I'm sure when all music ceases to be produced we'll all look back and regret not listening more to Al Gore.

Sorry your old business model is fucked, Shadow, but it was a pretty fucked model for the most part anyway so whatever.

― Fig On A Plate Cart (Alex in SF), Saturday, January 9, 2010 3:43 AM (11 hours ago) Bookmark

yeah, it sucked! all that terrible, terrible music put out over the last 60 years, god.

Too bad that terrible music didn't stopped getting produced in 1999.

Anyway I'm sure there will be a clever solution at some point to this conundrum of the 00s and we'll all look back on these diatribes and laugh. Or maybe not and music will just 'oh the horror' cease to exist.

Conventional wisdom amongst my peers has been remarkably short-sided over the last decade: “Yeah, CD sales are down, but all the money is in licensing.” Not anymore. “Yeah, licensing money is down, but the video game industry is killing it.” Less so these days, according to recent data. “Well, the real money is in touring.” Really? When was the last time you saw a ‘new,’ post-record company artist headline a major music festival?

I think this bit is true. There's still tons of "new model" "gurus" a line that folks will make all their money form merch/touring/ads that ignores all sense.

Not every label is some sleazeball conglomerate - in fact in the years just before the internet we were seeing plenty of alternate business models springing up and doing quite well. The way things are going now hurt those too.

this.

But whatever helps you feel morally sanctified in getting everything for free.

this too.

"if I use 60 songs on a record I can’t have 60 different lawyers claiming 75 per cent...... They can chuck me in jail if they want"

this too?

Boo hoo. Life sucks for lots of people. Musicians don't have a monopoly on that (hello newspaper reporters and autoworkers!) and frankly the out-sized sense of entitlement of a dude like DJ Shadow has doesn't make me remotely inclined to want to spend money on his music any more than the equivalent hand-wringing makes me want to buy a newspaper (which I occasionally "steal" by reading online OH NOES or a Chevy which you couldn't pay me to drive). Hey but if it stokes the righteous indignation of you dudes who only ever buy new albums or pay for your downloads then hey good on you.

reading online isn't stealing because its offered for free, downloading stuff that isn't free *is "stealing" sorry if you can't figure that one out

but yeah life sucks for a lot of people so fuck musicians, why should i pay to hear their music rite? this is just like when coal miners were all put out of work by market forces but we still expected them to deliver us coal regardless.

and other analogies that don't fit

I'm trying to work out if that means Bono is either Arthur Scargill or Margaret Thatcher.

Ned I think you have something of a point on sample clearance, but at the same time I think the law on sampling could be a lot more nuanced and do more to differentiate uses - some of Shadow's sample uses are so transformative that they are kind of beyond recognition and at that point I agree it's ridiculous to make him pay each rights holder as though he were P. Diddy doing "I'll Be Missing You". Maybe the solution to that is just some kind of mandatory licensing scheme with much much lower rates. But I don't think it precludes him from thinking that people ought to pay for the music he makes.

Anyway, yeah of course music is still going to be made. It's just going to get made on lower budgets and probably with fewer acts that stick around for the long haul, and probably also with less national touring, that is unless some new model comes along, which I still don't think it has.

I know firsthand and from friends that money DOES affect people's drive to make music and get it to people. I'm not claiming that I or any of my friends are entitled to that money or entitled to get our music out there. I'm just saying that the less money is available from music, the more you have to work, the more you have to reconsider whether you can tour, the less energy and time you have to work on your album, etc. That's to say nothing of label resources - so many albums were made on large advances that let bands take time off to focus creatively, gave them a budget for equipment, production, etc.

Of course you can make albums in your bedroom on a small budget, and a handful of people can even make great albums doing that, but they're not going to be the same kinds of albums, and not every great artist is cut out for that. And then of course you can release your little bedroom album over the internet and market it yourself, but it's most likely not going to reach as many people.

this tired argument depends on what's pretty clearly an empty threat - mp3s have been around for a decade and there hasn't been some universal musician strike. rather, today there's more music being recorded than ever before in history. combine that with distribution costs going down to zero and we have a glut. if billions of oranges were suddenly available everywhere and anywhere and there were oranges on every corner of the street...the price would drop down to zero...and I wouldn't have pity for anyone who then decided to go plant an orange orchard w/ the intention of making money.

if the government could suddenly start effectively policing illegal music downloads, I doubt that people would actually buy that much more music. there's too much (legally) free music out there on myspace etc. and hundreds of thousands of radio stations to listen to.

And then of course you can release your little bedroom album over the internet and market it yourself, but it's most likely not going to reach as many people.

if people like it, it's gonna reach a whole lot more people than it would have 20 years ago.