who is Bob Lefsetz?

At best we can argue stars are built on YouTube. Like PSY.

Yeah, you can't get away from that guy. Curse you, YouTube!

It's true though, isn't it? Spotify etc. hardly important players compared to youtube? Video killed the radio star etc.

I'm clearly not getting why this Lefsetz is such a sucker, polemics aside his points seem as valid as so many others.

come to think of it, did the music video outlive the album in the digital age? do more people know what taylor swift looks like in the Shake It Off video than can mention an album cut from 1989?

I'm clearly not getting why this Lefsetz is such a sucker, polemics aside his points seem as valid as so many others.

― niels, Monday, August 10, 2015 10:26 AM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

keep reading!

At best we can argue stars are built on YouTube. Like PSY.

Thought of this though in the context of The Golden age of Internet comes to a close?, and how Facebook/Spotify/Tidal etc. aren't platforms where individual artists emerge out of nowhere.

Seems weird to have a go at Apple Music for not breaking any acts in it's less than ten weeks in existence, when YouTube has had over ten years.

He called John Oliver the "thinking man's Donald Trump" today.

no seriously who is bob lefetz

But the youth have lost their way. Growing up in a challenged economy they’ve paid fealty to the almighty dollar. There’s no mystery why rap videos feature Benzes and country lyrics contain alcohol brand names. Because these empty suits were brought up in an era where speaking truth to power was anathema, in other words, we haven’t had that hip-hop spirit here since 1999.

that has to be peak Lefsetz

they say two thousand zero zero, passion's over. oops, out of time.

it's a shame kendrick is more focused on brands and less on politics than late 90s puff daddy was

is that the man on the Taylor Swift song? she has some opinions on the industry

First there’s the self-immolation. Akin to the rock stars of yore. “I’ll do what I want to and bear the brunt of the consequences.” You’re supposed to bow to the powers-that-be and apologize. Instead Trump doubles-down.

Then there’s the burning of cash. The loss of “The Apprentice” and beauty pageant telecasts. No one does this. As Taylor Swift invites critics to her house and bakes cookies for nobodies, the Donald is out pissing people off. We haven’t had that spirit here since 1969, and it’s truly refreshing

I remember the old days. When we all rushed to the movie theatre so we could be part of the public conversation. Can you say “Pulp Fiction”? But then films, like Viacom, became so money-driven, so inane, that adults stopped going. And now it turns out kids are burned out on the superhero flicks, and although I’d like to dig deeper into the failure of Hollywood, its eclipse by television, my only point is that films are no longer dominant. They come and go in weeks at most. Next!

beautiful formal gamesmanship there imo, with "next!" being both the depraved modern audience demanding the new ephemera and lefsetz's restless eye turning on another phenomenon to limn

In a nation where you have to get someone to say yes before you can have sex on a college campus

Eazy you made that one up. tell me you made that one up

this is major lefsetz. the most essential post in ages.

it covers everything.

Düder's getting more mileage out of the "'69" than the Donster at this point.

how did we miss this

http://shutuplefsetz.tumblr.com/

haha if anyone wants to be added to that tumblr's contributor list lmk

The public is disenchanted with politics and is following Donald Trump and you think we believe in One Republic, we the people who buy Apple products?

Make me puke.

Once again, a rudderless company where the design and fashion heads have too much pull. New Watch bands and colors? How about better functionality? I returned mine, it sucks.

Wowsers:http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/index.php/archives/2015/08/30/keith-richards-solo-album/

Once again, the media masters are out of the loop. That’s this year’s story, not has-been rocker drops an album nobody cares about, but how the press could get it so wrong, believing we actually care. Donald Trump wipes away convention, shows that the people have a brain, but in entertainment coverage it’s the same as it ever was. But now there’s even more of it. Over and over again I hear Keith Richards has a new album… AND I DON’T CARE!

it's true the people only have one brain

I would love to hear those posts read in the voice of Travis Bickle.

for someone who doesn't believe in donald trump this guy sure fawns over him a lot

― for sale: baby shoes, never worn your ass (katherine), Monday, August 10, 2015 10:51 AM (1 month ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

damn should have posted that an hour and 17 minutes later

Last I looked it was called the MUSIC business! Not the hype business.

Last I looked it was called the MUSIC business! Not the Adam and Steve business.

First they came for the CDs.

Then they came for the cable.

So, so long not only record stores, but discs of all kinds. You love vinyl, great, I know some Civil War re-enactors you might want to talk to.

So long meaningless sales reports in the media. They’re gonna switch completely to streaming as soon as “Billboard” does, which will be a step too late, but is in the offing.

So long front-loading your publicity. If you can’t get people to listen over time, if your album has got no legs, you’re better off not putting it out. People know whether it’s a dud in a day. And no one is fooled by your scorched earth publicity campaign, they’re actually turned-off! The hip-hop and R&B stars lead with days worth of advance publicity, if they employ any at all!

How could they get it so right?

Because they’re in touch with the street, and they know that if you’re not busy being born…

You’re busy dying.

http://images.rapgenius.com/67a313285fceea6020e8811774b36e7a.600x452x1.jpg

Ted Gioia is the new Bob Lefsetz. Here's a talk he gave called "The Crisis In Music" (quotes his):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NT-fbu4b40

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xOK9ETlhRs

ouTube and Spotify freemium are cheaper. And no one's using Rdio, not to mention Rhapsody and Apple Music... HA!

I’ve been a victim of internet hate. Sometimes private, sometime public. Sometimes e-mail, sometimes on Twitter and other social networks, as well as nooks and crannies all over the web.

My crime?

Having an opinion and a status those complaining do not.

I won’t say I’m powerless against the online terrorists. I’ve learned you can conquer them. By attacking them individually. By hitting them where they live. Criticizing their little lives, getting personal. They don’t like the light shined upon them. If you make it about them, as opposed to the content, they freak.

Which is why I’m all in favor of striking in the middle of the night, when the enemy is unprepared. That’s what the Israelis do.

Root out ISIS. And root out spam and online hate while you’re at it.

just when you think he can't go any higher, he levels up

no doubt the man is a miracle

Which is why I’m all in favor of striking in the middle of the night, when the enemy is unprepared. That’s what the Israelis do.
damn, what does this mean?! midnight tweet storms!? please lesfetz don't hurt em

His shtick is deathless...some pearls from his Allen Toussaint tribute:

I bought “Dixie Chicken” because of incredible reviews. And when I broke the shrinkwrap and dropped it on the turntable…I didn’t understand it, not at all. But I kept playing it, BECAUSE I PAID FOR IT! That’s what’s different from today, music was scarce, we didn’t have much of it, and when we made an investment, we wrung it for everything it was worth.

FORTUNE TELLER
The Rolling Stones

This is so fresh, so magical, such a window back to the midsixties, it makes you want to jet back there right now, when you had to leave the house to feel the music in you. This is so simple in a way so much of today’s music is so complicated. Without comping and additional tracks there’s an honesty and a raw humanity that you can only marvel at. And the irony is this is exactly what the Stones have sold on tour, then and now. You go to see them and they’re rough, but then they lock on and your jaw falls open. Because it’s about catching lightning in a bottle as opposed to perfecting an image and sound for a public who you thinks wants it but doesn’t. People want truth, reflected back to them, never forget it.

...and my new d/n

People want truth and three chords!

kind of feel like truth is the opposite of what i want

Maybe just some truth?

i can't handle the truth!

as far as I can tell his argument is "we need to solve income inequality so the plebes can stop calling me a big fat meanie. also, ISIS?"

also this -- "I won’t say I’m powerless against the online terrorists. I’ve learned you can conquer them. By attacking them individually. By hitting them where they live. Criticizing their little lives, getting personal. They don’t like the light shined upon them. If you make it about them, as opposed to the content, they freak." -- comes perilously close to endorsing doxxing of, idk, taylor swift fans