Comments on: Grammys: That’s Not MY Music Industry

By: ger

ger — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 04:00:55 +0000

Nice post, Jason.
If you think a jazz musician is in trouble in the states, you can imagine how Paraguay is!!! Yeah, it’s hard…
But at the same time, there’s no much difference with your situation. A musician just wants to make music. The best possible music.
There will always be better money in that pseudo-music. But if its money you want, becoming a musician is the wrong decision!
Being a lawyer or an accountant would be easier, faster and demand far less energy!

Greetings from the South

By: Jan Leder

Jan Leder — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 02:10:33 +0000

Great stuff, Jason! I also make my living playing jazz. I’m self-employed, work from home and average between 30-40 gigs a month playing in mostly healthcare facilities, for seniors and for the infirm. I adore my work because I make people smile and feel better, doing what I trained for so many years to do, and they really appreciate it. I get paid a respectable wage and raised my two children by myself on that income, and they got to see me doing what I love. I’ve been making my living exclusively playing jazz for 13 years, and now I also offer a consultation (and sometimes workshop) called “Making a Living in Music Wellness” because I also enjoy empowering other musicians.

By: mrG

mrG — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:51:04 +0000

I myself don’t bother much with big labels of any sort, but I do have a disproof of your thesis in one duo: Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer.

who? well, yeah, but dig, back in 1976 or so I’d catch Cathy playing hillbilly music in the basement of the St. Vital hotel in Winnipeg, and she was good at what she did, with an infectious presence and an authentic sound. Flash forward all these decades and I encounter Cathy again in her incarnation as a children’s performer paired with Marcie, they do YouTube episodes and perhaps also a local channel show, but they are selling some disks and as you say, they can do this business full time.

But then a very unexpected thing happens: I get this photo of Cathy and Marcie hob-nobbing with none other than Sir Paul McCartney. Say what? You see, there they are, peripheral to the gowns and glitter perhaps, but there nonetheless, up for a Grammy! And they got one, and say what you will, the laser beam attention of the public was drawn their way.

I don’t know if they noticed the event in their bankbooks, I do know they noticed a distinct set of doors opening for creative collaborations in the year that follows, but I have no idea if this was related. And they must have enjoyed it because this year they were back again for another.

So, in all fairness to the Grammys, I have to conclude that while I don’t think one should aim only for their recognition, the awards do, on occasion, recognize real hard-working dedicated musicians, and that recognition, whatever else it may be worth, is not a bad thing per se for the advancement of one’s career.

By: Fernando's Desk » Blog Archive » Whose Music Industry Is It Anyway?

Fernando's Desk » Blog Archive » Whose Music Industry Is It Anyway? — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:54:14 +0000

[...] Parker is a Jazz trumpeter and has a great blog called One Working Musician. Yesterday he posted Grammys: That’s Not MY Music Industry, which in many ways resonated with my feelings about this high profile US awards show. Jason [...]

By: Alexa Weber Morales

Alexa Weber Morales — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:44:46 +0000

I agree with you. I am not bothered by the Grammy telecast’s glitz, because I don’t expect it to reflect anything other than pop music. I fully enjoy the eye-candy and the showmanship — because say what you will, every performer was an excellent showman/woman. I think it also may be a reflection of the moment that we are feeling economically depressed, so the telecast emphasized the fantasy more than in other years, similar to how movies in the 1920s showed rich people partying in mansions. Escapism.

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Most Tweeted Articles by Jazz Experts — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:22:31 +0000

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By: Neil Alexander

Neil Alexander — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 04:00:31 +0000

Wonderful post, Jason. Nicely articulated.
I’m in the same boat – I do music full time. I’ve been a working musician for 30 years now. I’ve recently even eliminated 90% of music i don’t care for (including a really well paying gig) – so I can put 150% effort into the things I’m doing and feel great about it. The new revolution in social media has enabled me to promote myself as never before.
But to be quite frank it’s not quite…enough. I’ve been at this a long time, and I grow weary at never quite making ends meet. I’t a constant struggle (though it’s definitely “the good fight” as they say). I’ve a house (long story) and family, a day gig (playing Dance classes at a conservatory) that pays Gas Money; I live too far from NYC to be on the scene there…
I guess what I’m saying is 1) I agree with you completely – that’s not MY world. And 2) I’m struggling hard, and have been for many years. (So?)
Anyway, thanks again for a great read!
best,
- Neil A

By: Janet Hansen

Janet Hansen — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:07:18 +0000

A little later I’ll write a blog post about this topic…but the very best thing you can do to remedy this situation is become involved with NARAS. Agree the show was less than an honorable tribute the industry at large.

By: Heather

Heather — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:36:18 +0000

I’m having such a depressing Monday that even though I’m not a musician, I really, really needed to hear this. Thank you for reminding me – so much of that public megastardom is about appearances and comparisons, neither of which are the same thing as actual happiness.

Not that I’m on the path to megastardom – but I get suckerpunched by the comparison game every damn time. So thanks.

By: Sunstreaked

Sunstreaked — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:21:30 +0000

As a getting-older music fan, one thing I’ve noticed – Madonna always comes to mind – is that artists started getting glitzier and gimmick-ier as their voices were nothing special. Give me someone who can sing (!), who has a voice that drags me in and I’m a fan. Give me music that makes me want to move, that actually has rhythm (!) and I’m there. Have fun when you’re singing and engage your audience and I’m in. Congrats on what you do and may you find your dreams whatever they are!