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Topic History of: JK's serious advice to young music makers Max. showing the last 5 posts - (Last post first)
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JC
I agree that occasionally a performer will put so much into the promotional video that their music takes a back seat. This is a different age where image is far more important than substance (Tony Blair taught the kids that) so there is a belief that if it looks good it must be good. However, the fact that so many modern chart hits slip so quickly away into obscurity is that there is not enough about them to warrant long term interest. Compare that to how songs from decades ago, even some which were not big hits, still get played, covered, sampled and talked about. How many of the current Top 20 will be remembered ten years from now?
JK2006
I'm not saying You Tube is bad - I love it and am a big part of it; have been since it started.
I'm not saying videos can't be brilliant - and they can draw attention to terrific music - I still love the fat boy miming to that obscure East European hook!
But they can draw concentration away from perfecting the music. Too many funny, hooky, light, amusing videos get massive views (Chocolate Rain) and persuade people that the music is less important than the video.
PS Anyone else think Drake is Craig David pretending to be street cred?
PPS - link to Chocolate Rain in case Tipsters don't know what I'm on about... check out the views counter.
Jaded & Bored
Fair enough JK but I think we are in a different world.
Artists like Drake are huge on Youtube and are selling lots of downloads
as well. I am not a fan of his music but I can see how it works. Mind you
one can always make a photo only video or just put the sleeve of the CD
on it. I think you're right to a degree but if one can make eye catching
videos you might as well cash in on it and use it to become famous after
all isn't that what that ladyboy gaga does oops Lady Gaga I mean.
Blue Boy
JK "The problem is - the video aspect has grown in importance whilst the concentration on the musical aspect has dropped"
It isn't a problem, it is an opportunity.
We all talk about new business models please realise that these sort of things aren't planned. Most times new business models come about because of other developments and entrepreneurs taking advantage of them. The new distribution channels embrace video so if music wants to reach the people using these devises the video content must be working as well.
I agree with J&B, the days of kids sitting in their bedrooms listening to their Dansette Majors are gone, C30's C60'S - gone. Audio only music consumption will always remain for car drivers, joggers etc but all new music (of any worth) will have a video component. Youtube is too big to ignore and once you have a video it should be as good as you can make it.
JK2006
You misunderstand me J&B - of course videos are a superb promotional and marketing asset; indeed many are superb in their own right. I myself have made You Tube videos with well over 2 million views. And I made one of the first, for It Only Takes A Minute, in the 1970s.
The problem is - the video aspect has grown in importance whilst the concentration on the musical aspect has dropped.
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