8/26: THE MULTI TASKING MUSICIAN SYNDROME
I’ve often spoken about the over touring so many bands are doing these days. Playing so much their draw starts to decrease because people get tired of seeing them. It’s a by product of the fact that bands are not making money from selling music sadly. But we now have the over saturation of artists being in way too many bands. Again, same problem behind it. Artists are just casting their line out as many places as possible to see where they get a bite. All looking for something that has some traction and can be a viable source of financial and creative success. But I see it as really becoming a bit of an issue because it is flooding the market with product that has almost no chance to break through. I have been sent music featuring an artist from one label and had another label send me another release the same week featuring the same artist. How much can you do? How many interviews can you have with one person in one week? How can fans invest anything into some of these projects when you know it might already be over before it’s released or they may never do a live show? Very confusing. You have labels that will release almost anything from some bands but not ever really work it past a week. Hired gun promoters are everywhere pushing things one week to the next until the retainer they are paid runs out and then have moved on. Again I understand why it’s all happening but I also believe a less is more plan could work just as well. I miss the days an artist had one band and it was special to see them live or release and album every year or two. I know all things change and evolve but some of the multi tasking going on in today’s music world is hard to figure. It’s already hard when everyone is so over stimulated and with such short attention spans to sell music and get real traction, but when artists are hitting you with 3-4 projects or more a year you can’t blame the fan for being confused and not knowing where that person hangs their hat. Not blaming the musicians. The business has become the wild west and I don’t blame anyone for doing what they must to survive. But I have to think that it might be a better way if a band tried to just make a full commitment to one group and see what happens. Actually work and grow it and make all the focus on it. Tour, keep the priority in one spot. I have to laugh how a couple years ago my good friend Mike Portnoy was roasted for having several bands. Well guess what? Now almost everyone is doing it and it doesn’t seem so crazy.
Talent/creativity/longevity stand on their own merit. Portnoy and others cast their lines out because they don’t have the combination of talent and creativity to create their own “brand” so to speak. This isn’t a knock on them at all…it’s just reality. In every genre…sports, business, music, whatever…you have superstars who stand the test of time because they are more talented and more creative than their peers. That’s just the way it works. In the heavy metal/hard rock world, the more talented and more creative have survived, if they’ve been able to stay alive. I don’t need to tell you who they are because everyone knows who they are. Most of the people about whom you speak are talented and creative people, but not to the level of the superstars who have survived. The free market is a cruel but honest arbiter. Making a commitment to one group to see what happens won’t change a thing for 99.9% of the people that I know you are thinking about…they simply don’t have the unique combination to succeed.
“I have been sent music featuring an artist from one label and had another label send me another release the same week featuring the same artist.”
Are you referring to Nikki Sixx here? Touring with Motley Crue; releasing a country tribute album; and promoting the latest Sixx AM….
You make a great point though. However, there’s also the reality that the already-struggling major labels don’t allow bands to develop artistically or commercially. At best, they get one album, one single, and if that doesn’t catch fire, they’re on to the next band. In that kind of environment, “less is more” could leave you back at Square One without a label, promotion, etc.
You once again get the point across so well. You are right that to put themselves behind one project would in the end be the best, but that’s got to be easier said than done. This can never have been an easy way to make a living, but it appears to be harder now than ever. Tragic really that there is that pressure to do what they are doing just to stay alive as musicians. Thanks from your fans and on behalf of all the musicians who you also help. You’ve made a difference.
Up until I read the last two sentences, all I could think about was Mike Portnoy!
Portnoy is really bad about this. He needs to stop putting together super groups and try to get back into Dream Theater.
Mike HAS made a commitment to Winery Dogs now. But everyone will always do side projects. But that is the band where he hangs his hat now.
Portnoy’s commitment to Winery Dogs will last about as long as he can squeeze a dollar out of it, which won’t be long. Again, don’t take that as a slight…but he’s not a major name, never has been, and will always be fringe for the most part. And that is what fringe artists have to do to survive. He’ll hook up with somebody else and do what he has to do to make a living, which is fine.
I guess I don’t see this as a big issue like you do. It’s just part of the changing market…the strong survive.
I don’t think Portnoy will ever get back into DT as long as Mangini stays. I highly doubt the other members will kick Mangini out, especially if it’s just to get MP back in.
I’m forced to agree with much of this. My take on it is: If you are going to be in multiple bands, then be smart, and only work one at a time. Put out the record, promote it, tour behind it, and then set up the next project. Releasing multiple records in the current climate may or may not be “confusing”, but it certainly is sensory overload – not to mention a hit to the wallet for fans of that musician/artist. Nowadys, much of the product is put out by smaller indie labels, who do not seem to realize or care that flooding the marketplace with multiple releases featuring certain artists muddies the waters and dilutes what they do on all fronts. So, not only do the artists need to be smarter about how/when product is put out, so should labels and artist management.