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.
So very true, Eddie. These guys have to make a living and it’s sad so many of them have to tour like they do. Making matters worse, they get that stupid “supergroup” tag put on their projects before anyone hears one note from them and a lot of times I think sets them up for failure.Sometimes, actual magic happens, like Black Country Communion, but more often it’s done and over in less than a year. Mike’s a great example of a great musician spreading himself thin at times, so is George Lynch. But like you said, it’s not just guys like them doing it now. The music industry is broken to the point that I don’t think it’ll ever return to how it was back in the good old days. But I agree that the less is more approach can work and bands like AC/DC and Iron Maiden are great examples of that. AC/DC don’t even have an album out yet and I’m already excited about seeing them live again because it’s been so long since they last toured. Granted, those two bands are on a much greater level of success than most bands are, but it still shows what excitement it generates when artists haven’t been around for a while between albums and tours. Look how excited so many people were when Jake E Lee finally resurfaced.
People just want the instant satisfaction of any song or band. FM radio format won’t even touch new stuff from older bands. I heard Neal Schon solo album good stuff but that wouldn’t be on regular radio. Most people don’t explore they consume what they only hear.
Buy a football team or open a burger n beers joint..
Frankly, the reason their new projects don’t sell is they are just regurgitated songs from their previous bands. Fans don’t mind if an artist does a solo project that is a way of them stretching themselves, playing a different type of music, say country or jazz. But when the stuff sounds like what was left on the cutting room floor from their bands last album, well the fans aren’t stupid!
Here’s the new business model for new “supergroups” ( a diluted term-once upon a time you had to be previously in a major band):
Release first album.
Do small tour. Record that tour.
Six months later, release live album of that tour.
A year after release of first album, re-issue it with “bonus tracks” they may be stuff that was not good enough, or “alternate takes” which are the versions that were not good enough to make the album.
Also release a “collectors edition” of this same re-issue with a “making of” DVD of you farting around in the studio.
Remember you made this because you wanted to “do something for the fans that have supported the band all along” (the whole 12 months!).
When none of this sells (apparently fans aren’t as dumb as you thought). Quit band saying they were not playing the kind of “rocking music” you wanted to play.
Start new band.
Release first album……..
Most people have greatest hits syndrome they only wanna see the greatest hits live forever my opinion boring.