“Hiya!” – says Cat in a comment post to Dear Featured Artists’ Coalition …, going on
“New to the site and would like to see a list of all artists who are into this.
“Alphabetically, please and thanks.”
Excellent request.
It’ll be interesting to see the response.
Cheers!
Jon Newton
December 28th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Okay, we all know why Cat’s request is “cute”. I was amused as well, but it didn’t take reality long before it killed my chuckle.
Let’s face it, we’re collectively making a lot of comments that will simply be construed as having that “negative tone”. Not that there isn’t an incentive for this tone, don’t get me wrong! I’m just making the observation.
A few things to think about…
1. We already knew that the majority, if not all, of the FAC artists didn’t support Billy when this site was erected. They didn’t agree with much of the personal opinions he expressed in the first place.
2. Billy didn’t agree with much of what we had to say, either, coming in and, by the looks of it, going out.
This means the gap between what we think and what the FAC artists think is really huge.
For the most part, we’re just vermin in their eyes – thieves and rebels without just cause, whose only wish is to see them all living in a cardboard box under a bridge. They’re used to a lifestyle that easily makes us look like that.
3. Nobody’s *obligated* to join this site or follow its conversations, including any artists, let alone FAC members. “Calling them out” probably does nothing but amuse some of them.
4. The FAC, as I understand it, would seem to be made up of established, label-contracted performers who don’t really want to be seen as “bucking the system” any time soon.
The only artists that are in a position to be “seen” participating with us would be among the newer artists – the ones whose livelihood isn’t already locked into the RIAA way of life.
____________________________
Continually trying to “persuade” the FAC to show us its hand and join in is futile. If any of them had any ideas of making an appearance here, they’d have done so. And, if any are actually lurking, they’re only going to take every little attempt to goad them as some kind of “snipe”.
Personally, I don’t think the FAC is even lurking that much, if at all. Though people like Annie Lennox, Nick Mason, David Gilmour and George Michael are among my favourites, I’m pretty sure they would say they “have better things to do” than ogle our rantings.
After all, what real incentive would they have?…
The old business model has already made them comfortable, and most of us are in the process of “bashing” that same model. Sure, there’s every reason to bash it, but from where they sit, it can’t be hurting them too much, and we look like the bad guys.
December 28th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
@Devil
Agreed. I’ve pretty much given up on label artists showing up here, for all the reasons you stated, especially the last. Change doesn’t benefit them. What I’m not seeing and would like to see are independent artists, people who have a lot to gain from the publicity that p2p gives them. Maybe some of them think you need to be established and signed in order to post as an artist here?
December 29th, 2009 at 8:18 am
Frankly, the old guard are exactly that. Old. They’re like the labels. Completely out of it. But I still haven’t given up on Billy as an individual artist.
Over time I expect to more and more see indie artists joining in here.
They’re the future; they’re what it’s all about, not a bunch of old rockers who still believe we owe them a living.
Cheers!
December 29th, 2009 at 8:51 am
In a bit of response to the thread as a whole, allow me to be the first independant artist to post a response. My band and I have been working hard to keep as complete independants. Booking, management, production etc. has been dealt with ourselves exclusively for the past three years. We’re on the verge of completing our first full length album and have no plans to shop it to any of the majors, minors or labels in general. The internet has changed things. It’s a revolution of extreme importance very similar to the change brought on by the ability to mass produce recorded music that grew from the 40’s onward. That age has passed, the industrial revolution has passed. Welcome all to the digital revolution. Once we all embrace the technology at hand new business models will start to prove successful. In the meantime keep your work independant. We may not be making millions…or even thousands…be lucky to make a few hundred a show right now, but we’re in it for the long haul.
For the past month I’ve been progressively keeping up with postings on a2f2a. It’s been very interesting to keep up with happenings internationally within the industry. Since stumbling upon the site I’ve been telling all of my peers about a2f2a to recommend keeping up with the goings on here. Keep up the great work as I look forward to the posts every day!
Feel free to check out the band if you get a chance at http://www.myspace.com/theentertainmentband. Our older demo’s are on the player but we’re hoping to have new stuff up there within the next couple of months.
Cheers!
December 29th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Thanks, Chutney.
Cheers! And all the best for the new year …