Don Henley: Killing the Music, WP

[Burma Jones]

This is another voice against media consolidation. Henley has good points here and he relates them very well. The days of the independent record store are disappearing fast. While I'm no Eagles Fan, I think I am now a Don Henley fan.....

-snip-

Labels no longer take risks by signing unique and important new artists, nor do they become partners with artists in the creation and promotion of the music. After the music is created, the artist's connection with it is minimized and in some instances is nonexistent. In their world, music is generic. A major record label president confirmed this recently when he referred to artists as "content providers." Would a major label sign Johnny Cash today? I doubt it.

-snip-

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46669-2004Feb16.html

[Wickerman]

1. He makes good points

but because of the heavy rotation his band and his own weak music received with each successively weak release, and then the continued bombardment on "oldies" stations, dozens of other artists never found their way to the radio table.

Is he personally responsible for those artists being under-exposed? Not really, but he willingly has released "product" for years as opposed to creating anything innovative. Henley has been the ultimate "content provider" for years. He had early success, so the marketing wizzes did their job and cashed in on his early rep, force feeding through heavy rotation each new version of product.

Step aside Don, be part of the solution, free up the airwaves.

[dwckabal]

3. Excellent point, lunabush! N/T

[Jade Fox]

4. In Henley's defense...

He is a serious environmentalist, so hopefully some of the proceeds from
that latest Eagles "farewell" tour are doing some good.

Plus, "Good-bye to a River" is a great song, not that you'll ever hear it on
the radio.

[Bronco69]

2. My partner and I have been saying this for a long long time.

There is a lot of talent that is going unnoticed these days. Brittany, Christina, et al are certainly attractive, but have no talent. If it wasn't for the auto tune on their mikes they couldn't even sing.

[icymist]

5. Music is communication.

Haven't we learned that from Morrison, Hendrix, Cobain..... When the powers that be see a form of uncontrolled communication they will censor it.

[AtTheEndOfTheDay]

6. His rereleased albums come out every year.

Talk about product. And his concerts are the most pricey anyone could go to. He's right but a hypocrite