Bob Lefsetz has a lot of important truths to share about the future of music, and this sums it up in a nutshell:
“This whole business is top-heavy. And these lumbering giants are trying to maintain their power, however ignorantly.
The key today is leaving some money on the table. Be willing to give the audience something for free, you’ll get paid back in spades, if you’re good.
That’s what it’s come down to again… Are you any good? Can you play your instruments? Can you write innovative material? Can you touch people’s souls? Can you change their lives? Can you infect them to the point where they’ll come to your show for years?
That’s the future of this business. Not dominant superstars, but tons of journeymen, super-serving their fan base.
This is the more difficult road. But since the usual suspects, attorneys and major labels, are not interested in this road, they’re leaving the journey open to entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs will inherit the landscape. A truly savvy one will roll up some acts to reach critical mass. The new entrepreneurs will not be chomping on cigars, going to lunch, but tapping their iPhones as they Skype contacts around the world, monitoring their business, giving those with the power to spread the word the tools they need to do so.
It’s not about less, but more. It’s not about drenching the public but starting with the trickle of one drop. It’s not about banging the audience over the head, but the sense of discovery and wonderment. It’s not about feeding the mainstream media, but the bloggers. It’s not about the deal, it’s about the music.”