Music Industry Dynamics: From Products to Services

You were talking about how the system and the process of the industry is changing and how the record industry is now looking at things much later because of this diversification.

Evolution of the Industry

Do you think that the Internet has created a system where, when you were rocking big hits, it was very much a product industry, but now it's a service sector?

• Now we're part of a service sector: the supply chain service.
• But the product is still essential. You still need a hit, don't you?

Of course! You still need to present yourself to make yourself interesting, and you need a hit.

Singles vs. Albums

In many ways, for people out there, if there are loads of singles oriented, it's not album-oriented. This is fine for having a hit. But people don't have patience anymore because society has changed.

• Patience: Do you see that some of these young people focusing on the Internet side lose track of the fact that at the core, you still need to go back to the basics?

Yes, very much so. It's about feeding the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is more important than the product that is on it.

Aspirations and Distribution

I want to be Pink Floyd or Roger Waters or Katy Perry.

• Different Paths: These are very different things.
  • Every big entrepreneur, like Giorgio Armani, will never go through the same chain of distribution that is used by Primark.
  • The chain of distribution by Armani defines the product itself. In our subconscious, our money is worth more than Primark in terms of quality.

Tidal Music and the Distribution Chain

Do you think that's what Tidal Music is trying to do with their offerings?

I tried, but you know, I'm not getting into that because I'm old. Obviously, I still remain a product guy.

• Advice for Artists: The best thing I can do today is to guide artists, students, or songwriters on how to make their product interesting so that the distribution chain can take care of the rest.

The Mainstream Dilemma

If the question is, is there space for another Jim Morrison or another Iggy Pop or Roger Waters or Bowie? I doubt it.

• Cultural Shift: I think there has been a sort of dictatorship of the nerd that has relegated these artists to dark places.
• They're not mainstream, and it seems they can't achieve mainstream success anymore.

The Legacy of Jim Morrison

Jim Morrison is another excellent example of a guy who wanted to say something and have success as well because he was a poet and wrote interesting things.

• Hit Songs: What do you do with "Light My Fire"?
  • It's a single song that doesn't require huge depth in lyrics or music.
  • It's a hit because it's very simple, a lullaby, a novelty hit.

Now, we wouldn't think of The Doors as The Doors today if their albums had a succession of seven "Light My Fires."

• Cultural Context: You were buying "Light My Fire," which led you into a march towards darker themes like "The End" and "Crystal Ship."

The Shift to Singles-Dominance

Today, that's not possible because it's no longer an album culture; it's singles-driven, song-driven.

Transitioning to Success

Let's move into this next section. I'd like to remember this discussion is about success, how to make a living and be very successful.

• Not Just Artistry: It's not just about being a real artist.

Artistic Realities

We talked about something else earlier, the reality of pop success.

• The greatest writer of the 20th century, Louis Ferdinand Celine, did not make a living from writing; he made a living as a doctor.
• Franz Kafka wasn't a writer by profession either; he worked as an insurance clerk during the day and wrote at night.

The Outsider Perspective

Being an outsider in the arts means you often have to find a job to support yourself.

• Reality Check: Unfortunately, that's the sad reality. My days consist of figuring out how to make a living out of what I do and what compromises I must make.

• Graft and Success: Success is found in the graft, in the work you put in.

Very good!