sweet release, oh how you soothe me
Taylor Hicks has been dropped from his recording contract with J Records, according to this article in the Hollywood Insider. Is this a sweet release for Hicks? Too soon to tell, too soon to even know if the report is accurate.
But you can’t open a music publication these days without seeing something on the state of the record business, so this news about Hicks and my persistent ignorance on the topic caused me to turn back to a recent article in Wired that I’d only skimmed:
David Byrne’s Survival Strategies for Emerging Artists — and Megastars
The article is long, but worth it. He offers a concise history of how technology effected our relationship to music:
Technology changed all that in the 20th century. Music — or its recorded artifact, at least — became a product, a thing that could be bought, sold, traded, and replayed endlessly in any context. This upended the economics of music, but our human instincts remained intact. I spend plenty of time with buds in my ears listening to recorded music, but I still get out to stand in a crowd with an audience. I sing to myself, and, yes, I play an instrument (not always well).
But the meat of the article is his assessment of how recent changes in technology influence the traditional business model and his outline of six basic distribution models in this brave new world. Between total control by the label on one end (what Byrne calls the 360, or equity, deal) and self-distribution on the other are several other possibilities (with many variations). I won’t recap here because his text is more understandable than I could make it.
As far as I can tell (from my vantage point of full ignorance), Hicks has, so far, worked both of the extremes. But there seems to be a lot of choices between major label and roll your own. It will be interesting to see where he would choose to go next, but I think the “licensing model” sounds particularly interesting. Byrne makes it clear that there is no one right choice:
No single model will work for everyone. There’s room for all of us. Some artists are the Coke and Pepsi of music, while others are the fine wine — or the funky home-brewed moonshine. And that’s fine. I like Rihanna’s “Umbrella” and Christina Aguilera’s “Ain’t No Other Man.” Sometimes a corporate soft drink is what you want — just not at the expense of the other thing. In the recent past, it often seemed like all or nothing, but maybe now we won’t be forced to choose.
Ultimately, all these scenarios have to satisfy the same human urges: What do we need music to do? How do we visit the land in our head and the place in our heart that music takes us to?
Will Hicks’ next release be a fine wine or funky brew? Sweet, either way.
Umbrella, Rihanna
Ain’t No Other Man, Christina Aguilera
categories: biz
tags: David Byrne, J Records, recording contracts, taylor hicks
posted by what at 08:54 pm
I said a long time ago (about a year ago) on a another message board Hicks needed to start is own label. I believe he would be quite successful.
Regardless of which avenue Hicks takes, he will still be at the “mercy” of the consumer and the media ( bloggers, critics, etc ). How Taylor’s product and his personna is PERCEIVED by both won’t be affected by who produces his CD.
Welcome back “what” and Happy New Year - afraid didn’t get as caught up here as I had planned but did make a dent.
Can’t thank you enough for this article. Only had time for a skim at the moment but looking forward to a full attention read. Seems the response section will be interesting as well.
Gave up corporate soft drinks and most name dropper wine a while ago in favor of microbrews and small wineries - - guess without realizing it I had done the same with my music a long time before that. Just to complete the analogy - am looking forward to whatever concoction Taylor serves up since it will be his formula.
JMHO obviously - but can’t help thinking the break with the label was a carefully planned move - or Taylor just likes setting up companies. This comment he made seems appropriate to add here:
“I once heard that a successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her. I definitely apply that to my own life and use every experience as a learning opportunity “
AH, I still like my diet Coke from time to time, but would welcome an album with a more natural sound (still working on just what that means).
But, Cath, I’m not sure I’m getting you. While I think the music product is effected by the producer (that’s an art form in itself), I certainly accept that a lot of what I didn’t care for in the first album was Hicks’ own choice.
But the idea that he’s at the “mercy’ of listeners (whether amateur consumer or professional critic) for how the album is perceived? Well, yeah. That’s the point, isn’t it? The artist makes the music he wants to make and we listen and agree or not or whatever. He’s at the “mercy” of our perception just like we’re at the “mercy” of his expression. Like any communication - our control over what people think of us and our ideas is pretty much limited to our powers of persuasion.
Certainly, other things can enter into people’s perceptions, but the basic equation isn’t going to change.
And like I said, I don’t know whether this change will be ulitmately good. Even if it is, it may well represent a step back for now (he was “dropped” afterall, if the report is correct) Who knows. But speaking personally, every step further away from AI is a step in the right direction, as far as I’m concerned. That may or may not be short sighted as far as career development goes, who knows, that’s not my business. Speaking purely as a fan, I’m looking forward to seeing what kinds of music, venues, gigs, fans etc emerge when that beast no longer has to be fed on any level.
This is from an article in The Birmingham News
Friday, January 04, 2008 by Alec Harvey:
“Hicks is looking forward to a busy 2008 with a primary goal being a new album out in stores.
‘I think I’ll have a lot more freedom creatively this go-around,’ says Hicks, whose self-titled last CD came out seven months after he won “Idol.”
‘I’ll also have the time now to create an album without the post-winning-’Idol’ constrictions,’ he says. ‘I have time for the album to breathe artistically.’
Obviously, no mention of J-Records, but he sounds optimistic about doing this album his way.
Thanks for that article, Caryl, I hadn’t seen it. It’ll be interesting to see which way he goes, in terms of labels, deals, etc. What he says sounds good, but then, he was similarly optomistic before the first album. Though the Hollywood Reporter article seemed to imply that he’d be doing the next album himself, it doesn’t seem likely that the quoted source would be in the know. Personally, I think he could still use the advice of good producer. I hope he lands with some people that have a track record with soul/blues/jazz (assuming he’s still going in those directions).
I don’t think Taylor is a bit sad to be out from under J Records. Remember, he has his own publishing company (created shortly after he won AI) and therefore owns all the rights to his music. He has surrounded himself with artists who have been through the mill and being the student he is, I’m sure he picked their brain as to how to navigate the music business appropriately — The knowledge of Billy Ray McClelland, Steve Earle, Keb ‘Mo, Hank Becker and countless others Taylor has associated with over the years most certainly is a guiding force for Taylor.
Remember, he really had no choice but to take the J Records deal. If he wouldn’t have, they would have squashed him and the whole AI chance (and a year of his life) would have been wasted. This is one patient dude. He bided his time and fulfilled his commitment for their CD. However, I think he’s likely more trouble than he’s worth for them and they’ve got bigger fish to fry to try to save their miserable label.
Taylor’s got options and now he can go his own way. His touring and appearances more than pay the bills. Now for some “real” Taylor music and the new CD — perhaps on the Stax label?
I think it’s interesting that he wore that Stax t-shirt so much in the summer. He wore it at a show I went to in Norfolk. (ignore the serial killer expression on his face):
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t192/carylzimm/Virginia%20show/axemurderer-1.jpg
Happy New Year, What, and everyone – and thanks for this interesting Wired article. The recorded conversations with Brian Eno, and also with the guy from Merge Records who talks about file sharing, and the flat structured vs. the hierarchical record labels, are really interesting too. The fact that deals will be more on the artist’s terms in the future, and that old structures are falling is appealing on so many levels.
That being said, and acknowledging that there must be plenty of real options for Taylor Hicks, I do feel somewhat saddened at the news that he’s no longer with a major label. I don’t know. It seemed for a time like there was this sense of promise that he would be able to kick some major mainstream butt. For whatever reason, though, the ball was somehow dropped, and that was the end of TH bringing real music back to fucking pop-music.. (quoting from memory). I’m sure he’s resilient, and that his career needed a different approach anyway, I just can’t bring myself to actually celebrate.
“and that was the end of TH bringing real music back to fucking pop-music.. (quoting from memory). I’m sure he’s resilient, and that his career needed a different approach anyway,”
I’m not quite ready to throw in the towel on that just yet. Never thought that Taylor would be able to accomplish it on his own - was hopeful his visibility might help things along but felt it would take a continuous push by a number of artists for it to happen. Am assured by my son that he and his friends who are sick of the current music from the “suits” are seeing movement in that old pendulum. Maybe we need to apply Taylor’s marathon vs sprint comment about building his career to the emergence of a new direction in “popular” music too.
just a thought
AH, I see your point, and the fact that people like Amy Winehouse have big careers proves it too. But I’m a gloomy Scandinavian, and optimism makes me uncomfortable. Just kidding. Not too much, of course.
“Am assured by my son that he and his friends who are sick of the current music from the “suits” are seeing movement in that old pendulum.”
That line jumped out at me, AH. My seventeen year old son hasn’t listened to pop music in quite a while. He says nobody will remember it in ten years. He’s got a great ear, too. He’s quite good on guitar. He prefers classic rock, blues and soul.
But here’s the thing-I sent him a link to one of Taylor’s videos, that very hot performance with Keb Mo at the HOB in Chicago. (I’ll find it and include the link at the end of my comment.) My son refused to listen to it just because it was Taylor Hicks. My husband is the same way even though he listens to the blues often.
What do y’all make of that and do you think Taylor can overcome it?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MiGTtvCrzLY
Has anyone verified that Taylor has been dropped? I have read in several different places that Ruben Stoddard was dropped also. If it’s true about them both, it makes you wonder if the nightclub deals had anything to do with it?
Entertainment Weekly is pretty reliable…
http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2008/01/two-idol-winner.html
However, words in “the biz” are very crucial. The quote from a “J Label rep. is:
“Taylor is going to record his next album on his own. He is no longer on the J Records roster.”
Not trying to be Pollyanna, but I think that’s a telling statement. Perhaps Taylor’s tours (all three) were successful enough to allow him the luxury of buying his way out of his contract early.
I said very early on that a mildly successful CD might be the best for Taylor. Now, Chris Daughtry and Carrie Underwood? They’ll NEVER be on their own, although I doubt that they could succeed without the promotion and payola.
Caryl — I hear you on the “stigma”. My son is basically the same way and mainly because all of his friends (guys) think that American Idol is lame. I sincerely think that, for Taylor, the best thing is to continue to move further and further from AI, a la Kelly Clarkson. People forget that it took Kelly 3-4 years to really go “mainstream” and overcome her AI label — at least to the extent that she will ever be able to.
DP — as for Amy Winehouse and her “overnight success”…she’s been in the biz since she’s 10 years old. Her debut CD was back in 2003 — FIVE years ago. Let’s talk about Taylor four years from now. Who knows?
“I once heard that a successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her. I definitely apply that to my own life and use every experience as a learning opportunity “”
Taylor has issued some very noteworthy quotes!
My feeling is that the break with J (if confirmed) is calculated/and or orchestrated by Taylor to some degree.
Ticked off controlling executives and a headstrong musician with his own vision for his career are not compatible bedfellows.
I think the move will be a good one for Taylor and hope the media does not have a field day reporting otherwise.
Only time will tell!
To clarify a previous post: Whatever music Taylor choices or is forced to produce is perceived by the consumer and critic as either good, bad, or mediocre. Taylor Hicks, to his naysayers and detractors will still be Taylor Hicks and regardless of what product he puts forth , it will still be considered subpar, not worthy of purchase. Taylor Hicks to his admirers will still be Taylor Hicks and regardless of what product he puts forth, it will still be considered above par, worthy of purchase.
What Taylor must accomplish with his next CD is to get those people who have no preconceived opinion; that think he is average, just OK and “knock their frigging socks off.”
I pretty much like whatever Taylor sings because I love his voice, so though I may fret over whether he gets airplay, I have no doubt that I will enjoy the next album as much or more than the last three. Without anyone holding him back Taylor will produce a wonderful CD.
I remember seeing this video sometime ago. Maybe exactly what Hicks
is doing.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AJxc3Lxn4o
Here is Rolling Stone Mags blurb on it.
http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/01/07/britney-spears-lockdown-ends-with-dr-phil-visit-taylor-hicks-recording-future-in-question-liam-gallagher-fronting-supergroup-and-more
Here’s a new one (and fairly fair):
http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=e08bcb21-1e7b-417a-ae72-aee7d758d32c&sid=fd-hot3-txt
Just saw this on The Huffington Post, the source aparrently Associated Press.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20080108/people-taylor-hicks/
I hope this is okay to post here. Taylor’s message to his fans from his myspace page. It is the only word from Taylor on the blogs.
A statement from Taylor: To all my fans and The Soul Patrol, I want to take a moment to talk about the recent news that my label and I have mutually parted ways. The important thing for all of you to remember is that I’ve been a working musician my whole life. This is turning the page on a new chapter of my career. Artistic freedom and control is an exciting prospect. The things that are most important to me is creating my art, performing it, and my fans. With the momentum that all of you have created over the years, Taylor Hicks is not going to stop anytime soon. I’ve started working on the new album, writing and scheduling exciting collaborations. The DVD, Whomp at the Warfield, is in it’s final stages, and will be released soon. So as one door closes, a new one opens for 2008 with more excitement for all my fans than ever before. Sit tight, because the best is yet to come!
The BEST is yet to come! Amen to that, Taylor.
[...] I did turn back to the David Byrne article we posted about last winter to refresh my memory on distribution deals. Apparently, Hicks’ is [...]