Wading through the thick murky waters of the music industry is generally accepted as being a tough and epic ordeal to say the very least. Thank goodness the “christian” side of the industry is a lot more pleasing, just like Jesus walking on water, its a pretty effortless ordeal. Everyone is pretty straight up with you, there are no under lying motivations …. not.
I had the honour of producing the latest release from an awesome band, and within the first few hours we saw it hit the Top100 Rock Charts on iTunes, and then keep cranking its way up to the Top 5. Our amazing publicist got us hooked up with a few “christian” websites, and we got set up for reviews.
The word “damn” and “hell” show up in two different tracks. We were automatically labeled a “non-christian” band, and quite rudely blacklisted and taken off their website. Before anyone took the time to see what the context of the lyric was, or even further investigating what the band was.
As the producer of this band, my first reaction was immediate and utter PANIC.. The easy solution was to cut the songs, and re track the lines that annoyed “ned flanders.” Panic quickly creeped up and before i knew it, i was tailoring an entire marketing plan, based on this one review, from this one website.
After speaking to a few friends my mind was put much more at ease, i wasn’t gonna change a song or a note for someone.. Hundread of hours had been poured into considering every note, every lick, every kick of this collection of songs. We truly want people to love them, and embrace them and feel them. But at the end of the day, I can only produce music that makes MY heartbeat, that makes ME feel, and that’s all i want.
I had to really think to myself what it meant to sell out. It’s industry jargon that is thrown around like a hot poker. things like , “brah, you totally sold out,” which translates to “dood, i wish i could be doing music for a living.” I’ve been accursed of selling out more than once, and succumb to the big benjamins. Well ladies and germs, after doing this for the better part of six years, i’ll say this…
- I spend 20 hours a day music / working w musicians i mostly love / cursing gear websites / writing and producing music that I love
- i’ve taken jobs completely based on the fact they would hold me over till the next paycheck
- at the moment, i haven’t made a single penny in over six weeks, yet have had an EP charted nationally, and released a single for a dear friend that has raised almost a hundread thousand for her final wish
- i’ve produced a music video done on a zero budget
- i’ve started trying to figure out how to manage a band
- in the last three months i’ve mixed a country record, an indie bands EP, an Bubble Gum Pop act, and getting ready for the rest of the PHAO and HELLOKELLY records.
- to steal a line from Francy, ” i’ve never been more fulfilled in my life,”
- i go to bed at 5am and wake up at 7am completely content and happy, knowing that I am living out MY personal dream.
John Mayer did a series of lectures at Berklee, and he said that everyone wants to “make it.” All “making it” means is setting up expectations. By that definition, i’ve certainly “made it.” I am so BLESSED to travel the world, recording and producing. An aquaintance from my hometown accused me of selling out, because I primarily work on POP music, saying that it has nothing to do with art, that it is nothing new. Stevie Wonder is pop music, Quincy Jones is one of the greatest pop music producers ever, to say that they didn’t create art is like saying that Bacon can’t be beautiful. Eff That.
But ultimately, if that is what it means to sell out… sign me the hell up. I will go willingly.
Here’s what i think selling out is..
Waking up one morning with a good paying 9 - 5 job, with a amazing plethora of gear, a home studio and being a miserable shit because I didn’t have the balls to pursue a dream. Selling out, is taking the easy way out, and then being a bitter old man. If i ever land there, then i’ve sold out, and it better be for some amazing reason like family, otherwise it doesn’t matter what everyone says about how sucessfull I am, i doubt i’ll be able to look my self in the mirror and smile while i try to open my squinty eyes and put on my contacts.
Much Love
Rant Over
Wayne Young
