First off, I want to thank you for getting a Twitter account. Unlike many other people in the top spots of the entertainment field, you are actually trying for some transparency. It seems a lot of times trying to get the industry’s attention is harder than getting a response to a letter to the President of the U.S.; but, you’ve embraced the most direct line of communication to people. I hope you get to read this and respond.
What I want to address is your statement that if people want live show ticket prices to go down, they need to “stop stealing music.“
Let me tell you that I have booked shows, have been booked ON shows, and know plenty of others that perform and hire performers. I know the general layout of how this all works.
Ticket prices were rising right around the mid-90s, the same time that CD’s were costing $20 and up. That’s when the music industry was making it’s most amount of cash, and has continued to rise ever since. It’s typical of every industry. As the demand for something goes up, you raise the price accordingly until the breaking point where the demand goes down. Right now you’re at a breaking point during a time where everyone can satisfy their demand for free.
There’s actually lot of reasons why people are not showing up to concerts as much anymore, but to name a few:
1. Because of the recession.
2. Because a lot of artists are complaining to the point where they look childish.
3. Because a lot of artists don’t have very impressive shows or hits right now.
I went to a show just last Friday that made me want to write this. It was for a very well known rapper who has been in a handful of movies lately. He’s had a strong career for about 10 years. If I didn’t have a friend that got us in free, I would have had to spend between $30-$105. As much as I like this guy’s music, I’m not going to spend anything in that range.
And though I got in free, the show sucked. There was only 1 opening act. There was no light show. No special guests. Nothing. The room seemed fairly populated but I could see some good chunks of empty seats. If I had spent $30 for regular admission, and maybe on some refreshments, and parking, I would have spent nearly $50 or more. To spend THAT much money for a lame show? I might as well watch concert footage of them on Youtube.
People have been turning off the radio. It’s much easier for them to find what they want, and a lot of acts are not keeping people’s attention. The entire industry, up and down, has sold out and is hardly pushing anything NEW and DIFFERENT. This is less about “stealing” music. It has to do with the fact that it’s hardly affordable for what they’re getting. $.99 is nothing for some candy, but I won’t spend a penny on a lame album, especially if I can get it for free! At least with the candy I can be pretty sure I’ll like it.
I read an article about how the morale of people changes during economic hardships. What the writer found is that people become largely skeptical and cynical of things during recessions and depressions. I never thought people would get cynical to the point where they don’t believe in artists anymore.
On just about all levels of entertainment people have to talk in exaggeration and hyperbole. The artist talks them-self up. The manager talks the artist up. The label talks them up. The media talks them up, until it finally gets to the last word, the fan. When the fan talks the person up, then you know that you’re on to something. But at this point, the average person has figured out that a lot of the industry is smoke and mirrors with little honesty. At this point, people don’t know when any artist is genuine or not. So many people think that the news is full of publicity stunts, Photoshopped images, and scripted behavior. There’s an unspoken trust between the artist and the audience, and if the audience doesn’t trust the artist they won’t spend a dime.
People like fantasy, but they don’t like being lied to.
There’s a thin line there.
As I have told folks before, there’s no guarantee for artists to get rich. There’s never been a promise for that, and the same goes for the CEOs.
At this point I think if more CEOS and heads of things like you really listened to the people, you’d find a much more fair way of making your money and giving the people what they want. People want to get things they enjoy, but you have to give them that and a reason to stay faithful.
2001- 1st semester junior year of college I was doing a domestic exchange at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. The Roots did a show at The Electric Factory in Philly. Outside the venue they were handing out CD samplers. One was a sampler for Q-tip’s then unreleased Kamaal the Abstract, and another was a sampler for a young woman named Res for her album How I Do. I put Res’ CD in my player and walked around campus listening to it. I had never heard anything like it. I’d never heard a voice like hers. It was like Tracy Chapman, Me’shelle Ndegeocello, and Alanis Morissette. But she wasn’t copying them. She was still herself, and sincere. When I heard her, I said to myself: “This girl’s got it.”
2010- Res came to LA for a Haiti benefit performance and I was introduced to her by the fabulous emoniFela. We all hung out and partied here and there. Low and behold Res was staying right around the corner from me so I gave her a ride home. On the way we talked about her life, growing up in Philly, a whole slew of things.
Before she got out the car, I said “Hey, I have this website where I interview artists and I’d really love to interview you.”
Well here we are. The point where we can really start to see the entertainment industry creating a new generation of talent. How it’s beginning to spawn a generation raised off the images shown all around. Young folks being clearly told what will make them rich and famous. Not talent, not skill, not the use of the intellect, but sex and sexuality. That message seems to get across to women most especially.
Here we have Montana Fishburne, daughter of acclaimed and world famous actor Laurence Fishburne. Her name has been all over the place in the past few days because she has decided to get into the porn business. She is quoted as saying that she entered porn first because…
“I’ve watched how successful Kim Kardashian became and I think a lot of it was due to the release of her sex tape by Vivid,” Fishburne said in the press release.” I’m hoping the same magic will work for me. I’m impatient about getting well-known and having more opportunities and this seemed like a great way to get started on it.”
Well, how wrong is she in her assessment really?
Look at Kim Kardashian. Paris Hilton. Many of the young starlets and socialites that have reality shows right now. Kim being known especially for her sex tape with Ray J. No one knew the Kardashian name before that. Now, all 3 of the Kardashian sisters have fame. They have multiple reality shows and product lines. Ray J sure isn’t suffering either.
Paris Hilton had a sex tape too. Didn’t stop her fame; in fact, it increased it.
They’ve become household names and idols to plenty of women. So now, all eyes are on Montana. Within days the story has circulated all over the major blogs and news sources. The question now is, will someone give her an acting job or reality show?
When it comes to entertainment, exactly what do we value? Does our society REALLY care if a girl’s first debut is in a porno, or if their claim to fame is having sex with a bunch of celebs? Yes the production studios have put money behind these women who have chosen (key word) to exploit themselves; and yet, many people keep watching. Who is setting the value: the watcher or the people providing the content? If women like Kim Kardashian, Paris, Superhead, and Kat Stacks are the new standard for fame and success, then how can you blame Montana for what she is doing? Sasha Grey was in a feature film by an acclaimed director, and now a regular on Entourage.
The same things we say we condemn, we are rewarding.
So clearly, we can’t really fault Montana’s judgment much, can we?
Well low and behold, we can get a preview of Montana’s work on this “music video” she has (surely to come with the DVD). Here she is, shaking her ass, as famed porn actor/director Brian Pumper raps. The track is called “Oh, And It’s Shaved”.
Classy.
God I feel bad for Laurence. Word is, he’s really unhappy about this.
But let’s take a look at the patience factor Montana mentioned. She wants fame and doesn’t want to wait. Well, nothing is guaranteed in the entertainment industry. Black male actors are definitely few and far between. I wouldn’t doubt Laurence has some connections though. But what if his connections are becoming out-dated or too slow to work? What if he is also suffering from not gettin much work? I mean, aside from CSI, he hasn’t been in anything very note-worthy lately. Nothing of Matrix or Othello status. So, Montana wants to get rich, nationally recognized and famous, quick. Well…She did it, didn’t she?
I’ve always found it kinda interesting how some famous peoples kids get famous. Some of their parents give them a guiding hand, and then some don’t. They say, do it yourself. I’ve never quite understood what all goes into that. What if Montana tried daddy for help, and daddy said “No.” Then what? Pay dues, or get naked? Seems like you have a higher chance at fame and fortune getting naked now than you do with hard work. *shrug*
And according to her, it seems like having sex with a camera around is nothing new to her. (God I feel bad for Laurence).
But hey. She’s 19 (barely). She’s an adult, right? At this point she has to make her own decisions.
How do we judge? I don’t judge porn actresses. In fact I interviewed one (look below). And in her own words, the biggest pornographic actresses are Paris and Kim Kardashian. Remember Paris’ Carl’s Jr Commercial? Half naked on a car? That was shown all day. When kids could see it. If a person wants to get into porn, for adult viewers only, and they care about the line between adult entertainment, well then there’s not much one can say. But if someone produces adult themed content, without care if children watch it, or what message it sends to young viewers, then who is going to police those values? Not many people have so far.
I surely can’t help but to feel bad for Laurence. I saw that video with Montana (aka Chippy D), and felt bad. It was like a mentor or teacher’s daughter was on the video. And there she is, dancing for money and to be recognized. Lord knows that this may be an acting out of “daddy issues”.
But hey…What can anyone say if, in the months to come, we see her name all over Twitter, and her making guest appearances at parties, getting paid a few thousand to sit in VIP?
This is the fame we have come to cherish and now advocate.
As they say “Don’t hate the player, hate the game.”
Wasup folks! Got some new music for you. Featuring yours truly on 2 tracks. Project headed by
the homie Sean Wan called Mutant Emcee vol. 1
Imagine if the X-Men were rappers. Pretty ill right?
It feels good to be part of this project because it takes me back to my comin up days. Where underground lyricism and experimental styles were cherished. It’s been a while since I’ve heard a project that was more dedicated to emcees who take their pen game more seriously than just their image.
Take a listen on the player below, and feel free to download!
We continue with Res as she talks about…
