What Steve talks about is not rocket-science. Frankly, it astounds me that the music industry in Louisiana is still treated like a red-headed stepchild, that is a crime.

It would behoove the Department of Economic Development to take a look at what was accomplished with the LMC.

Imagine if we gave the same incentive credits to an industry that has a 100+ year established history in Louisiana other than the film industry.

Last time I checked, we were the only state in the union with its own music genre designation.

Kudos to Steve, Bernie and Mr. Marsallis.

Thank you for all you guys have done!

Adrian

The fundamentals have not changed: sell music, have people pay to hear you play then you are a working musician. However, supply and demand combined with lifestyle changes and a radical shift in how people get their music has clearly upset the applecart. It’s never been a question of talent. There are literally thousands of great songs out there that could’ve/should’ve/would’ve been hits. Reaching the audience and then having that audience buy-in to the dream are the critical steps that can no longer be easily attained.

In the old days, when there were 3 networks and a few key influential magazines, companies and promotions people could spend enough money to make stars. These days you can spend vast sums of money and not make a dent in the public’s mind, much less their pocketbooks. Consider that a typical blockbuster movie can spend more than $20-30 million on marketing and still flop miserably.

As a full time professional musician from 1976-91, I knew then that we were walking on a lit fuse as changes were coming fast and furious. Today, with $4 a gallon gas and 12% (and growing) inflation, I cannot imagine what would possess one to undertake the difficult life of a musician. However, we in Louisiana are blessed with a rich, unique musical culture. It is unlike anything on the planet.

What I continue to write about is the disconnect between public/government efforts and reality. And now, it’s about an unwillingness understand and support an asset that defines Louisiana in the ears, hearts and minds of the world. As a state, we are failing to effectively study, teach, preserve and promote our music. Our festivals continue to thrive but our musical fabric is thin and frayed. I believe we can do better.

Thanks for your comments and for taking the time to visit this site.

You heard it here first: there is barely any possibility to make money on music with the Internet that doesn’t involve getting an AUDIENCE to BUY A CD. Check this: SONY, WMG, EMI. etc. can’t make digital sales add up to more than 10% of real goods, WHO CAN DO BETTER?

For a garage band of four, the net margin per band member, considering a generous 50/50 deal with a label, about 6 cents per 99-cent download… So, for each band member to make $10,000 on digital sales (neglecting all costs MAKING and PROMOTING the record, all recoupable, btw), the sales need to be 170,000 paid downloads… but reaching 170,000 takes a lot more marketing fuel than $40K can buy.