“This focus on auto-tuning, on getting everything exactly right in the studio is working against us.  Live music disappears into the ether, that's its magic.  The key is to capture the inspiration, the energy of a great performance in the studio.  Massage it too much and you miss it.”

“Today's audience sees music as background, not foreground.  Aural grease in a club, not something you sit on your floor and listen to again and again as it fulfills your soul.”

“From: RZA (Wu-Tang Clan)
Re: World Domination
Not a bad view. Yet don't overlook that all the above could be by design. Music cost to makes so it should have a turn around. Even a corner beggar with a guitar or voice makes coins and dollars with his music. Music being free on the internet is a subtle way of stealing from the artistic community. Music is free to be herd by any one but recorded music done by a recording artist should have a point of compensation from the listener of the recorded product. Especially if the product becomes part of the listeners possession such as in his I pod or laptop etc.
The main thing I think we all are over looking is the fact that black music has been the victim of robbery for decades and according to the artist of the 60's we just started getting our due in the 90's with the emergence of hip hop and rnb. Now the hip hop generation is on the brink of extinction. Yet these internet free sites such as napster myspace and you tube just to name a few has sold for billions of dollars. I once read that the music industry was a 4 to 6 billion dollar a year industry and that money was spread out across many labels publishers and artist. Now that money has been put into the hands of just a few individuals who figured a way to get the product to the public for free yet the banks reward them for stealing our culture with supreme wealth. I mean how is napster one moment a guy who just wanted to do something for free end up with nearly a billion dollars. All the music he stole probably produced that much in royalties or pub. Yet the artist got nothing. Same for you tube. I have seen my song l a rhumba get nearly 5 million views yet I haven't received a dime for it because you tube suppose to be a free domain yet it sells for a billion. Now many artist who were feeding their families off music now must tour more or find ways for income when the thieves walk away with wealth.
This is just some more food for thought. Peace.”

“1. Susan Boyle "I Dreamed A Dream"
Sales this week: 136,566
Weeks on: 6
Cume: 3,103,828

TV didn't sell this album, the narrative did.
My point is, just because you're on television, that doesn't mean anybody will want to buy your music.  Otherwise, Snooki would be number one!
But here we have a story.  Unattractive wannabe makes it solely on her talent.  In a world topsy-turvy with haters, frustrated by those blessed with good looks or good money, is it a surprise that the public wants to root for an underdog?
Does this portend an end to the bitches and ho's hip-hop ethos?  I.e. I'm rich and I fly on a private jet and party with an exclusive class, buy my record and by the way, fuck you?  Turns out, being humble just might be the answer to success these days.  Hey, isn't it interesting that the Dave Matthews Band was the number one touring band of the decade?

2. Lady GaGa "Fame"
Sales this week: 82,148
Weeks on: 62
Cume: 2,387,666

Is the same thing that's made her famous going to be her downfall?
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta is not without talent.  But her notoriety is based to a large extent on her sartorial adventures.  And does anybody want last year's fashion collection?
Furthermore, Stefani makes dance music.  The club hits tend to drive booties to bump, but don't insure long term careers.
The Spice Girls showed us people will want to see a hit act once.  But thereafter?
For GaGa to have legs, she needs to risk.  Because this paradigm has nowhere to go.  Next year at the VMAs, you change outfits twenty times?  In other words, maybe she has to sacrifice short term success for longevity.  The same way after purveying soft rock hit after soft rock hit John Mayer formed a blues rock trio and shredded.  The result may not have played well on Top Forty radio, but it did wonders for his credibility.  And live business.

6. Justin Bieber "My World"
Sales this week: 51,837
Weeks on: 7
Cume: 727,914

Just like milk, this comes with an expiration date.  It's just a matter of when.
So, if you can time your efforts to his career arc, you can make a ton of bread before you get out.  But he won't be playing a month straight at the Beacon years from now.

34. Adam Lambert "For Your Entertainment"
Sales this week: 17,236
Weeks on: 6
Cume: 433,834

The story overwhelmed the music.  Adam Lambert was seen as a celebrity more than a musician.  His exploits chronicled on gossip  as opposed to music blogs.  AI losers are better off following the Daughtry paradigm.  Start with the music.”

“Don't think about how you can placate radio, think about how you can placate fans.”

“People don't need music, but they want it.  When it's great.  When it speaks to them.  When it's seen as integral to their lives.”