ELECTION
Mainstream media doesn't reach everybody, even though the Democrats thought it would.
MUSIC BUSINESS
Print means nothing, TV little, except for SNL and CBS Sunday Morning, yet the labels keep focusing on these outlets. As for radio... Find me anyone under 20 who listens to terrestrial radio, I can't. But labels keep focusing on radio, even though radio reacts last. It's a circle jerk between them and the stations, because they don't know what else to do.
ELECTION
Republicans knew that new media was everything, the right podcast is better than a scattershot approach
MUSIC BUSINESS
Want to game social media, and therefore can't acknowledge the truth, which is acts break on social media, but really no one has control, you chase as opposed to create.
ELECTION
Republicans said if Trump didn't win the game was rigged.
MUSIC BUSINESS
Game the chart into irrelevance. Such that there's a false #1.
ELECTION
Republicans knew the game had changed, Democrats still thought it was all about the ground game, knocking on doors. Democrats had all the money, but the Republicans used the new tools to better effect.
MUSIC BUSINESS
Same as it ever was. There's lip service to the new tools, but there's a belief that the old ones still work.
ELECTION
It's rigged
MUSIC BUSINESS
Spotify is rigged, I'm not making any money. Never mind that you may not have a good deal with your label, never mind that no one might be listening, you're entitled to riches, just like Harris was entitled to victory, but she wasn't.
ELECTION
Perception was that Harris was going to win.
MUSIC BUSINESS
Perception is that the Spotify Top 50 is everything, when it's never meant less.
ELECTION
People had had enough of the system, they wanted to turn over the table, they wanted change.
MUSIC BUSINESS
The majors release ever less product in ever fewer genres yet the public hungers for other stuff. Billy Strings is bigger than so many in the Spotify Top 50, he sells out arenas when many of those acts can barely sell a ticket. Streams are not everything, they're just one indicator. You've got to look at the overall picture. But some don't want to do this, because it's too murky, they'd rather have a false definition than chaos.
ELECTION
Heartland.
MUSIC BUSINESS
Country is bigger than pop. The acts at Stagecoach last, those at Coachella come and go.
ELECTION
Old school DNC thought it knew everything, when it knew little.
MUSIC BUSINESS
Boomers and Gen-X'ers who made their bones in the pre-internet era think they still know what is going on, but they're clueless.
ELECTION
Despite years in the public eye, many still didn't know who Harris was.
MUSIC BUSINESS
Despite hit after hit, many have never heard a single cut by those in the Spotify Top 50.
ELECTION
Throw the bums out, we want something different.
MUSIC BUSINESS
We'll give you the same damn thing, year after year. We're in control, you've got no choice, when this is patently untrue.
ELECTION
Public is hurting economically.
MUSIC BUSINESS
Acts are hurt by the labels. Live Nation is their bank, not Universal Music.
ELECTION
The Democrats believed the candidate didn't matter, it was all about values.
MUSIC BUSINESS
We'll serve you the same damn thing, it's easier that way, that's what you want, right?
ELECTION
About a minute of analysis, then blame, that's how the Democrats are taking their loss.
MUSIC BUSINESS
Zach Bryan, Billy Strings, Chappell Roan... They seemingly come out of nowhere, but the labels still don't want long term investment and they still want something that sounds like the old thing.
ELECTION
You don't have to play the game. Trump didn't debate, his Republican competitors or Harris more than once.
MUSIC BUSINESS
If you don't prove you're worthy, we're not interested. Show us the data, your streams, your socials, if you ain't got them we ain't interested, because that means you're not really that good.
ELECTION
Trump is a renegade living outside the system, like a rock star of yore.
MUSIC BUSINESS
Everybody's looking to sell out, to get in bed with the Fortune 500.
ELECTION
Stop thinking you're better than us, stop dictating to us.
MUSIC BUSINESS
Trot out Springsteen and Beyonce, Taylor Swift will make sure Harris wins.
ELECTION
Move fast and break things.
MUSIC BUSINESS
Move slowly, try to maintain control.
ELECTION
Trump is a cartoon.
MUSIC BUSINESS
Rap battle between Kendrick and Drake is a cartoon. You may be invested, like the Trump followers, the rest of the public is rolling their eyes and thinking it's ridiculous.
ELECTION
Trump demonized the system.
MUSIC BUSINESS
Everybody's buying into the system...this business used to be built by renegade outsiders, but we haven't had that spirit here since 1969.
ELECTION
Salt of the earth Kid Rock.
MUSIC BUSINESS
Katy Perry.
ELECTION
People are over it.
MUSIC BUSINESS
Won't let a good thing go, keeps forcing the same damn thing down our throats year after year.
ELECTION
Biden stayed too long, wouldn't give up power.
MUSIC BUSINESS
So many have been too long at the fair.
ELECTION
People could see with their own two eyes that Biden was compromised, and then they told people not to believe what they saw when he was clueless during the debate.
MUSIC BUSINESS
You love all those acts that win the awards and are everywhere in the news. Taylor Swift is America's sweetheart! If you say anything negative you're a hater and will be shouted down and ultimately be labeled a pariah.
ELECTION
Too much second-guessing by Harris. She was afraid to speak her truth.
MUSIC BUSINESS
Acts and their campaigns are micromanaged, whereas modern people know it's nearly impossible to gain traction, that you get into the marketplace early and stay there.
ELECTION
The Democrats knew better.
MUSIC BUSINESS
So many know better, it's the ethos of rock and roll. What you listen to sucks, it does not belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Let us tell you about this outside act that is good on paper, this is what you should be listening to.
ELECTION
Insiders missed it.
MUSIC BUSINESS
Never have insiders had less control, despite believing they still have said control.
ELECTION
It was about Trump.
MUSIC BUSINESS
We need stars. People who test boundaries. Icons who both represent the people but are above them. We're looking for leaders, soothsayers.
ELECTION
Make fun all you want, but most people wanted to vote for Trump.
MUSIC BUSINESS
So many of the acts hated by those who know better are warmly embraced by the public.
ELECTION
Changing demographics, Blacks and Latinos voted for Trumps in heretofore unseeable numbers.
MUSIC BUSINESS
Latin. An underserved market that has risen as a result of the easy accessibility of streaming.
ELECTION
A felon became President.
MUSIC BUSINESS
Going to jail is a badge of honor and enhances your career, it doesn't hurt it.
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