I had a full night's sleep last night, got up at 1 PM, lay on the couch and watched TV until I kept nodding off. But then I made myself go sit in the yard and read for an hour to enjoy the unseasonable 24 degree temperature. Went back inside, lay on the couch watching a documentary on Earl Jones, and kept drifting off again. So I went back to bed and slept for five hours.
I've had chest congestion for almost a month now, ever since getting a simple head cold a few weeks ago. But maybe I've caught another bug on top of that, cause I have a sore throat and the congestion's worse. I have this pitiful little Zoolander cough, but just because I can't take full breaths.
Now I'm watching Dynasty with the cats, and I have energy for nothin' else.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Eeeeeeviiiil!
So I'm reading this book:
What They'll Never Tell You About the Music Business
I'm reading it as research for the book I'm writing. Now you see... I've always heard, and believed, that the music industry was shitté. But now I believe it is The Devil. It's, like, Satan personified. I didn't believe in demonry til I read this book. Not I understand why a black artist would go around with the word Slave written on his cheek in protest of his record company.
And this book isn't a shocking tell-all. It's a fairly dry and practical manual for artists and their teams on how the industry works, and how to run their personal businesses well. But the basic, dry facts of the case speak volumes.
In the music industry the artist pays for almost EVerything. The company foots the bills in the beginning, but you pay it allllll back from your royalties, while they start reaping profits from the first sale. This doesn't happen in other entertainment industries. An author might pay for some of their promotion costs, but she won't pay to actually, say, print the book. Musicians pay back the recording costs, mastering, fabricating the CDs, much of the promotional costs, tour costs (which are huge), and video costs.
But here's the bit I love. If the album's royalties aren't high enough to pay back the advance you were given, then the company starts taking the money off the royalties of... your NEXT album. This does not happen in the book industry. This doesn't happen to actors and directors.
It's like this weird combination between investor and banker. If you give someone a loan, then you have the right to get every penny back. If you're an investor, then you're a partner, and you share in the losses. But record companies are basically both--they invest, but they don't bear as much risk as a normal investor.
That's just one example. There are innumerable examples of how these companies, which are rolling in it, try to make the artists pay for more and more. It's ridiculous. The industry is full of supposed music lovers, often right up to the CEOs. How can these people claim to love music, and constantly screw over the musicians? It's ludicrous.
It reinforces my feeling that I like being part of the book industry. People in books LOVE BOOKS, and they LOVE THE AUTHORS. You can see it in the long hours and shitty pay. The agents believe in their authors and work long hours for little pay; the editors fight for their favourite books, champion their authors, working long hours for little pay. Not matter how big the publishing houses become, or the retail companies become, they are not rich, and don't spend their time scheming to get another penny out of the creative people without whom there'd be no business.
Oh la oh la. Digital music is probably the best thing that's happened to music in a longo time-o, if it ends up--block your ears--fucking over the vampires.
Ridiculous.
What They'll Never Tell You About the Music BusinessI'm reading it as research for the book I'm writing. Now you see... I've always heard, and believed, that the music industry was shitté. But now I believe it is The Devil. It's, like, Satan personified. I didn't believe in demonry til I read this book. Not I understand why a black artist would go around with the word Slave written on his cheek in protest of his record company.
And this book isn't a shocking tell-all. It's a fairly dry and practical manual for artists and their teams on how the industry works, and how to run their personal businesses well. But the basic, dry facts of the case speak volumes.
In the music industry the artist pays for almost EVerything. The company foots the bills in the beginning, but you pay it allllll back from your royalties, while they start reaping profits from the first sale. This doesn't happen in other entertainment industries. An author might pay for some of their promotion costs, but she won't pay to actually, say, print the book. Musicians pay back the recording costs, mastering, fabricating the CDs, much of the promotional costs, tour costs (which are huge), and video costs.
But here's the bit I love. If the album's royalties aren't high enough to pay back the advance you were given, then the company starts taking the money off the royalties of... your NEXT album. This does not happen in the book industry. This doesn't happen to actors and directors.
It's like this weird combination between investor and banker. If you give someone a loan, then you have the right to get every penny back. If you're an investor, then you're a partner, and you share in the losses. But record companies are basically both--they invest, but they don't bear as much risk as a normal investor.
That's just one example. There are innumerable examples of how these companies, which are rolling in it, try to make the artists pay for more and more. It's ridiculous. The industry is full of supposed music lovers, often right up to the CEOs. How can these people claim to love music, and constantly screw over the musicians? It's ludicrous.
It reinforces my feeling that I like being part of the book industry. People in books LOVE BOOKS, and they LOVE THE AUTHORS. You can see it in the long hours and shitty pay. The agents believe in their authors and work long hours for little pay; the editors fight for their favourite books, champion their authors, working long hours for little pay. Not matter how big the publishing houses become, or the retail companies become, they are not rich, and don't spend their time scheming to get another penny out of the creative people without whom there'd be no business.
Oh la oh la. Digital music is probably the best thing that's happened to music in a longo time-o, if it ends up--block your ears--fucking over the vampires.
Ridiculous.
O the humanity!
I'm watching Hoarders, and they're trying to make this kid part with a couple stuffed animals, and he doesn't want to.
Hold tough kid!! Don't let them beat you down!!
No one understands... stuffed animals are REAL. You can't just give them away! What's wrong with these people? They're not toys, it's not about having stuffies (or aneemals was the technical term I invented as a child) to play with.
Hold tough kid!! Don't let them beat you down!!
No one understands... stuffed animals are REAL. You can't just give them away! What's wrong with these people? They're not toys, it's not about having stuffies (or aneemals was the technical term I invented as a child) to play with.
My first AmIdol in years
I watched American Idol last night, first time in a couple years. I did other stuff at the same time cause it wasn't that good, but my fave performance was this one. I take it this guy usually sucks, but this was a very marketable cover of Chris Brown's "Forever." I love acoustic or jazzed up versions of hiphop songs--they often bring out a new, interesting element of the song.
The studio version they posted on iTunes isn't acoustic, it's a carbon copy of the original. Which proves, yet again, that the producers of American Idol are idiots and know F all about good music.
Original
Am Idol Version
The studio version they posted on iTunes isn't acoustic, it's a carbon copy of the original. Which proves, yet again, that the producers of American Idol are idiots and know F all about good music.
Original
Am Idol Version
Monday, March 29, 2010
Oh Ricky you're so fine
I love Ricky Martin's announcement on his blog that he's gay. It's so well expressed. He seems like a pretty healthy and balanced guy.
...At this moment I'm feeling the same freedom I usually feel only on stage, without a doubt, I need to share. ... This is just what I need especially now that I am the father of two beautiful boys that are so full of light and who with their outlook teach me new things every day. To keep living as I did up until today would be to indirectly diminish the glow that my kids where born with. Enough is enough. This has to change. This was not supposed to happen 5 or 10 years ago, it is supposed to happen now. Today is my day, this is my time, and this is my moment.
These years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn't even know existed.
What will happen from now on? It doesn't matter. I can only focus on what's happening to me in this moment. The word "happiness" takes on a new meaning for me as of today. It has been a very intense process. Every word that I write in this letter is born out of love, acceptance, detachment and real contentment. Writing this is a solid step towards my inner peace and vital part of my evolution.
I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am.
Friday, March 26, 2010
attack of the teevees
The TV draws me in... oh noes! Must cut something else out of my life... sleeping? Eating?
I was home on Wed evening and decided to watch some TV, so I got drawn into the current Survivor! I always know Survivor will suck me in, so I usually avoid it, but I couldn't resist a peek in at Heroes vs Villains. Eeeep!
Inspector Murdoch mysteries have started again! These I do NOT avoid. I lurv mystery series, and this one takes place in turn of the century Toronto.
A new Sharpe is airing soon! A must-watch.
And can I resist Glee once it begins again? Oh la oh la.
I was home on Wed evening and decided to watch some TV, so I got drawn into the current Survivor! I always know Survivor will suck me in, so I usually avoid it, but I couldn't resist a peek in at Heroes vs Villains. Eeeep!
Inspector Murdoch mysteries have started again! These I do NOT avoid. I lurv mystery series, and this one takes place in turn of the century Toronto.
A new Sharpe is airing soon! A must-watch.
And can I resist Glee once it begins again? Oh la oh la.
I need to get ouut of heeeere
Oh my days--a couple fellow managers (let's call them CD and LK) showed me this when we were having a manic day this week. And now it's what we sing whenever work is getting too-too. My theory is that one day CD is going to start singing this in the middle of a manager's meeting, and then get up and walk out the door never to be seen again.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Where would I be without you?
