Dear Readers:

First of all, thank you so much for bearing with us and our combined issues during the summer months. We have mega amounts of concerts we cover, in addition to new musical releases, and things like vacations and "real" jobs besides AMZ, so we're trying to get you as much information as possible in a timely fasion. Unfortunately, these same summer concert tours almost ALWAYS end up right around deadline time, and our writers don't get very long to turn their notes into a readable article, along with having photos developed and scanned - especially on the many band tours like WARPED, OzzFest, Lilith Fair and this year's Woodstock. We WILL have another combined issue up on 9/10/99 to cover the REST of the summer concert circuit, as well as the new music scheduled to release in September and October.

Since this is a combined issue, I have a couple subjects I'd like to speak out about. One is totally related to what the press people go through, especially on some of the bigger tours, to bring the live information back to you. The other is the alarming rate that bands of all kinds are being dropped from their labels either mid-project or right after they release a CD and how the Indie label market is picking up acordingly.

On the first topic, I just have a few words to say that relate to several situation we've been dealing with for tours and interviews. We like to call it "The Rock Star Trip" or "Why Don't You Check Your Ego At The Door?" As a whole, AMZ runs into these "charming" little roadblocks quite a bit. And it may surprise you that the artists putting up those roadblocks are NOT long established bands with several multi-platinum albums out, but rather several of what will be the "One-Hit Wonder" bands.

I know this is a crazy business, and in a matter of days a group can go from being an unsigned regional band toiling away on the local level to being wined, dined and signed by one of the big labels. On the other hand, when this happens, all of a sudden they don't think they need the support of MOST of the press publications around (exceptions: Rolling Stone and Spin) now, because they've "hit the big-time!"

WRONG WAY TO THINK, Newly Signed Artists. BEFORE you got where you were, you had press help to bring you to the forefront in your region, and some of you managed to go national with the help of the press while you were still self-producing. Nothing like biting the hand that feeds you - have you heard that? The more you cooperate and allow interviews and photos of your live gigs, the more free publicity you're getting. When you get uppity and snotty during an interview, because you don't think you ned to respect the people who are writing about you, the more BAD press you're going to end up with.

Also, Headliners on these little "mini-tours" should not have control over what kind of press coverage the Opening Bands get. If YOU don't want your picture taken for concert reviews except by the local newspaper or your own "audio/video" clip collection that's YOUR trip. But remember, YOU used to be one of those opening bands, and you appreciated every bit of publicity you could get. Then you turn around and prevent your tour-mates from getting the publicity THEY deserve! In my opinion, this kind of "Rock Star Ego Trip" is eventually going to work against, not for, you. Even fanatical fans don't like to see their heros turn into jerks, and when you pull this kind of stuff, believe me, word gets around.

So, check those egos before you show up for a live show or do an interview. You never know who can bring you down just as fast as they brought you UP!

This sort of segues into my next concern. And this subject IS a concern for those of us close to the music industry. It's no secret that there have been some major shake-ups, mergers and downsizing going on in the music industry. Labels around forever are now merged with another label, whole divisions for certain genres have been eliminated, a lot of label people lost their jobs, and a LOT of bands got dropped from their label's roster! I've known this was going on for a while, but now it's getting to the point of ridiculous!

I know I've spoken before on the subject of "business or corporate" involvement in the industry today. How conglomerates are deciding the fate of bands and what YOU end up hearing on the radio or TV or in music stores. What has really shocked me recently is the number of TALENTED bands and single artists that are being pushed at me one week, and are no longer with "their" label a few weeks later. Established bands are having the rug pulled out from under them, while some pretty awesome new talent is unceremoniously dumped before their debut album is ever released.

I've spoken to several other bands who have left the major labels they were signed to for either self-production or an Indie label. The reason I hear over and over is that they're not getting any support from their label. This runs the gamet of not enough publicity, to not getting these bands on the radio, to not assisting in putting together tours, to taking away creative control from the band so they can make cookie cutter type music to earn the LABEL, not the band, a lot of money. And God forbid you had a hit with your first single from an album, or your first album, and then didn't do so hot with the second one. Boom! You are OUT the DOOR! I find this extremely upsetting when it happens to the bands that ARE talented, but don't really get much of a chance to prove it before they're out on their ass. It's either earn the label and producer and everyone else involved a lot of money forever and ever, or hit the road.

The only redeeming factor in any of this is that the move to an Indie label for several bands has turned out to be the best thing they ever did. Self-production, with the right assistance and contacts, can also become very lucarative for the BAND, instead of all the people around them. But in WAY too many cases, the promising talent just coming up, or the bands that need to build an audience to GET those kind of sales going, just don't get a chance at all. I don't know about contracts and what's in them, but if bands are getting dropped (or leaving) their labels in droves like has been going on for several months, then a contract mustn't mean much any more - especially the ones made with new talent, where the label makes all the money, and the band does all the work.

I don't have solutions to this mess, because it's not my area of expertise. What I CAN do is bring up these issues to our readers, so that they make their musical choices with some useful background information. Make sure YOU support your favorite bands, and keep them in the forefront of the industry as much as possible by purchasing their music and seeing them live. The bottom line, no matter what the product, is the purchasing power of the consumer. Remember to exercise that power as often as you can.

The opinions expressed in the editorial are mine alone as Editor of this magazine. If you agree or disagree with anything, please send your comments, keep tuning in, and keep those letters coming. Without you, we wouldn't be the fastest growing Music E-zine on the Net!


E-mail ACCESS to the MUSIC ZONE at marellg@music-reviewer.com

See You In Cyber Space!
Mary Ellen Gustafson, Editor