Guest Blog: The Starving Artist in Toronto

This appears on Chris Hau's Tumblr blog under the title "The Starving Artist in Toronto."

Someone recently asked me, “Chris, What bothers you in the world of music?”

I was with a friend (who is also a musician) and after discussing it, this was our response:

“Great Question _________! Honestly the problem is the Stereotype of the Starving Musician.

That stereotype affects everything.

Either people think you make no money or lots of money.

It’s in everyone’s head from the beginning.

It’s the starting point from where people think when they think about musicians.

So if someone plans to pay you, or if they pay, they refer to the stereotype first.

This means they often don’t pay you enough. What I have been hearing from other musicians is that some clubs won’t pay because they are offering “exposure”. If the band refuses to play unless they are paid, the club will just find another band who will do it for free. This implies that the musicians aren’t worth anything.

Continue reading.

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New Slacker Radio Station: "The 50 Most Embarrassing Facebook Songs"

Slacker Radio is a human-powered online music streaming service.  Rather than let an algorithm make the choices for you, there are dozens and dozens of real-life people sorting through the music with the mission of presenting you with stuff that you'll find interesting.

This also allows for Slacker to launch odd, niche-y stations like this one.  They call it "The 50 Most Embarrassing Facebook Songs."  You can listen here or (if that's too much to handle), just browse the list below.

1) Chris Brown, "Strip"

2) Train, "Hey Soul Sister"

3) Susan Boyle, "Hallelujah"

4) Nickelback, "Rockstar"

5) Pitbull, "Dont Stop The Party"

6) Limo Bizkit, "Nookie"

7) Artists for Haiti, "We Are the World"

8) Jason Mraz, "I'm Yours"

9) Owl City, "Fireflies"

10) Bon Iver, "Holocene"

Continue reading at Mashable.

Turntables I Have Known Part 2 (And How You Can Win a New One from Me)

[Note:  If you want a chance at winning a brand new Pro-Ject turntable from Bay Bloor Radio along with some greta 180-gram vinyl from Universal Music Canada, scroll down to the bottom of this post. It's easy to enter and you never have to buy anything.  And it's free. - AC]

Yesteday, I had a list of the turntables I've owned.  But being a radio person and occasional club DJ, they're far from the only turntables I've used.

The first couple of radio stations that hired me used Technics SL-1200s.  They were strong, durable and dependable.  Most importantly, though, the direct-drive motor was able to spin a record up to speed in less than one-third of a rotation.  That kind of torque is important when you're playing records to a live audience.

The next couple of stations featured turntables built especially for radio station environments. The platter and motor assemblies were separate from the tone arms (less vibration and rumble) and the tone arms themselves were made of--wait for it--wood.  Here's an example.

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Are We Heading Towards a New Romantics Revival?

Or are we already there? (c.f. Blitz Kids original)

Canadian Anti-Spam Law Opposed by...the Canadian Recording Industry?

Like you, I'm bombarded with email spam every day.  Filtering is getting better, but even one unwanted message is too much for me.  This is why I'm in full favour of there being some kind of anti-spam law on the books in Canada.  

(Hopefully, it will work better than the Do Not Call List bullshit.  If I get another call from someone asking me if I want my HVAC vents cleaned...)

Strangely, though, the Canadian recording industry is against the current proposed anti-spam legislation. That's right:  they're in favour of spam.  Sort of.  Copyright expert Professor Michael Geist explains:

The business opposition to Canada's anti-spam legislation has added an unlikely supporter: the Canadian Recording Industry Association, now known as Music Canada. The organization has launched an advocacy campaign against the law, claiming that it "will particularly hurt indie labels, start-ups, and bands struggling to build a base and a career." Music Canada is urging people to tweet at Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore to ask him to help bands who it says will suffer from anti-spam legislation.

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