In my case, I have two groups of industry demons to contend with...one in the music industry as an artist/producer...the other in the publishing industry as a writer.

  Whenever I have found myself searching for answers to why independent or unsigned recording artists, or fiction writers encounter such tremendous difficulty in getting their music or writings heard, invariably, the resounding answer is, "because there is so much financial potential involved in a business where everyone and anyonewants a piece of it."

  The music industry seems to have a bottomless pit, so to speak, when it comes to avenues of making money within it such as; producers, artists, composers, engineers, record stores, record pools, booking agents, artist managers, club managers, radio jocks, video hosts, and even music magazine columnists. :-) (I would continue the list, but am out of breath. Anyway, you get my point).

  For a surreal industry that was, initially, so liberally based, the arts world, especially within the music and
writing areas, has now been politically driven for quite some time. The sad thing is that it seems that unless an artist is, let’s say, a "Jazz," "Opera," or other lesser commercially-emphasized genre creator, most behind-the-scenes music business executives favor sales potential 10 to 1 over artists’ expression and form. In other words, the product had better have great sales potential to even get through the door.

  Within the commercial genres, many, if not most, producers and artists seem out of ideas and creativity...so much so that what was once considered homage paid when "covering" original tunes, has now begun to run rampid as a norm and the expected standard. This includes such "novel" and "innovative" ideas as sampling and background soundtracks, either in their original or re-made forms, for RAP artists.

  However, the same can be said of the movie industry as well. When there is a huge "original" hit, many other producers copy its magical formula which, obviously in our fast paced and micro attentive society, will, most assuredly, be short-lived. However, this process is a two-fold repeated one so that the least amount of mental creativity and energy is exerted while enjoying the financial train ride.

  In selling out for the big fast buck, we should question if we have destined ourselves to become an industry and, ultimately, a nation of lazy non-thinkers? It certainly appears that a mental jacket is no longer required to enter the artistic restaurant of this industry.

  Nevertheless, while I know many musicians and singers at various levels who continue their music careers well into their senior years, I know few who ever decided to do a 180-degree turnaround in an unrelated field and get out of this business entirely. Through frustration, disappointments, headaches, and heartaches, most stick it out for the long haul, no matter how meager their financial earnings are.

  So, once again, why do we continually remain in such a volatile and emotionally-challenging industry, day after day? Because the truth is that when is all is said and done, we truly love it, though the business side of it may have very little, if any, love for us. And, I will venture to state that most of us would, literally, rather be dead than not working within it to some degree. Now, ask yourself once more...is this the profile of a masochist? Whatever answer you arrive at, one thing is absolute. It certainly is the state-of-the-art.

  Kenny Love, a producer, composer, and Jazz recording artist, is also author of "Alternative Routes to Recording Success," available for only $10. He welcomes your comments, questions, or criticisms for future discussion and can be contacted at: P. O. Box 701231, Dallas, Texas 75370. Or, feel free to E-Mail him at choctaw_7_69@yahoo.com.