songs versus the stars

will · 04-08-2006, 03:49 AM

how much of a musician's success if due to the songs written either by them or for them (and the labels financial backing), and how much is really vocal/musical/artistic talent?

so could i have taken any attractive teenage girl with a decent voice on a mall tour singing "hit me baby one more time" and had the next britney?

Blackmask · 04-08-2006, 03:55 AM

Yes. Shows like Idol and Popstars have shown that a star can be created with enough publicity around them. They then seem to lose their appeal when the next idol comes along and the publicity decreases. If you could maintain the publicity, I think they'd quite likely stay on top.

SilverSpoon · 04-08-2006, 09:27 PM

In some cases, success comes from both the written material and the musical talent. There are many talented musicians who are also very good songwriters, so their success comes from both. But then success also comes in different levels. If success in the music business just means having your stuff played on TV and the radio, then that would mean most real musicians with real talent are pure sh*t. But that's far from the truth. For pop stars that is success, yes. But there are many successful musicians who earned what they have by practicing hard on their instruments, gaining proficiency, and performing with reputable ensembles like the London Philharmonic orchestra. Then there are the "unknown" metal bands I listen to who have huge followings, play at huge festivals, and have very well-received albums, but only make money through merchandising at concerts and get very little publicity compared to pop stars.

A label's backing also has something to do with it. Without the record labels, it's very tough to really get your music out there. Steve Vai started out by just giving his records to stores to sell. Weird Al did the same, and both had varying degrees of success. But once they got signed (and I believe Vai started his own record label) things took off.

Pop stars are probably on the worst side of the music business, but during their short time they have it extremely easy compared to anyone else. Read a bunch of interviews by Jon Schaffer of Iced Earth. He has a huge disliking of the music business, but he makes some good points. He's one of those who really had to build up from nothing on his own to get to where he is now, wading through all the sh*t the business gives you.

Blackmask · 04-09-2006, 12:51 AM

Savage Garden also went without a record label, they didn't want to sell out and wanted to maintain artistic control. They did alright for themself, but I expect it was a harder path than just handing it over to a big label company.

SilverSpoon · 04-09-2006, 08:45 AM

Yeah, it is, because you're still building up everything on your own, whereas joining an established label kind of boosts you up. If you want to get noticed without the bigwigs backing you, you have to be good at what you do and you have to get yourself out there. Determination gets added on top of songwriting ability and instrumental talent.

04-08-2006, 03:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
will Administrator, Founder Join Date: May 2000 Location: Massachusetts, USA Posts: 313 My Profile	songs versus the stars how much of a musician's success if due to the songs written either by them or for them (and the labels financial backing), and how much is really vocal/musical/artistic talent? so could i have taken any attractive teenage girl with a decent voice on a mall tour singing "hit me baby one more time" and had the next britney?

04-08-2006, 03:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
Blackmask Protector of Inanity Join Date: May 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 6,158 My Profile	Yes. Shows like Idol and Popstars have shown that a star can be created with enough publicity around them. They then seem to lose their appeal when the next idol comes along and the publicity decreases. If you could maintain the publicity, I think they'd quite likely stay on top.

04-08-2006, 09:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
SilverSpoon Kamen Rider Kiva Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: www.canofnothing.com Posts: 7,529	In some cases, success comes from both the written material and the musical talent. There are many talented musicians who are also very good songwriters, so their success comes from both. But then success also comes in different levels. If success in the music business just means having your stuff played on TV and the radio, then that would mean most real musicians with real talent are pure sht. But that's far from the truth. For pop stars that is success, yes. But there are many successful musicians who earned what they have by practicing hard on their instruments, gaining proficiency, and performing with reputable ensembles like the London Philharmonic orchestra. Then there are the "unknown" metal bands I listen to who have huge followings, play at huge festivals, and have very well-received albums, but only make money through merchandising at concerts and get very little publicity compared to pop stars. A label's backing also has something to do with it. Without the record labels, it's very tough to really get your music out there. Steve Vai started out by just giving his records to stores to sell. Weird Al did the same, and both had varying degrees of success. But once they got signed (and I believe Vai started his own record label) things took off. Pop stars are probably on the worst side of the music business, but during their short time they have it extremely easy compared to anyone else. Read a bunch of interviews by Jon Schaffer of Iced Earth. He has a huge disliking of the music business, but he makes some good points. He's one of those who really had to build up from nothing on his own to get to where he is now, wading through all the sht the business gives you.

04-09-2006, 12:51 AM	#4 (permalink)
Blackmask Protector of Inanity Join Date: May 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 6,158 My Profile	Savage Garden also went without a record label, they didn't want to sell out and wanted to maintain artistic control. They did alright for themself, but I expect it was a harder path than just handing it over to a big label company.

04-09-2006, 08:45 AM	#5 (permalink)
SilverSpoon Kamen Rider Kiva Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: www.canofnothing.com Posts: 7,529	Yeah, it is, because you're still building up everything on your own, whereas joining an established label kind of boosts you up. If you want to get noticed without the bigwigs backing you, you have to be good at what you do and you have to get yourself out there. Determination gets added on top of songwriting ability and instrumental talent.

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