Back to Baroque?

Hey there,

Not so much a blog about guitars this time, but I guess more a ramble about 'art'.

I was just driving back from sunny Waterloo and on the radio the host and guests were discussing newspaper ownership and how Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon, has just bought The Washington post.  ABC article here

The panel of journos and media experts spoke about how he might try and save the paper. They discussed how others have monetised their digital editions and if it is possible to do this whilst keeping up the standards of journalism that the paper is known for.  All this with the backdrop of a crumbling newspaper industry beset by declining sales and advertising revenues.

I think there are some parallels between music and the newspaper industries.  Falling revenues and heaps of free content (legal and illegal) make it hard for the 20th century models to succeed in the 21st century.

This really started me thinking about a few things.  The first was a conversation I had with one of my teenage guitar students about how he discovers and then collects new music.  He's a great guy, honest and has good values.  He told me without any reticence that he's never bought any music ever, but owns heaps.  The amazing thing is that he wasn't even vaguely bothered by it, it was just so matter of fact.  I then asked him if that's normal among his mates and he replied yes.

Is this approach to consuming digital content his generation's paradigm?  It's not a case of "why would I buy it because it's free?", rather the question of buying isn't even considered.

Maybe that's what encouraged Lily Allen into early retirement Lily Allen: 'I won't release another album.  Is this what she was thinking about?  Was it the realisation that unless you released music in the golden era of multi-million sellers and now can endlessly tour those 20, 30 or 40 year old tunes to baby boomers with deep pockets, that there's no money in it anymore?

Lorenzo de Medici - crowdfunder extraordinaire

Maybe the 20th century music industry was just a money making blip while technology caught up.  Maybe music will effectively return to a 16th century model, where a variety of patrons - think crowdfunding - provided the funds for a variety of independent artists to compose.  And then maybe play at their parties and teach their kids how to play the piano.

I don't know.  Maybe Pink and Nickelback will be doing the $350 ticket shows in 15 years time and nothing will have changed?  Or maybe the government will become the new Medicis National Office for Live Music...

Oh well.  Guitars turned up loud still sound great.  Thank goodness for that.

PS - I hear Lily has made a return to music?  Maybe she's not in it for the money?

Just how important is a guitar stand?

************************************WARNING************************************

To those of a delicate disposition the following might be a bit much to bear, but read on....just take it as a cautionary tale.  If you don't want to see the grizzly pics, just squint a little - you'll be fine.  

Names have been changed to protect the innocent.

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See this?  This may be the best $30 you ever spend on guitar gear.  Sure, the Wah is winner and yes, that tube screamer is really awesome.  Why, yes Sir, the Fender Twin is a fab amp and those natty little Snark tuners are neat.  Capos - sure, they are handy.  But all of the above aren't much use without a guitar.

Yes, this is a boring old guitar stand.  Built in Germany, solid, reliable, quality materials.  $30.

Now let me take you to a dinner party, at your place.  All your mates are there.  You've cracked some great wines and everyone's having a great time, the meal you made was fantastic and well, the crème brûlée was out of this world.  

"So how is the guitar going John*?" (*not real name)

"Pretty good, I'm enjoying it and the lessons are fun"  

"Pull the guitar out and give us a tune?"

"Sure."

A great rendition of 'Wish you Were Here' is now underway - everyone is singing along.  John* is feeling great - not only has he smashed it with the crème brûlée he is also a Guitar God!

Rendition finished, John gets up to go and get another bottle of wine and puts the guitar on the chair.  The base of the guitar on the seat and the neck leaning against the back of the chair.  Looks safe enough.

On the way back from the kitchen with a Halliday-rated Shiraz, there is a HUGE crash.

Yup, you guessed it..... 

I'll put the pics in order of ouch, if you need to look away, please do so now.

Just remember to go and buy a guitar stand.

Doesn't look so bad huh?

Houston, we have a problem...

I really should have bought that $30 guitar stand....