posted by zoukboy at 11:12 AM
3 comments
Thursday, June 21, 2012
My friend Turlach Boylan suggested I post this here in the hopes that more people might see it than just my friends on FaceBook. It concerns an article in response to a post by an NPR intern on the NPR blog.
This article has gone viral and for good reason. What I find most interesting is the set of unquestioned assumptions held by the writer of the article, the NPR intern to whom the article is addressed, and everyone who commented on the article (that I have read so far). Comments are turned off on the original article so I'll post my thoughts here and hope my FB friends read them.
The article uses the term "music" when it is actually discussing recordings, which are the commodification of actual real, live music made by human beings. Recordings are artifacts, not real music. Also, the "music" in question is all commercial music, mostly popular, and the article does not consider the world of non-commodified music and non-commercial musical life. It also assumes that a problem with the marketing and dissemination of these musical artifacts has something to do with music, rather than with business. I look at this as a business/marketing problem as well as a technological one. Obviously we are in a period where the business model is changing and all the people who work in that industry are being hurt. What's needed is a new business model that is not centered around the creation and distribution of musical artifacts.
I would be the last person to argue that artists should not be fairly compensated, hell, I've been affected by the drop in CD sales, too (in fact, I may never make another CD), but I think there is a basic misunderstanding at work here.
I've had a couple of discussions with friends over the last several years about this, during which I was reminded of the Grateful Dead's turning away from commercial recording after they lost their major label contract. They turned instead to performance and encouraged fans to tape their shows and trade those tapes (just so long as they didn't sell them). It had the affect of building their live audience and they were successful for the rest of the band's career.
Granted, they had an advantage in that they were already well-known and popular but I wonder if there isn't something in their story that might provide a clue for a new business model for commercial musicians?
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Denver
Had a great time in Denver last weekend in a series of events hosted by my friend Pete Strickler: a packed house concert in which I played 10 different instruments and foot percussion (still no vocals yet - don't hold yer breath), taught a few private lessons and gave an Irish session workshop to 15 folks. Got to session all three nights I was there. All in all a fabulous time. Visited OME banjos to discuss the Irish tenor they are building for me, and then a trip to Herb Taylor's shop to see the neck and sides of the new bouzouki he's building me (black walnut back and sides, cedar top and maple/ebony neck/fretboard). Then a nice drive home to Taos. Hoping to do more of these teaching/performing weekends...
posted by Roger Landes at 4:55 PM
1 comments
Thursday, January 31, 2008
long time...
...since I posted anything here, but I have made a resolution to start doing so starting now. OK, here's latest news:1. Planning for ZoukFest 2008 is well under way and we'll be announcing staff on our website http://zoukfest.com this week. Look for some really interesting new staff and curriculum. We're all really looking forward to our 8th year (!) and the 2nd at our fantastic new home at College of Santa Fe.
2. Later this year I will be premiering two new works composed for me. The first is "In Blue Spaces" written by North Carolina-based composer Paul Elwood. It is a 10 minute single movement chamber work for Irish bouzouki with violin, viola, flute, clarinet, cello and piano. It is probably the first chamber work written for the Irish bouzouki! The second is an electro-acoustic piece written by award-winning composer Paul Rudy. As yet untitled, it has a solo part for Irish bouzouki played live by me, with accompanying parts comprised from recorded samples of sounds I can make on the instrument. I am very excited by the opportunity and challenge of these works.
3. Many have asked when I was going to record another solo CD. ("Dragon Reels" turned 10 last year, and my last two releases have been duos with Chipper Thompson - "The Janissary Stomp" and Randal Bays "House to House.") It looks like it might be another year before I can get into the studio for another solo outing. I have a couple of new bouzoukis on order and I'd like to have a few months with them under my belt before recording again.
OK - that's it for now. I promise to try and log in here at least weekly from now on.
Thanks for reading!
Roger
posted by Roger Landes at 11:38 AM
45 comments
Friday, April 06, 2007
Roger Landes & Chipper Thompson April Tour
Doing a few gigs in the midwest with Chipper. Hope to see y'all there!Thursday 4/12:
Friday 4/13: Lexington, KY
12:00pm John Jacob Niles Center
7:00pm John Jacob Niles Center
UK School of Music
105 Fine Arts Building
Lexington, KY 40506-0022
Phone: 859-257-4900
Saturday 4/14:
161 Lexington Green Circle
Lexington KY 40503
800 248 6849
859 273 2911
Saturday 4/14:
112 Esplanade
859.259.2754
Sunday 4/15: Atlanta, GA
(404) 874-7828
http://www.redlightcafe.com/
Tuesday 4/17: Champaign, IL
8:00 House concert at home of Dean Karres
Contact:
www.pipers-hut.com/concerts
concerts@pipers-hut.com
217-390-3291
Thursday 4/19: Kansas City, MO
7:30 gig at Cafe &
1811 W. 45th St.
Kansas City, MO 64111
(816) 753-3322
http://www.eddiedelahunt.com/contact.htm
Sunday 4/22:
Hutchinson/Reno Arts & Humanities
Flag Theater
310 N.
contact: Mark Rassette
phone: 620.662.1280
email: hrah@cox.net
posted by Roger Landes at 8:08 PM
0 comments
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Roger Landes & Chipper Thompson NM Tour
Howdy there, Folks! well, it's sure been a while since I posted. Here's what's shakin':Roger Landes & Chipper Thompson "Janissary Stomp" Tour of New Mexico
(y la pequeña esquina de Tejas)
Wednesday, Feb. 7th
House concert
925 McKelligon
El Paso, TX
Contact: Steve Yellen 915.842.7937
stevenyellen@gmail.com
Thursday, Feb. 8th, 8pm
The Black Box Theater
430 Downtown Mall
Las Cruces, NM
Doors open at 7:30
Tickets available at Hubbard's Music and More on Foster,
Mountain Music on Solano and from Steve Smith.
$12.oo adv, $15.oo at door. Students $10.oo
For more info call 505-525-0559
desertnite@zianet.com
Friday, Feb. 9th, 7pm
Unitarian Fellowship
1010 16th St.
Alamogordo, NM
contact: SKY & John Yates 505.437.0325
alamohouseconcert@yahoo.com
(tickets @ door)
Saturday, Feb. 10th, 8pm
GIG Performance Space
1808 Second St (across from Cloud Cliff Bakery)
Santa Fe, NM
(tickets @ door)
http://www.gigsantafe.com/
Hope to see you all there!
Roger
posted by Roger Landes at 12:11 PM
11 comments
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Tucson, Saturday, Nov. 18th
I'll be in Tucson this Saturday opening for Battlefield Band with Chipper Thompson. Hope to see y'all there!http://www.rhythmandroots.org/
posted by Roger Landes at 9:18 PM
0 comments
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Gig in Crestone this Sunday
I'm doing a house concert this Sunday, September 17th with Chipper Thompson at the Hazelrig Music House in Crestone, CO. For reservations call (719) 256-4371 or email: sylehz@ctelco.net
posted by Roger Landes at 11:07 PM
0 comments
"The Janissary Stomp" in national release
We're gearing up to release "The Janissary Stomp" nationally next month just in time for the Christmas buying frenzy (those folks in the photo above look pretty happy about it!).Sidestreet Distribution http://www.elderly.com/sidestreet/ in East Lansing, MI has agreed to distribute it to their network of independent, non-chain stores that are the lifeblood of folk and traditional music (sorry Borders and Barnes & Noble!).
We've redesigned the cover art for this release, which will also be available for online purchase on this website: https://rogerlandes.brownrice.com/orders.html
Thanks for your support!
posted by Roger Landes at 6:35 PM
1 comments
