Bangles were top of mind in this piece because their producer, David Kahne, is who tried to sign the band to Columbia. His frame of reference circa 1990? The Bangles. We cut demos with him and he kept telling us which studio musicians he'd want to bring in on the album session (the guy who drummed on the B-52s album, for example). So, basically, telling us to our faces that the band wasn't good enough to make a record.
The change from College Rock -> Alternative Rock was a crazy time to be a "student" of the industry. I still can't believe the amount of cash wasted and the destruction that these fat cats caused on so many talented artists. Then there was the whole "fake-indie" label game the majors played, too. Crazy crazy times. Anyway, a lovely read as I lived it from the outside with other friends having similar situations so I was once-removed too. It was a crash course in how the game was played. It was all part of my education too.
Spend money to make money - the business model with so much potential money was inevitable. The only reason it’s any different today is the independent option.
Bangles were top of mind in this piece because their producer, David Kahne, is who tried to sign the band to Columbia. His frame of reference circa 1990? The Bangles. We cut demos with him and he kept telling us which studio musicians he'd want to bring in on the album session (the guy who drummed on the B-52s album, for example). So, basically, telling us to our faces that the band wasn't good enough to make a record.
The change from College Rock -> Alternative Rock was a crazy time to be a "student" of the industry. I still can't believe the amount of cash wasted and the destruction that these fat cats caused on so many talented artists. Then there was the whole "fake-indie" label game the majors played, too. Crazy crazy times. Anyway, a lovely read as I lived it from the outside with other friends having similar situations so I was once-removed too. It was a crash course in how the game was played. It was all part of my education too.
Spend money to make money - the business model with so much potential money was inevitable. The only reason it’s any different today is the independent option.