Vince Gill Speaks Out

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 29 Mar 2004 5:12 am

LATEST NEWS
March 23, 2004
Vince Gill blasts music industry during Exchange Club meeting
Judy Sarles
Nashville Business Journal

At a meeting of The Exchange Club of Nashville today, country music artist Vince Gill made some strong comments about the current state of the music industry, which he says is suffering because of record company consolidations; lack of attention to good, up-and-coming artists; and tardiness in tackling the problem of Internet downloading.

Gill, who grew up on a family farm, likened industry consolidation to the consolidation of family farms and their corporate takeover.

"The power of all of it will be in the hands of a few," he says.

People in charge of the industry don't have a music back ground and are only interested in how much profit they can make, says Gill. He says music artists are a commodity to them and they are not very much concerned about good music.

It is the songwriters, not the big stars, who are suffering because of billions of downloads off the Internet, says Gill, and they're having their legs cut out from under them. He's says it's unethical to remove people's ability to make a living and support their families.

Gill also decried the shortened playlists on radio stations. Where once there were 50 or 60 records on the lists, now there are maybe 15.

He also expounded on the high cost of music CDs, and noted that his record company recently reduced his CDs from $18 to $12, but he doesn't know whether the reduced pricing is making an impact on sales or offsetting Internet downloads. Gill says that creating a recording is expensive and the answer might be to cut the cost by producing a live recording, instead of letting artists finesse them over many weeks.

Gill also talked about his love of sports and interest in golf, which he has had from childhood, and his support of nonprofits through playing golf in their tournaments or responding to an invitation to sing. Gill is the founder of The Vinny, a golf tournament for which he lends his name and that supports junior golf. The 2004 Vinny will be held June 28 and 29 at Golf Club of Tennessee in Kingston Springs.

When he first came to Nashville, Gill was told about the division between the music community and the business community. However, he says he has used golf to bridge that divide. Gill also plays a prominent role in getting behind junior golf in the Nashville area, but he is quick to compliment others who organize golf events for youngsters.

"I'm just the hood ornament," he says.

© 2004 American City Business Journals Inc.

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John Floyd · Post by **John Floyd** » 29 Mar 2004 6:21 am

Its not What Vince said that is important, It what he didn't say that is.
He just didn't go far enough, I guess he has to be somewhat political to stay working as much as he does.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 29 Mar 2004 8:11 am

Vince Gill, Ricky Scaggs, George Strait, and Garth should get together, form a corporation, and start buying radio stations. Set up a country broacasting neywork. They have the money and the power to do it.

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 29 Mar 2004 8:25 am

Nice thought, but I think that won't happen. There are only a few in the business who are actually big enough to speak out their thoughts, all the others still have to do whatever they are told to do - and you can't even blame them for doing it!

Kind Regards, Walter
www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf

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C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 29 Mar 2004 9:53 am

Well, I love Vince Gil. One of my favorite male singers of all times. He is also one of the nicest persons I know of in the musical business.

But let me play "devil's advocate" for just a moment. Is he not part of the overall problem also?

Let me explain. When is the last time Vince Gil recorded a song like "When I Call Your Name"? Or "Look at Us"? When is the last time LeeAnn Rimes recorded a song like "Blue"? Etc, etc.

My point is this. BOTH of these singers got their incredible "break" singing true traditional "country" songs. Then what happened after those songs catapulted them into the big time?

Sure it is easy to say "it was the producers and fat cats that don't care a thing about us that made me do it".

But is that really 100% true? Or if the truth be known, did the stars themselves not become part of the "big bucks" syndrome?

Did this not happen to many farmers when the "big bucks" were waived in front of them to give up their land and farming?

Again, I still love Vince Gil. But these thoughts IMO, are worthy of some pondering, EVEN by those who feel it was "them" who done it. NO one held a gun at a given star's head. Or at least I can't imagine such.

Not a producer on this earth could force a star OR musician to sing or play a note IF the stars and musicians refused to go along with the producers and "fat cats".

There IS power in numbers. Proof of this is the Super Bowl fiasco. NO way would the "fat cat" FCC chairman EVER taken action (the way he has done) IF 100's of thousands of complaints were not immediately sent to them.

This same thing could happen to country music tomorrow morning. The facts are, we simply let it happen because sadly we all became part of the equation whether we wish to admit it or not.

It is like I heard a pastor say last Tuesday. "No one person crucified Jesus. No group crucified Jesus. The Romans didn't and the Jews didn't. We all did. YOU and I did it. Every person who has ever lived or ever will live nailed Jesus to that cross".

carl

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 29 Mar 2004 11:51 am

Not a producer on this earth could force a star OR musician to sing or play a note IF the stars and musicians refused to go along with the producers and "fat cats".

Theoretically yes, practically no. Most of the artists today are buried in contracts that leave them absolutely no freedom to decide what they want to do, unless they are so "big" or so long in the business that they don't care anymore (and probably the "fat cats" are glad that they found a way to drop them off, like it happened to George Jones and many others!)

The other thing we have to consider is that we (I mean us here on the Forum and other similar groups) are really different from the average music consumer of today. I don't have any intention to sound arrogant, but I think that our approach to music is different from the average music consumer of today.

Music is not produced for us, who listen to the music, the words, the melody etc., it is produced for a mass of people whose main reason is to get a kick out of a beat, look for a lifestyle, be cool or, in the worst case, can't live without a certain level of noise in the background. That may sound hard, but I have seen so many people who literally need noise - they have to turn on the radio wherever they are, in the car, in the office, on the bus, they don't care what they hear, only a few songs will make it to their brain to stay there for a little while. These are the potential music consumers of today that the "fat cats" are looking for.

The next logical step for the companies is to minimize the risk and maximize the profit, with the music itself and all its ingredients (singer, players, song) becoming less and less important, and, voila, here we are back at the comments that VG made. Good statement by a great artist, but I don't believe it will change anything...

Kind Regards, Walter
www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf

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Dave Burr · Post by **Dave Burr** » 29 Mar 2004 12:18 pm

Mr. Dixon stated:

Let me explain. When is the last time Vince Gil recorded a song like "When I Call Your Name"? Or "Look at Us"?

I think the answer to that would be 5 1/2 years ago when he recorded the album "The Key". IMHO, his best and most traditional album to date.

Respectfully,
Dave Burr

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 29 Mar 2004 12:39 pm

It’s baffling to me that the record executives seem to think they can control the demand side of the equation. It’s as if they believe that if they stop making real country music then those fans will gladly migrate to the mass-produced pop sounds they’re selling today. The strategy appeared to for a while, but I sense the tide has turned and there is no loyalty by fans to music they only marginally enjoy. Recently I’ve talked with several people who at one time were not diehard country fans, but then (with the class of 1989) they began to like it. Today we find ourselves sharing complete disdain for what passes as country radio.

Three advantages that artists have that family farmers did not—to continue that analogy – are low-cost, high-tech recording studios and reproduction capabilities, the Internet, and satellite radio.

I’m anxious to take a look at Wal-Mart’s download catalog. They’ve introduced 88-cent downloads, so the price of an album is now under 10 bucks, burned to CD on your PC. Plus, you only have to by the songs you like. Eventually, there will be “brokers” who will make your requested song available for download at a predetermined price – the stuff not in their base online catalog.

A totally unrelated thought is that I suspect the cost of creating videos for every major song has greatly inflated the price of the audio albums. Unless there is some other way videos are paying their own way. I see them as a loss-leading promotional tool or advertisements. Do many people really buy music videos? Are they aggressively marketed?

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HagFan

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 29 Mar 2004 12:41 pm

Who wants to start a music/record company that creates and produces only music of the classic genre, i.e. Ernest Tubb, Faron Young, Hank Williams, Ray Price, Patsy Cline, Buck Owens, Lefty Frizzell (pardon spelling) variety?

After spending the weekend listening to my new copy of Ray Price's 10 CD box set I'd be ready for it.

What would prevent a couple of entrepeneurs from doing this?

Kiyoshi Osawa · Post by **Kiyoshi Osawa** » 29 Mar 2004 2:53 pm

I believe there's plenty of new "classic" country out there. Look at Wayne Hancock, Dale Watson, Derailers... etc. They are actually making a living out of playing a sort of "Homage" style of country that directly references and pays respect to the greats of yesterday.

Theres many factos here i think, that come into play. The "nashville pendulum" theorem

suggests that we are not far from yet another revival of roots and clasicism in country music. Also, I believe the independent label craze that occured in punk and alternative rock during the 90's established a business model for small to medium acts and their labels to make a profit while staying away from the cut-throat practices of huge labels. This inturn has shifted the focus of artists and musicians into that of preformers, much like it was back in the 50's. This, coupled with new delivery methods (internet downloads, satellite radio, pay and on-demand television) have made this hybrid old-meets-new model work out very well for hard working and entrepeneurial musicians.

Jeez... i forgot my point. Anyway, i guess what i wanted to say was:

Ray, i believe that an independent record label catering to a specialized "classic country" audience, such as the steel comunity for instance, is not a bad idea at all. To most of the music listening public of today, its the classic country that has appeal, i mean they don't need to hear faith hill or whatever if she sounds just like brittany spears. why do you think Don Walser won over so many audiences? it wasn't because he had loops and samples in his latest "single"

anyway, I should shut up now

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Kiyoshi
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Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 29 Mar 2004 4:56 pm

Ask Ricky Van Shelton what it feels like to stand up to a producer.Incredible voice can't work major shows or labels.

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autry andress · Post by **autry andress** » 29 Mar 2004 5:27 pm

Hey Joe:
I was wandering what happended to Rick Van Shelton. Can you fill me in??

Smiley: Sorry,I Didn't mean to hijack your topic.
Thanks

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 29 Mar 2004 5:36 pm

Ron,
Being as the real underlying issue here is the consolidation of media you might want to consider the implications of throwing in with Wal-Mart.

Clearchannel is just a cute little puppy compared to what Sam Walton is up to.

Bob

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 29 Mar 2004 8:03 pm

Carl, When you speak of the American Farmer as one who easily sells out when some corporation waves big bux, don't forget the MAJORITY of farmers who lost their farms (passed down from generations) because of "foriegn trade" which trashed prices in America for their products, and ridiculus equipment cost and overhead, and then the bankers collected up their farms on bankruptcy, and sold them to the big corporations. No offence, but let's not forget the "little guys". If you are curious as I am, why has the "price" of the average musician been driven into the dirt, like the efforts of the smaller farmers? We all have a pretty good opinion about that, so now, WHO HAS GOT A SOLUTION?

Nicholas Dedring · Post by **Nicholas Dedring** » 29 Mar 2004 8:55 pm

I'm going to keep on beating this drum:

Turn the damn radio off. Look into things... everyone reading this must be on the internet, and you can find stuff that's great, and find people doing the stuff you love.

I can only make decisions for myself... and my decision is that corporate media outlets can kiss my a**, slowly and with feeling. I'm still not going to listen. I'm still not going to buy their crappy records.

Business is business... if we make them hurt, and buy bloodshot records, or mint records, or whatever DOESN'T come through clearchannel and Best Buy, we will change things. vote with your feet, people. It's the best time in history to do it...

And frankly, don't forget: there's been crappy music for a LONG time, on the radio and in record stores. It's not a new concept.

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 30 Mar 2004 4:59 am

Nicholas, I'm with you on that. I avoid buying the "pseudo-country/pop"--have for many years. I don't think anyone notices or cares, though. This tells me that the corporates are herding enough sheep to their slaughter anyways. Could it be we are a dieing minority?

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 30 Mar 2004 8:37 am

Unfortunately this seems to be true! You won't find any of that cheap crap in my collection, they won't make any profit with my money!

Kind Regards, Walter
www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf

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Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 30 Mar 2004 9:22 am

Surely Vince Gill is not included in the negative comments about not being Country.

Vince came from Bluegrass, and he is just barely country in his recordings, so please, give Vince a break, and accept his honest comments about the current music business!

Go Sooner Vince!........

www.genejones.com [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 30 March 2004 at 09:23 AM.]

Nicholas Dedring · Post by **Nicholas Dedring** » 30 Mar 2004 9:44 am

James:

I don't know about dying breed... I guess my impressions are a little screwy because I live in a very non-country market. We have no "Country Format" radio in NYC, and while I go and listen to lots of live music, I have never once heard a Tim McGraw cover...

I think you'd probably be beaten to death with bar stools for pulling something like that here... there is, however, a lot of stuff that's really innovative, and/or traditional. Of all the people I know, the thing I hear most often (when I mention making or listening to country music) is "well, I like the old stuff, not the crap that's on the radio."

This is what made up the "O Brother" phenomenon... as cliched as it is to bring that up, it showed that there's a market for Gillian Welch and Neko Case records, to name just a few, that is never ever going to buy the kind of stuff that gets played on mainstream radio, and so on. I won't judge anyone's taste... but I like the fact that we are in an era where I can indulge mine. I've never been much for people telling me what I like, or should like.

That being said, I don't think Vince Gill is making a determination on what type of product should be sold... and I am also waiting for a new system of distribution, and payments to make the business make sense again... maybe pay-per-download services, maybe not...

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 30 Mar 2004 10:01 am

I think Vince is speaking more for songwriters. It's probably his first love.
He's a man of all music!

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 30 Mar 2004 10:11 am

No Nicholas, Your impressions are not screwy, This is everywhere I know of, but the masses just seem to cave in and accept the "temperature of the water" instead of doing something about it. They might not listen to the "new junk", but they sure aren't demanding the old styles, through radio stations or record sales(am I old? Did I just say RECORDS??? HA!!) Seems the public doesn't really like the new junk, but not bad enough to do something about it. That's whats killing us who are dedicated.

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 30 Mar 2004 11:27 am

This is what made up the "O Brother" phenomenon... as cliched as it is to bring that up, it showed that there's a market for Gillian Welch and Neko Case records, to name just a few, that is never ever going to buy the kind of stuff that gets played on mainstream radio, and so on.

I think today there is a market for EVERYTHING that the companies want to sell, that's exactly what they do - create new trends and people are going crazy about things they wouldn't even have considered listening to shortly before. Two examples from the European music market from the last couple of years:

1) After Ry Cooder discovered the traditional Cuban music and rhythm and the movie "Buena Vista Social Club" was out, Europe was was swamped with Cuban musicians touring and playing. Motto: The older, the better! A number of tour groups was on the way with 80 and 90 year old Cuban musicians, all of them were of course "Legends" (one of them even died on stage in Switzerland during a concert!), people who never heard about that type of music stood in line for tickets, magazines wrote hymnical reviews,...Today? Nobody talks about that anymore, the trend is gone, the money is in, let's move on.

2) The Irish Dance Groups: It started of with "Riverdance", followed by "Lord of the Dance", Dance Magic" and other tour groups, all doing their perfect mixture of Irish Dance, stepdance, clogging etc. It worked the same way, packed halls, people attending beginner's classes, new clubs started,...Today? The storm is over, everybody is patiently waiting for the industry to give us a new trend that they can follow.

The "O Brother" phenomenon works the same way, for a little while everybody is crazy about roots music, acoustic music and bluegrass (by the way, have you noticed how many of the contemporary new acts, all of a sudden, used mandolins in their bands?), but within a year or two we'll have something else, I'm sure!

Kind Regards, Walter
www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf

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John Steele (deceased) · Post by **John Steele (deceased)** » 30 Mar 2004 11:40 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>
What would prevent a couple of entrepeneurs from doing this?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Oh, I dunno.... bankruptcy ?
-John

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www.ottawajazz.com

Chris Lasher · Post by **Chris Lasher** » 30 Mar 2004 7:15 pm

There goes the little man...

(*blip blooOOOooo wooOOOOOOOOooooo*

Couldn't resist!)