Weird News Tonight (or Today!!!!!)

[GA Russell]

On 2/18/2025 at 10:48 AM, Ken Dryden said:

I have lost track of how many musicians whom I’ve interviewed who have quit making CDs because it is not worth the investment of time and money.

Ken, I'm surprised to hear this.

Years ago I saw Roger Moore tell Johnny Carson that when he was starting out, Noel Coward told him to take any acting job that became available; because an out-of-work actor isn't anything.

I would think that a jazz musician who annually released a new CD could use it as proof that he is still in the business.

[Ken Dryden]

I think Allen Lowe could best address this, but unless you have a label sign you and advance the costs of making the recording, they either have to raise the money themselves or use apps like GoFundMe. The one time I made a gift to support a musician who was planning a recording resulted in a CD that was never made. I wasn't mad, because he threw a liner note assignment my way and interviewed the artist for me, making my work rather easy.

I have been told more than once that "nobody's buying CDs" by artists, although I spend a few thousand dollars each year for ones that I don't get as promos.

 

[Kevin Bresnahan]

On 2/18/2025 at 10:48 AM, Ken Dryden said:

I have lost track of how many musicians whom I’ve interviewed who have quit making CDs because it is not worth the investment of time and money.

I've had several artists tell that they are stuck with piles of CDs these days because no one seems to be buying them. It was actually pretty sad because the guy had about 50 CDs of various titles he'd made over the years and I was the only one buying any from him that night. I do it mostly to support them because I know they aren't getting rich from what they're getting paid for the gig.

And FWIW, the artists that bring LPs don't seem to be selling them either, so it's not just CD that's the problem. I saw James Carter at Scullers and he had two LP titles with him and I think I saw one person buy one of them. He did sell quite a few CDs that night though.

[GA Russell]

19 hours ago, Ken Dryden said:

...they either have to raise the money themselves or use apps like GoFundMe.

Suppose a guy wanted to make a CD as a vanity exercise on the cheap.  How much would it cost him?  Any idea?

For years Blossom Dearie made her own albums.

[Ken Dryden]

Well, the technology to make the recording in a home studio is a lot cheaper these days and some independents are going the CDR route, though I reject paying $15 or more for a CDR. You would have to ask a musician or somebody in the record business about costs of making a CD, I have no idea.

[JSngry]

Lots of variables. The more favors you can call in on all elements, the less it's gonna cost. But the last time I floated a project it would have been a $3K bare minimum (and with too many corners cut for my liking). But that was over a decade ago.

Bottom line - there's already too many vanity projects out there already. Nobody wants to hear all that shit, much less pay retail for it.

[GA Russell]

8 minutes ago, JSngry said:

Bottom line - there's already too many vanity projects out there already. Nobody wants to hear all that shit, much less pay retail for it.

Jim, that's not the point.  The man who releases a new album every year can claim to be a recording artist.  That is more valuable than the dollars he receives for the CDs, I think.

[clifford_thornton]

Some young artists I see -- in varying genres -- don't have physical releases to sell at all, though the shows might be well attended. Bringing in a little money from gigs or a tour without having to schlep around merch you're in debt for seems like a fairly reasonable way to go about it.

[JSngry]

19 minutes ago, GA Russell said:

Jim, that's not the point.  The man who releases a new album every year can claim to be a recording artist.  That is more valuable than the dollars he receives for the CDs, I think.

The way to have a presence is not to be present where (increasingly) nobody is.

[mhatta]

This is not just about jazz or music, but I found this Substack I read recently interesting.

https://leighstein.substack.com/p/woes-hollow?publication_id=1994560&post_id=157743804

If you don't perform where someone is actually paying attention, you won't make any money. In the past, it might have been good reviews on Downbeat or appearances on late night TV shows, but now it's probably TikTok or Substack. Publishing CDs doesn't matter much.  Ted Gioia became the world's most famous (music) critic thanks to Substack.

Edited yesterday at 02:05 AM by mhatta

[GA Russell]

There was quite an auto race in Australia Saturday.