http://blog.chrisrobley.com/2009/11/30/christmas-sale-were-waking-up-in-time-for-winter/ Sat, 29 May 2010 15:46:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://blog.chrisrobley.com/2009/11/30/christmas-sale-were-waking-up-in-time-for-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-2623 Joe Piecora Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:23:37 +0000 http://blog.chrisrobley.com/?p=316#comment-2623 Chris...I read your "diatribe" on CDBaby about radio distribution, which in turn led me to hear your music and I am obliged to thank you for your great musical work--you know, that's what it's all about. Also, it is important that what you said about radio distribution become common knowledge, so I thank you for that. One day it will be, because of voices like yours. It seems that in 2010 the extent of corruption in the music promotion world is worse than ever. I worked for a year with the person who is the biggest selling artist in the U.S. today, and I can tell you that what you said is exactly true about her. The payola handouts just got better hidden--her "record label" actually "thanked" the radio stations for "giving her a chance" as part of their homespun-image-crock-of-shit, and I consider her success to be THE low point in the history of art struggling to overcome fraud. But it is also true that 30 years ago in Seattle, the punk-grunge movement anticipated such corruption's inevitable presence, and managed to launch a meteor. Obviously we need to create an alternative-to-radio system so that the present "radio" business can be made obsolete. And that takes a lot of word of mouth, like yours, and public demand, and encouragement, and excellent music. I am telling you because you already said what was true about the payola, in public--what I am adding to the picture, for your own edification, is that the situation is even FAR worse than you described. Remember, it is not just that the hand-shaking that goes on is "unfair"--it is illegal, and THAT'S the line that these people are willing to cross that makes them so different. But great music and fine minds like yours end up being listened to without the payback that eventually catches up to people that take great moral risk, so you and your music will win out in the end, in a big way, sooner than you think. The underground movement will succeed again. Chris…I read your “diatribe” on CDBaby about radio distribution, which in turn led me to hear your music and I am obliged to thank you for your great musical work–you know, that’s what it’s all about. Also, it is important that what you said about radio distribution become common knowledge, so I thank you for that. One day it will be, because of voices like yours. It seems that in 2010 the extent of corruption in the music promotion world is worse than ever. I worked for a year with the person who is the biggest selling artist in the U.S. today, and I can tell you that what you said is exactly true about her. The payola handouts just got better hidden–her “record label” actually “thanked” the radio stations for “giving her a chance” as part of their homespun-image-crock-of-shit, and I consider her success to be THE low point in the history of art struggling to overcome fraud.
But it is also true that 30 years ago in Seattle, the punk-grunge movement anticipated such corruption’s inevitable presence, and managed to launch a meteor. Obviously we need to create an alternative-to-radio system so that the present “radio” business can be made obsolete. And that takes a lot of word of mouth, like yours, and public demand, and encouragement, and excellent music. I am telling you because you already said what was true about the payola, in public–what I am adding to the picture, for your own edification, is that the situation is even FAR worse than you described. Remember, it is not just that the hand-shaking that goes on is “unfair”–it is illegal, and THAT’S the line that these people are willing to cross that makes them so different. But great music and fine minds like yours end up being listened to without the payback that eventually catches up to people that take great moral risk, so you and your music will win out in the end, in a big way, sooner than you think. The underground movement will succeed again.

]]> http://blog.chrisrobley.com/2009/11/30/christmas-sale-were-waking-up-in-time-for-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-1872 Kyle Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:40:43 +0000 http://blog.chrisrobley.com/?p=316#comment-1872 I am glad to hear family medical emergencies are behind you. I wish you and yours well, Chris, and the rest of the Fear of Heights in all your various forms. I'm glad I got to see you in San Diego a few times at Lestat's. Now do a national tour and hit Chicago, as that's where I live now. I am glad to hear family medical emergencies are behind you. I wish you and yours well, Chris, and the rest of the Fear of Heights in all your various forms. I’m glad I got to see you in San Diego a few times at Lestat’s. Now do a national tour and hit Chicago, as that’s where I live now.

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