Talent, Luck, or Who You Know (punk, quote, artists, talented)

jocanaro · 11-30-2008, 12:39 PM

I've always wondered which of these things matters more in the music industry. You have a lot of super-talented, creative bands like Wilco and Yo La Tengo, which are well known, but really only moderately successful. Then you have the Limp Bizkits of the industry, which were either lucky or well connected, which sold a lot of units in a short time, on little talent. I wonder what matters more...

Alfred · 11-30-2008, 12:42 PM

Talent, obviously. I don't think I would want to be hugely successful if I thought my music was shit.

Of course, I don't really know how Limp Bizkit feels about their music.

DearJenny · 11-30-2008, 12:45 PM

A mix I think. Like there are a lot of talented local bands in my area, but they don't know anybody so they can't catch a break. As long as they're not concerned about money, they still do have a handful of really dedicated fans who recognize how talented they are.

Alfred · 11-30-2008, 12:48 PM

Ah, I interpreted this wrong. I would still say talent is number one, but who you know would be second.

~~The Unfan~~ · 11-30-2008, 12:48 PM

Who you know that recognizes it as talent.

Akira · 11-30-2008, 12:49 PM

...or that recognises it as a quick buck.

Astronomer · 11-30-2008, 02:25 PM

I'd say it's a mix. Fortunately, a lot of genuinely talented bands get picked up by persons in the music industry. But unfortunately, a lot of crap gets signed simply due to luck and who they know.

I think marketing has a good deal to do with it as well. If a record label thinks a particular artists is marketable (e.g. Avril Lavigne and her "punk" image etc) then they will give them a chance even if their music is terrible.

dac · 11-30-2008, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shiseido_red

I'd say it's a mix. Fortunately, a lot of genuinely talented bands get picked up by persons in the music industry. But unfortunately, a lot of crap gets signed simply due to luck and who they know.

I think marketing has a good deal to do with it as well. If a record label thinks a particular artists is marketable (e.g. Avril Lavigne and her "punk" image etc) then they will give them a chance even if their music is terrible.

QFT. If someone sees any sort of trendiness or something they can sell then a band can make it.

Bulldog · 11-30-2008, 03:19 PM

A combination of the lot I reckon. One of my mates is in a great band (sounds better than a lot of stuff that pollutes the airwaves these days) but for a lack of the luck or the connections they haven't even got a deal. I'm guessing it's the same for countless other unsigned acts too.

mr dave · 11-30-2008, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jocanaro

I've always wondered which of these things matters more in the music industry.

so long as you keep measuring success from a business perspective it won't be any different than any other job. it's who you know THEN what you know same as it's profitability over creativity.

11-30-2008, 12:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
jocanaro Groupie Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 8	Talent, Luck, or Who You Know I've always wondered which of these things matters more in the music industry. You have a lot of super-talented, creative bands like Wilco and Yo La Tengo, which are well known, but really only moderately successful. Then you have the Limp Bizkits of the industry, which were either lucky or well connected, which sold a lot of units in a short time, on little talent. I wonder what matters more...

11-30-2008, 12:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
Alfred one big soul Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 5,096	Talent, obviously. I don't think I would want to be hugely successful if I thought my music was shit. Of course, I don't really know how Limp Bizkit feels about their music. __________________ LAST.FM / VINYL COLLECTION / RYM

11-30-2008, 12:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
DearJenny Raptor Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Metro Detroit, MI Posts: 1,321	A mix I think. Like there are a lot of talented local bands in my area, but they don't know anybody so they can't catch a break. As long as they're not concerned about money, they still do have a handful of really dedicated fans who recognize how talented they are. __________________ So here's to living life miserable. And here's to all the lonely stories that I've told. Maybe drinking wine will validate my sorrow. Every man needs a muse and mine could be the bottle.

11-30-2008, 12:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
Alfred one big soul Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 5,096	Ah, I interpreted this wrong. I would still say talent is number one, but who you know would be second. __________________ LAST.FM / VINYL COLLECTION / RYM

11-30-2008, 02:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
Astronomer we are stardust Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,894	I'd say it's a mix. Fortunately, a lot of genuinely talented bands get picked up by persons in the music industry. But unfortunately, a lot of crap gets signed simply due to luck and who they know. I think marketing has a good deal to do with it as well. If a record label thinks a particular artists is marketable (e.g. Avril Lavigne and her "punk" image etc) then they will give them a chance even if their music is terrible. __________________

11-30-2008, 12:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
~~The Unfan~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Methville Posts: 2,116	Who you know that recognizes it as talent.

11-30-2008, 03:19 PM	#9 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	A combination of the lot I reckon. One of my mates is in a great band (sounds better than a lot of stuff that pollutes the airwaves these days) but for a lack of the luck or the connections they haven't even got a deal. I'm guessing it's the same for countless other unsigned acts too.