Artists, STAND UP!!!!!!!!!

I recently heard on V103.3 that Lupe Fiasco is so upset with the music industry and sales/the downloading issue, etc, that he's threatening that his current album will be the last album he puts out. He will instead just perform for free. And I feel him!

Not being compensated for what you do and what you bring into the world is slavery! Why do people always want things for free?! If our industry was any other industry in which someone expected a lot for nothing, we would be outraged. If this was the computer industry and you could get all the free software you wanted, I'm sure the geeks of the world would stay hell no! But then again this is America! Have we gotten so spoiled with having things for little of nothing that we devalue everything? I mean where else can you buy 10 value menu items for $1? Where else are there one dollar stores? Where else has man gotten "free" labor from its own people? So why would it be surprising that Itunes and Walmart would introduce music for $.99 and $.88? Why would it be surprising that when you google "free music" or "free music downloads," there are 57,400,000 hits and growing?!!!!!!

I was recently working to get an author who is my client some speaking engagements. For the large part, we've been successful: in fact (self-plug) make sure you look out for JaWar at a music conference near you!!!!! Now! Now, artists, managers, music professionals, etc pay their hard earned money to attend these conferences, pay money to perform, and spend money buying business cards, making CDs, and promo kits. Sponsors spend their hard earned money trying to make the conference happen and help with advertising and branding their name. However, these two music conferences said they don't pay their speakers!!!!!!! What the hell! How in the hell can you have a music CONFERENCE without speakers and why in the world would I as a speaker, pay money out of my own pocket to travel, stay in a hotel to attend YOUR conference, pay for parking, possibly a rental car, and buy food for an all day, half the night conference, and you ain't paying me!!!!! And I know that I'm adding value to your conference! I'm giving YOU the content you need to make your CONFERENCE A CONFERENCE!You've got to be kidding me! If this were an artist showcase, okay, cool: no need for panelists or speakers. But you are having a conference! If anybody should be paid, it should be the speakers! And then one of the conferences kept SAYING they were going to offer some sort of compensation and when pressed about what that compensation was, said we don't operate that way, tell your client, maybe next year! WHATEVER!! Recently a senator asked 6 or 7 ministers what they were doing with the congregation's money, I'd start asking some of these music conferences where is all this money going to anyway?!!!!!!Okay, enough with that (If you want to read my author's comments about this experience, go to his blog or myspace.com/jawarspeaks). My point: everybody wants something for freaking free and free ain't always right!!!!!!!!!

The writers guild has it right!!!!!!! Boycott! The actresses from Girlfriends had it right: Stand the hell up for GETTING PAID!!!!!!! Lupe, you are right! Folks in OUR industry have been too passive about our music being ripped off. The PROs (ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC) are our representatives (and that's only if you've joined those groups so I suggest you find a way to join!) and they have been fighting hard for us but we've got to do our part. If this were a political problem, you'd write letters to your local commissioner, mayor, governor, senator, etc. You'd get a petition started. Have you called ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC and said, enough is enough or asked what you can do to help! If you have the attitude that well, whatever you want to give me is fine, then don't be surprised when they say nothing!
Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.ning.com
thedyb.magnify.net