The real problem facing the artist community today is the over-saturation of talented writers and musicians. Because there are way too many of us, the labels will always control the show. Hey. If you don't like the deal, someone else will. And they will be just as good as you.

How many artists get signed every year? How many get to release albums? How many actually sell albums? How many artists get nominated for best new artist at the grammys every year? Who won five years ago? Ten years ago? Are they still working, or are they working at your local guitar store?

...And how many people do you know who play music?

Face it. Our real enemy is not the record companies or the copyright laws. Our enemy is not NARAS or the RIAA. Our real enemy is the musical instrument manufacturing and retailing community that has used it's corporate power to sell the dream of music industry success to all of us.

Forget about the record companies. We should be going after Guitar Center, Sam Ash, and Manny's Music. I can't drive by a music store anymore without stopping and spending money. Soon there will be as many Guitar Centers as there are Starbucks, McDonalds, and 7/11's!

http://larree.ws

Come on, Laree. This is like blaming Craftman if you can't get a carpentry job.

the only thing having so many outlets for equipment does is makes people realize how hard it is to do what a real artist can accomplish

:eh: uh, this doesn't make any sence. We know there is an oversaturation, it is just as much the RIAA's fault as anyone else's fault.

Uhmm...this article is about as asinine as blaming McDonalds for making you fat.

Not everyone buys musical instruments to get a record deal. Some people play privately...others are indies...and actually very few majors can barely even sing let alone play instruments.

Ive played the piano, guitar, and violin for 20-25 years. Do i feel duped by the mfgrs?? Hell no.

Get a grip dude

Besides no one is forcing anyone to get a record deal. Geez.

Whatever happened to just playing because its fun? Besides, it keeps me busy and learning music is alot more satisfiying to me. Its a great feeling once you can finally play that lick or get that song you were writing just right.

What a crock......

I'd even go so far as to say that the more people that try to play, the greater will be the appreciation of the people who really can play well.

For instance, I like to sit down with a drum set every once in a while to remind myself that I am NOT a drummer.

Oooookay there. No offence, but this is one of the stupidest, not well thought-out opinions I've read on this site...

Is there any sort of moderation here? I mean... can anyone just post an article, or do they need to be approved by someone?

Thank you for the VERY humorous post!

Let's get to the REAL root of the problem : People.

If we could just get rid of people there would be no problem with over saturation.

Any volunteers?

J-Bone -- No, they don't all get approved. There are a lot of duplicates of the same story, some several days after the original story posted.

You've gotta admit that this was a new viewpoint. I had hopes that Larree would come back and try to defend it a little.

He didn't lift it from somewhere else, spelling is good, used both the big and the little letters in the right places, periods at the end of sentences...

Besides, I thought it would kick up a good argument, er, discussion.

Hey c'mon, can't you tell when someone is writing a satire? Reminds me of mtekk's comedy posting in the Dean media piece.

Anyway, I can tell it's a put-on, 'cos turntables are outselling msuic instruments 3 to 1 this Christmas. You're showing your age. Kids stopped practicing scales ten years ago.

According to this article, I should get a gun and start shooting my fellow musicians? This is just offensive and sick! (But needed posting anyway for many different reasons!)

Shmoo, of Electric Gypsy
(desparate for some of those excess musicians!)
Support Local and overpopulated Independent Musicians!

Yes, I think I would classify this as satire.

There is nugget in this satire, though. It is true that the RIAA affiliates have a lot of "raw material" to chose from.

Too bad this "raw material" typically has to sign on to one of the RIAA affiliates in order to get decent exposure on the radio.

Hooo boyyy....the ol' hiney hairs are wrapped a little too tight on some of you guys. Can't you recognize humor anymore?Maybe you need to get out from behind that monitor and go spend some time in the park.

Heheh, true enough.

Either way, as far as I know, the instrument manufacturers aren't using deceitful tactics to promote their goods. They're not paying to keep non-brand name instruments off the market, they're not suing families & children, and individuals aren't building the instruments for $10 a pop to be sold by the industry for a 2000% markup.

Admittedly, it's an entirely different industry and you can't share guitars and keyboards over peer-to-peer networks...

But at the same time, I play guitar to wind down and kill time -- not because I thought (or was told) I'd become a superstar

It's like buying a typewriter, then blaming Brother because you didn't write a best-seller.

Plus, IMO, if there's any over-saturation happening, it's of untalented, manufactured "musicians."

I see your point but I disagree with your solution. Our enemy is the record company. The problem isn't that there are too many talented people the problem is that all these people are locked into a distribution system not designed to accomadate so many people. Which is why making music on your PC independently has become so popular. For many people it is the only way to make music. If the entire country were not coerced into listening to the same music there would be more than enough of an audience for all the artist. Can you imagin if every town had their own group of musicians that were very popular in that town alone.

As far as satire goes, there is no reason for someone reading this to think it is sarcastic. I like the occasional joke guys but this method of pointing out the obsured is not only confusing to your readers but its not nessesary. I'm sure everyone here agrees that most of the things the RIAA does are obsured. We don't need you acting even more obsured to proove a point...

Hey, we can steal an issue outoffa "non serious" post and make it serious just the same as we can make fun of something serious!

and sometimes, things are both

geez, I wish there was a boycott-riaa chat room

LOL!!!!! Very funny!!!!!

i think everyone should play music, its a great thing. what seperates people truly is talent and a will to succeed. You can't tell me every person that picks up a guitar or a bass or a mic or whatever is talented. Chances are most aren't.

Some folks are way too involved in this site, you need to get outside and breathe some fresh air!

This is a great post! But then again, satire and sarcasm are two of my favorite mediums!

Being a "true" artist takes a lot of hard work yet we see these tenny bopper singers dont even breakin' sweat while recording an album. And the fact these carbon copy manufactured "artists" get more glitz glory than the ones who bust their ass making an album that doesn't sell well because the mu$ic industry didn't give them enough promotion due to the industry playing favorites.

What this guy said in this article is either a really bad sarcastic joke or he is in a pissed off mood. I dont blame him either, The record indu$try is just too busy developing a bloated monopoly and feeding airwaves the redundance of crappy music. THATS WHY SALES WERE DOWN CARY YOU STUPID F-ING MAGGOT!

This article was retarded, but its good this site posts it so people disagree for once

Larree, a few weeks ago I was quite impressed with the post you made, especially after I had read some of you mp3.com bb posts. As for this post I believe that your brain has likely become a bit over saturated from some form of substance.

i'm glad i avoided the "you're stupid" bandwagon and looked at the post as a satirical examination.

It's best not to take the "you're stupid" approach, because I'm sure that we all these simple convictions. For instance, 'I think that it's because money is kept in banks that we have bank robberies'.

It's been a wonderful month, let's all havea a Merry Christman.

this was said in a thread about copy right, and I think he was just joking,
or at least I hope so any way.

Must everything be either black or white to some of you folks??? There is a whole spectrum of colors out there, and the above article is for our entertainment. Now, breathe in...hold it to the count of five...that's right...now exhale, ok...repeat....breathe in...now, aren't things getting a little clearer???

LOL this was great. I like this guy's sense of humor.

Incidentally about 6 years ago some guy did try to sue McDonalds for making him fat. I laughed so hard I cried.