Um, Pop Stars, You Can't Have It Both Ways When It Comes To President Trump

So, last night, the majority of America ignored the reality that there was this little awards show going on known as "The Grammys."  Just like the other awards shows out there where pampered celebrities celebrate their own irrelevance, this year the Grammys got political, although this time by request.

In the midst of Joy Villa's brave entrance wearing a red, white and blue dress sporting the words "Make America Great Again" with the letters T-R-U-M-P spelled out on the train (love the Trump train), as well as the swipes at Trump for wanting to do just that, some real issues affecting musicians were discussed and not many people picked up on it.

From The Washington Examiner a piece titled "Musicians ask Trump for Money Help After Grammys Bashing" touched on it.

President Trump's political opponents in the music industry would like his help in at least one regard: The laws that govern who makes money off of music.
"The Recording Academy, together with America's music makers, call on the president and Congress to help keep the music playing by updating music laws, protecting music education, and renewing America's commitment to the arts," Neil Portnow, the president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, said during the 2017 Grammy Awards Sunday night.
The appeal demonstrated how the business side of the music industry will have to grapple with the reality of Trump's victory, following an evening dotted with political attacks on Trump from the artists themselves. It was also a savvy attempt to use the spectacle of the Grammys as an opportunity to win grassroots political support for the artists' running fight with the radio companies who broadcast their music.

While the form is pretty pathetic - trash the man, then appeal to his business sense and the American notion of fairness to at least open the discussion - the men and women who sign away their creative rights to mega-companies which consider these people nothing but throw away cash machines actually bring up something that does need to be addressed in the world of music.  Copyright laws, and ownership of intellectual material have not caught up with technology.  As a result, creative talent is getting gypped.

There are many reasons for this beginning with the reality that all Americans are out for a good bargain and to get as much free stuff as possible - especially when it comes to entertainment and the arts.

Let's face it, more Americans than not listen to the radio and watch YouTube videos and listen to Pandora so they can hear their favorite tunes, and not have to pay a fee for the privilege.  This writer DVRs her favorite movies so that she doesn't have to purchase the DVD.  Readers of this writer's first novel have downloaded the thing over 50,000 times in the past eighteen months.  The second novel in the series has less than 1,500 copies in sales over the last year for a book that costs $1.99.  (Books 3 & 4 have even more anemic sales.  Both are under $2.50 per.  Book 5 has only been out two weeks.  Too soon to tell.)

The truth is, we Americans want our music, movies, books, etc., for next to nothing.  That means that the artist(s) have zero motivation other than love of the craft to produce.

Think about that, dear reader.  How much do you produce on a volunteer basis that costs you money in the end?

Well, here's the problem with that.  The time it takes to build the skill level for performance, or to write a book is measured in years.  In music, this writer will say that her alter ego as an operatic soprano took over 25 years, tens of thousands of dollars to develop, and countless hours in rehearsal to get to the point of being a funeral soloist. All of it - anything artistic - in the end is expensive and time consuming...and very ineffective when it comes to costs.

That is the crux of the issue for recording artists.  Many of them have put the actual creativity of the craft on hold in order to fulfill contracts looking for them to churn out megahits that all sound alike, and they reap little of the reward next to the labels that dole out royalties. Politics and spoiled rotten tantrums aside, from those of us who are creative types, there should be some sympathy for that.  This has been a problem for at least 60 years, and it's not getting any better.

However, trashing the person who can help out most in this situation...not a good idea.

More on American culture and what is valued in the arts coming soon.