It may be completely irrelevant to most, but it should matter as it is what ultimately creates greatness in an artist. Good music industry professionals are like architects, be they managers, engineers, producers or dare I say it, a good record label man. Artists are found all over the world by these people, nurtured and hopefully not corrupted and allowed to flourish and be creative. It's that freedom that separates great people from the rest of the industry. They have the confidence to let the artist do what they do and guide them, with a view to letting them grow and develop in a warm creative bubble.
Sadly these artistic 'freedoms' are becoming less and less in the current music business and with the passing of time we're losing the opportunity to learn from the best of these 'Professionals'.
Two people who ultimately understood about the stages of finding an artist through to selling records left us this week, both Martin Rushent and Steve Popovich were poles apart in their roles within the industry, one a great music producer and the other are true blooded record business man. Two different people, two different skillsets, but one goal, creativity.
Rushent is best known for breaking ground with early electronic artists like The Human League, managed the rare double feat of working at the artistic cutting edge and having colossal success. He convinced The Stranglers to sign to United Artist provided that he produced the band's material. Going on to produce the group's Rattus Norvegicus, No More Heroes and Black and White albums. However it was the Human League Album Dare that spawned one of the biggest selling singles of all time Don't You Want Me Baby which against lead singer Phil Oakey's wishes, was released as a single in November 1981 selling over 1.4 million copies in the UK alone.
Martin Rushent died on June 4th 2011.
Popovich is probably best known for making Meat Loaf a star. When nobody would release Bat Out of Hell, (Mr Loaf and Mr Steinman having been rejected by almost every record label) Popovich heard it, liked it and just did it himself. Ignoring those who focussed on the image over content. He'd walk into Radio Stations, Record Stores and Clubs himself for more than a year to help promote the artist and he was right to do so. It was an amazingly creative piece of music that went onto sell more than 43,000,000 copies and is still estimated to sell 200,000 copies a year. And when he saw an injustice for his artist, he fought for them winning two lawsuits against the distributors Sony/CBS for unpaid royalties. Steve Popovich died on June 8th 2011.
The Good news is that men like this are still out there. Here at Gigseen we get to work with them and it's a genuine privilege to be part of their lives. We all discuss the future and reminisce of the past. Where will the next generation come from? who will take the mantle and ensure creativity rules? It's a question that is hard to answer as it's not always clear.
And once and a while the phone rings, like it did for me yesterday and it reminds you that the future of the music industry is starting to shine and talent will continue where these great men left off. I believe the future will belong to people like 17 year old Jack, who today makes a living selling slippers online, will be one of tomorrows great musical visionaries.
Sadly these artistic 'freedoms' are becoming less and less in the current music business and with the passing of time we're losing the opportunity to learn from the best of these 'Professionals'.
Two people who ultimately understood about the stages of finding an artist through to selling records left us this week, both Martin Rushent and Steve Popovich were poles apart in their roles within the industry, one a great music producer and the other are true blooded record business man. Two different people, two different skillsets, but one goal, creativity.
Rushent is best known for breaking ground with early electronic artists like The Human League, managed the rare double feat of working at the artistic cutting edge and having colossal success. He convinced The Stranglers to sign to United Artist provided that he produced the band's material. Going on to produce the group's Rattus Norvegicus, No More Heroes and Black and White albums. However it was the Human League Album Dare that spawned one of the biggest selling singles of all time Don't You Want Me Baby which against lead singer Phil Oakey's wishes, was released as a single in November 1981 selling over 1.4 million copies in the UK alone.
Martin Rushent died on June 4th 2011.
Popovich is probably best known for making Meat Loaf a star. When nobody would release Bat Out of Hell, (Mr Loaf and Mr Steinman having been rejected by almost every record label) Popovich heard it, liked it and just did it himself. Ignoring those who focussed on the image over content. He'd walk into Radio Stations, Record Stores and Clubs himself for more than a year to help promote the artist and he was right to do so. It was an amazingly creative piece of music that went onto sell more than 43,000,000 copies and is still estimated to sell 200,000 copies a year. And when he saw an injustice for his artist, he fought for them winning two lawsuits against the distributors Sony/CBS for unpaid royalties. Steve Popovich died on June 8th 2011.
And once and a while the phone rings, like it did for me yesterday and it reminds you that the future of the music industry is starting to shine and talent will continue where these great men left off. I believe the future will belong to people like 17 year old Jack, who today makes a living selling slippers online, will be one of tomorrows great musical visionaries.