Dear Christian Music Industry (Part 6)
Dear Christian Music Industry,
I have an idea for you. See those three record covers up there? Pretty famous record covers right? Here’s my idea. I think it would be awesome for one your next record covers to be exactly like something that has been done before. What do you say? Go out and find a record cover that you think is awesome, one that really gives off a vibe that you want your record to give off and then copy it. Copy every detail, except make sure to put your bands name on it, and maybe if you copy the Weezer cover don’t wear that black and blue shirt. Maybe do a black and purple shirt instead. Portray yourself publicly as completely unoriginal and unartistic.
I learned a new word this week. Aesthetics. Have you heard of it?
Here’s the thing, Christian Music Industry. Since I’ve been writing you these letters I have noticed several blogs “randomly” popping up. I even touched on it in my last letter to you when I mentioned that some of you were blogging but still were viewing blogs as something “extra”. You’ve finally gotten to the point where blogs have become your “desktop wallpaper”, your “behind the scenes look” that you give away to fans. Congratulations. The problem with that is it’s simply a wrong type of thinking. Don’t agree with me? That’s fine. At least the Washington Post does. Blogs are not “extra”. Blogs have become your voice, your market research, your connection to the folks that want to support you and more importantly your image to the world online. Let me let you in on a little secret. They don’t want your buddy icons. They want you.
“But Brody, our blog is a representation of us. We blog almost daily and try to interact as much as we can. Look at how original we are with our fancy header image.” Good for you. Really, I mean it. I do have one question for you though. Why are you doing it from a blogger account that is available for the rest of the world to use? Why are you choosing a blog theme that any blogger can get, and just change the header out without even thinking? Is that how you want to portray yourself to the world? Unoriginal and unartistic? I mean if that’s the case book a ticket to London, take your shoes off and walk across the street for your next record cover.
Or you could do something custom. Something that no one has done before, and maybe something no one else can have. Show people that you care about your online public appearance as much as you care about your record cover’s public appearance. Just a thought. If your interested, I might know a guy.
Your friend,
Brody
Read Part One
Read Part Two
Read Part Three
Read Part Four
Read Part Five
might this have anything to do with third day’s album cover?
Tyler,
Actually it has nothing to do with the Third Day cover art. I think they summed up all the questions anyone had about that here. –> http://gomertopia.typepad.com/new/2008/08/revelation-cover-art—stolen.html
What this letter is referring to is the artistic music industry settling for blog themes that are easily obtained by anyone who wants to start a blog. Basically what I am saying is that it’s impossible for someone to go get MercyMe’s theme or Phil’s theme or any other artist that we work with. It was built for them, with them in mind and it’s not something that you don’t get when you sign up for an account on Blogger.
That’s all. I’m not attacking a specific artist by any means. I’m writing a letter to the “Industry” basically saying, “Come on, you’re better than that”. The album cover art example was simply a concept that the industry understands.
I like how your letter’s to the industry are getting more pointed. in a good way. I’m reading them and I’m actually talking to others about them but there will be more on that on Wednesday.
Are you going to see Jon Foreman at Trevecca Nazarene tonight? I wish I knew his manager…
I figured, I was just wondering when you started talking about album covers. Makes total sense though man.
Surely your not trying to tell people to make an effort with this blogging thing, are you?
I mean, I’m John Q. Public and I use his standard blogger theme, but I ain’t trying to sell anything, either. Honestly, I want something different. I could do it myself, if I had/took the time. But I don’t, so I stick with the same-old generic.
You know Brody, I had never thought about it in this light. I really like the example you use here and the parallels you draw between the “cover art” and “blog art.” It makes so much sense to me (as a “layman”), surely it must connect with the industry insiders. Truly, so much is put into an artists cover, graphics, layout, song order, choice of first single, and on and on it goes. It really does make a difference and is taken quite seriously, with good reason (as in representation, profits, success, etc of said artist and maybe even label). You could go on and on, pulling relevant threads from all that, album-wise (and ultimately career-wise), through to the artists blogs. I “hear” you touching on all these things here. Excellent. Thanks again for blazing ahead with Skorinc. You are helping to alter the landscape of the Christian Music Industry. Bringing all of it’s beauty and blessing into our lives like never before. I for one, love the new view. Praise God for you.
Melody