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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
 Posted - 11/18/2010 : 1:41:09 PM
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| And I would be very remiss if I forget braddah Ben Kaili -- a man who shares old-style slack key....and another man of great aloha. So I like one Ben Kaili slack key CD please. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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Mika ele
Ha`aha`a
USA
1493 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2010 : 2:48:53 PM
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Kevin Brown most definitely.
Would also like to see Moses Kahumoku do another solo CD! |
E nana, e ho'olohe. E pa'a ka waha, e hana ka lima. |
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Auntie Maria
Ha`aha`a
USA
1918 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2010 : 4:03:03 PM
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Amy Stillman's latest blog is an interview (done by one of her students) with Matt Sproat of the group, Waipuna:
http://amykstillman.wordpress.com/2010/11/18/a-conversation-with-matthew-sproat/
This paragraph helps answer the question, "Why aren't more island musicians making CDs?":
Secondly, with the onslaught of burning music, a lot of musicians wil often hesitate when approached with the fact of recording an album. It is definitely difficult to sell CDs today. There is no return on the investment. Most music producers will lose money on creating an album, because they cannot recoup their costs of creation. In the larger markets of Hip Hop and Top 40, there is a large market of CD buyers, therefore they can recoup their costs quicker. However, the Hawaiian music market is a looooooootttt smaller. |
Auntie Maria
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My "Aloha Kaua`i" radio show streams FREE online every Thu & Fri 7-9am (HST)
www.kkcr.org - Kaua`i Community Radio
"Like" Aloha Kauai on Facebook, for playlists and news/info about island music and musicians!
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hwnmusiclives
`Olu`olu
USA
580 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2010 : 03:56:52 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Auntie Maria
Amy Stillman's latest blog is an interview (done by one of her students) with Matt Sproat of the group, Waipuna:
http://amykstillman.wordpress.com/2010/11/18/a-conversation-with-matthew-sproat/
This paragraph helps answer the question, "Why aren't more island musicians making CDs?":
Secondly, with the onslaught of burning music, a lot of musicians wil often hesitate when approached with the fact of recording an album. It is definitely difficult to sell CDs today. There is no return on the investment. Most music producers will lose money on creating an album, because they cannot recoup their costs of creation. In the larger markets of Hip Hop and Top 40, there is a large market of CD buyers, therefore they can recoup their costs quicker. However, the Hawaiian music market is a looooooootttt smaller.
Matthew speaks the truth... A truth that sadly endures no matter how much traction Hawaiian music makes in its worldwide popularity. Matthew's sentiments were echoed by some of the great producers of Hawaiian albums - such as Bill Murata and Jack de Mello - in a Billboard magazine article... dated 1968.
~ Bill
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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2010 : 04:10:13 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by wcerto
And I would be very remiss if I forget braddah Ben Kaili -- a man who shares old-style slack key....and another man of great aloha. So I like one Ben Kaili slack key CD please.
I have good news and bad news for you Auntie.
The good news is that Ben already has a CD. In fact it was one of the 5 nominees in the Slack Key category in 2009 for the Na Hohu's. It is called "Kaowahi".
The bad news is you can't buy it anywhere on line. I just got a copy last week when Ben was in town for his concert in Santa Cruz. I'll try to get in touch with him to see how people might get a copy.
It is a very nice CD. Well worth adding to your collection. |
"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2010 : 04:35:24 AM
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A little more regarding Ben Kaili. From just this last Sunday in Santa Cruz.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eFzCZQqXoY |
"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2010 : 07:52:05 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by markwitz
quote:
Originally posted by wcerto
And I would be very remiss if I forget braddah Ben Kaili -- a man who shares old-style slack key....and another man of great aloha. So I like one Ben Kaili slack key CD please.
The good news is that Ben already has a CD. In fact it was one of the 5 nominees in the Slack Key category in 2009 for the Na Hohu's. It is called "Kaowahi".
The bad news is you can't buy it anywhere on line. I just got a copy last week when Ben was in town for his concert in Santa Cruz. I'll try to get in touch with him to see how people might get a copy.
It is a very nice CD. Well worth adding to your collection.
I just got permission from Ben.
If any one would like a copy of his CD "Kaowahi", you may contact him directly by phone at 808-769-9151.
Or by email at " b_kaili @ yahoo.com " It really is a very fine CD to add to your collection. |
"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2010 : 08:07:56 AM
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quote:
Secondly, with the onslaught of burning music, a lot of musicians wil often hesitate when approached with the fact of recording an album. It is definitely difficult to sell CDs today. There is no return on the investment. Most music producers will lose money on creating an album, because they cannot recoup their costs of creation. In the larger markets of Hip Hop and Top 40, there is a large market of CD buyers, therefore they can recoup their costs quicker. However, the Hawaiian music market is a looooooootttt smaller.
While this is true for large budget recordings, it is possible now for artists to control every single piece of the process, from recording to final distribution.
For tiny money, as I pointed out in my last post.
The marginal cost per CD might be a tad higher with short run and on demand printing, but there is almost no up front cost. With a download only model, it is almost free.
Oh, and yes, people steal downloads; but not so much for independent artists. I'd say this is not a reason for inertia.
I've used online, on demand CD printing for my last four CDs exclusively. In fact, it is so inexpensive that I have resurrected my entire back catalog--including my first LP from 1980.
Via CDBaby, I've got these CDs available as downloads via just about every online source around. I also sell physical CDs via Amazon, CD baby & my website. Not to mention off the stage, which is the biggest money maker.
I'm very small time--yet my sales are a nice little addition to my monthly income. Like the gold miner said, I ain't making dinner yet, but I'm on my way to a nice lunch.
Any Hawaiian artist working regularly could sell piles of CDs off of the stage, plus even more online. Although the the per unit cost can be high, the model I'm advocating does even allow actual wholesale distribution and sale to stores like Mele.com.
My point? That there is absolutely no reason for someone who wants to release a recording not to do so.
Now, there is the issue of "THE PRODUCER"-- and, given my limited experience with Hawaiian musicians and the biz in Hawaii, this is a huge issue. To be blunt, producers hate the model I advocate. Why? because they lose control over the artist and the product.
Hawaii is just about the last place where a producer not only oversees the recording process, but also often controls distribution and maybe even owns the label, by the way.
One Hawaiian artist, who shall remain nameless to protect the, ummmmm, guilty  , has confided in me that the reason you can never find one of his CDs is that the producer refuses to pay to have them re-duplicated after the initial run sold out.
He later recorded another CD for a different producer; who then refused to release the recording if the artist did not agree to an insane number of tour dates a year, for lousy money.
Sound familiar? You bet, just like the old days, when artists like Chuck Berry found they were sharing songwriting royalties with people they'd never heard of, or Muddy Waters was "paid" in Cadillacs.
Could be worse, I heard that in Nigeria, King Sunny Ade's producer even owned the band's instruments!
I'm serious, and I encourage any musician reading these posts to look into taking over control. I'll happily walk you through the process if you want. No charge, 'natch.
Yours for peace and freedom,
Mark
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hwnmusiclives
`Olu`olu
USA
580 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2010 : 10:48:24 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Mark
quote:
Secondly, with the onslaught of burning music, a lot of musicians wil often hesitate when approached with the fact of recording an album. It is definitely difficult to sell CDs today. There is no return on the investment. Most music producers will lose money on creating an album, because they cannot recoup their costs of creation. In the larger markets of Hip Hop and Top 40, there is a large market of CD buyers, therefore they can recoup their costs quicker. However, the Hawaiian music market is a looooooootttt smaller.
While this is true for large budget recordings, it is possible now for artists to control every single piece of the process, from recording to final distribution.
For tiny money, as I pointed out in my last post.
My point? That there is absolutely no reason for someone who wants to release a recording not to do so.
I'm serious, and I encourage any musician reading these posts to look into taking over control. I'll happily walk you through the process if you want. No charge, 'natch.
And therein lies a completely different problem. The ability to enter the market inexpensively can be of tremendous help to a deserving musician who is not in a position to "pay to play," but it can also invite so-called "artists" who probably shouldn't have made a CD in the first place because they are not - in any myriad number of ways - "ready."
So the question becomes... If the industry-at-large doesn't have any reins on who is good enough to be heard (and paid to be heard), how do we control a glut of inferior product?
I have been asked any number of times, "How can I get a copy of your CD?" I don't have a CD (or downloads or anything). And this is largely because people smarter than me have told me, "You're not ready." So who is telling the independent artists, "You're not ready?" Is that a service that needs to be paid for, too? Because ironically people have been providing that service to me manuahi for years. 
~ Bill
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sm80808
Lokahi
347 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2010 : 2:20:00 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by hwnmusiclives
So the question becomes... If the industry-at-large doesn't have any reins on who is good enough to be heard (and paid to be heard), how do we control a glut of inferior product?
We control it ourselves by being good listeners, keeping an open mind and actively searching for music/art/books we really love.
So far, my ears and brain have not failed to tell me what music I like and don't like.
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Bau
Lokahi
USA
226 Posts |
Posted - 11/20/2010 : 12:38:00 AM
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its true the music industry is full of tales of woe concerning musicians in shady deals with very little by way of rights and control.
freedom of music production is a good thing IMO and it has only opened things up giving the consumer the ability to find the music they realy like instead of it being limited to only the ones with the music mogels with the money being able to put out product, just because they have the money to do it, people who are not making the music, making musical decisions. Up till now it hasn't been a case of reins on who is good enough , but who knows who, and who is rich enough. And many of the wrong people calling the shots and in control IMO.
whereas now with more direct sales between the artist and consumer, people can directly find and get what they want, and the good artists, ie the desired ones, stand out and have a greater chance to suceed.
I certainly don't subscribe to the idea of letting other people dictate to you when you are 'ready' to me that is rediculous. Everyone has something special to offer through their own music. Ive seen so many beautiful performances on youtube for example, done by amatures,that are certainly not musical perfection by many standards, but are so heartful and wonderful, they deserve to be heard and I love it, and how dare someone say they aren't ready or good enough, and deprive people like me of the enjoyment of their music. And I would by some Joe Shmoe's CD just on the basis of that.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and who is to say what is inferior. Let the consumer decide. Power to the people. |
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Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 11/20/2010 : 07:02:21 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by hwnmusiclives
So the question becomes... If the industry-at-large doesn't have any reins on who is good enough to be heard (and paid to be heard), how do we control a glut of inferior product?
The same way the television, film and publishing industries do.
Oh, wait... |
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thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2176 Posts |
Posted - 11/20/2010 : 12:37:55 PM
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Only the mediocre are at their best all of the time.
Music is communication and education. People can learn that there is more than "Tiny Bubbles". Sad to say, the most easily distributed (cheapest) food lacks real food value. The "lowest common denominator" (blood and sex, check yer local news) seems to work for pop-music. Fortunately for us, we are educating ourselves to wider possibilities and our efforts produce good results.
I have now stepped off the soap box. |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 11/21/2010 : 01:53:32 AM
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| People scoff at Pearly Shells, but Pupu A `O Ewa is a wonderful mele. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2176 Posts |
Posted - 11/21/2010 : 07:10:55 AM
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| Bluegrassers scoff at "Foggy Mountain Breakdown", although it is a great tune. It has been done many times to the neglect of other tunes- even other ones that Earl wrote. One song or tune cannot define a style. |
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Shouldn't We Have A CD From........
