I am not a hater. I am a lover but that’s irrelevant at this point. If I was truly being condescending I would have said something like: “God, how lucky these poor, under appreciated, earnest and hardworking “stars” are to have someone like you to throw them a lifeline and save them from drowning in an ocean of mediocrity.”

but I didn’t say that

Sorry to fog up your atmosphere.

Here’s some more feedback you may want read and then promptly dismiss as “opinion based material” or not, who knows, maybe the mentor might learn something? A teacher who can’t or won’t learn themselves is not the kind of teacher I would want giving me advice and mentoring me.

http://drownedinsound.com/community/boards/music/4207247

Keep on.

Be well.

What you call “work ethic” is just corporate code for “jumping through the hoops” and it galls you that artists just don’t have to do that any more. You’d like artists to believe certain behaviors are necessary in order to control them – would be my guess. Feel free to explain a little about what you mean by “work ethic” and how it applies to the process of “becoming a star”- I’d love to hear it- really. Also, if you have the time and wouldn’t mind: explain me how the work ethic of a corporate commodity like Diddy, or the raging of a workaholic like Lil Wayne differs from the work ethic of some little, unknown person who writes their own music, puts up their own website, answers their own mail and puts themselves out there to be loved or hated like anyone who has gone through “proper channels”?

In all courtesy, I say again,” listen to yourself”. What conclusion is a person (like me) supposed to derive by hearing you belittle, discount and dismiss millions of voices whom I deem and wholeheartedly believe are putting forth most of the only true “original” and “critical” thought anywhere on the planet merely as “fogging up the atmosphere”? Naive at best, arrogant in the least.

talk about that please

I’m not impressed by how many corporate logos you rub elbows with or some foggy notion about being a champion of stars but not the machinery that inflates them and flies them in our faces. How are you magically removed from all of that nonsense: You are obviously some kind of corporate, motivational facilitator, feel good coach to the stars and that’s cool (I am a Lifespring Advanced course graduate) but you really are in the dark about what’s going on. I hate the idea of shattering your illusion but someone really needs to get through to you before it’s too late and you wake up one day to find that none of it matters because the parade has gone right by you and all your friends (Stars and Businessmen).

Wow, thanks for your impassioned comment. I think you’re upset at the corporate major label structure is a bit misdirected; listen: I represented that structure for many years–and I don’t see social media or the Internet as the enemy. I see it creating a false perception that the work ethic to become a star is now negligible because of the immediacy of visibility that both generate.

I am all too happy for the stars that make it though these outlets, which now give consumers access and freedom: from Colbie Caillat who was discovered on MySpace to Soulja Boy who is a one-kid conglomerate online. Artist development has no timestamp. I said I am a champion of stars, not major labels.

Before you put statements in my mouth or make statements about how many clues I have, do me the courtesy (if you have any because your note doesn’t allude to it) of reading my book or at least Googling me. No one asked you to trust me, and for the record: Beyonce’ has thanked me personally– right along with 50 Cent, Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill, Wu-Tang Clan, Lil Wayne, Nelly, Diddy, Usher…I’d go on, but your blood might boil over, and I don’t wish that on anyone.

Sadly, despite illegal downloading and the existence of a freeminded and dissenting blogosphere and DiY artists; 99.9% of the music buying public are still on board to lap up what ever taste is cooked up in the industry’s korporate kitchen and tossed their way.

I think the bitterly and outrageously ironic fact that the industry are now looking to bolster the befuddled corporate framework with speeches like “140 Conf. London” obviously in some sort of sad attempt to somehow inspire a wave of disinformation to convince the music buying public that the new freedoms are cheapening “stardom” and opening the floodgates to mediocrity shows how desperate they’ve become. It’s definitely the beginning of the end for the status quo star machine and boardroom shot calling on what is COOL in music.

It is your greed alone that will be your final undoing. The industry just won’t be happy with having a finger in 99% of all record sales worldwide- they want it all. Instead of going along and playing the new game, laying down the old ways you’d rather whine over how Journalist wannabes on blogosphere, instant exposure on the internet, uploading and downloading have usurped your almightyness and omnipotent and long reigning ability to control what gets out, what gets held up to the public as viable entertainment- you are becoming a joke and the notion that you and you alone should be the governing body over “stardom”- what a travesty.

Why should I trust you; a person whose only claim to fame in 17 years is that you came up with the necessary words to make Beyonce a star, why should I trust you and other soulless, small minded, uniformed business people to tell me who I should adore and appreciate? Your audacity makes my blood boil.

Listen to yourself:

“The blogsphere has given way to a galaxy of voices, fogging up the atmosphere with wannabe journalism, amateur writing, and content jacking that eschews original or critical thought. What is read on blogs is far too easily upheld as some form of gospel instead of the opinion-based material that it is. ”

My god, you sound like Richard Nixon griping about what a pain in the ass freedom of the press is and take note of you calling everybody else “wannabe journalists” who are “fogging up the atmosphere” on your own wannabe blog! Man, what a hypocrite.

I hate to put words in your mouth but what you really meant is this (and don’t think it isn’t obvious, cause it is):

“Pesky, INTERNET JOURNALISTS (be they accredited or not) who are not on the industry payroll are interfering with the industry and obstructing it’s twisted message to the music buying public and it’s just not fair- How dare they.”

This speech, this arrogant spiel shows how clueless you are. It is laughable, utterly laughable how much in denial you are and how completely hopeless you are. Just admit it, wringing your hands and plotting how to make things like they were in 1981 is not going to get this genie back in the bottle and you best be getting in the game or you’re going to get left behind.

Just for the record Thembisa- stars are not contrived and created in small minds like yours. Get a clue about your powers darling- you’re not all that.

BTW, did Beyonce ever drop you a card of thanks for making her a star?