Before the Music Dies.
Christa and I just saw a screening of the film “Before the Music Dies” last night (Mar. 30) in Covington, KY. As both music creators and music fans, we were both so moved and inspired by the film. The film explores the changing music industry and includes great interviews with Dave Matthews, Erykah Badu, and many others as well as some very moving live performances, I love the fact that performances from many genres were presented. Some of the short, solo performances (by people of whom I’d never heard before last night) were some of the most powerful I’ve ever experienced.
From the B4MD website:
BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES tells the story of American music at this precarious moment. Filmmakers Andrew Shapter and Joel Rasmussen traveled the country, hoping to understand why mainstream music seems so packaged and repetitive, and whether corporations really had the power to silence musical innovation. The answers they found on this journey–ultimately, the promise that the future holds–are what makes BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES both riveting and exhilarating.
The music industry is rapidly changing and B4MD does a great job of showing that this change is ultimately good for both creators and listeners. For major labels/radio … perhaps not so much, but they’ve had the advantage for quite long enough!
My message to artists that are scared by the way the industry is changing … EMBRACE IT! Give away some music, allow people to enjoy what you do, and your audience will find you. The direct connection that we (as artists) can now have with our audience is worth so much more that any advertising budget!
Thank you to Andrew and Joel (and everyone involved) for this very inspiring film!