Why Spotify is great and sucks.

Spotify: the company people love and hate. When I first heard of Spotify I was excited. I decided to become a musician because I love music and the idea of having access to any music I want is amazing. This generation do not know how good they have it; or maybe that makes them value it less? 

Spotify states on their website - 'Spotify gives you millions of songs at your fingertips. The artists you love, the latest hits, and new discoveries just for you. Hit play to stream anything you like.'  So surely this a good for people who love music? This is why Spotify is great. 

Spotify is a smart company. They have figured out what people want and provided this, making money in the process. The issue seems to be that Spotify is paying a pittance to use this music, which is integral to their business. I have seen people post photos on Facebook of bank cheques for less than a dollar for a huge amount of streams. This is why Spotify sucks. 

I have heard many people say the record companies are making money from Spotify due to making a little bit from each of the large number of artists they have on Spotify. Maybe this is true, but it does not makes sense to me. One only has to think back to the days when record companies actually made money from music to see that this business model is one of diminishing returns (many record companies are closing down!). 

I have also heard many people try to claim Spotify is no different from YouTube and other similar websites. I would argue Spotify is unlike anything else so really can not be compared. YouTube is essentially a community: a social network of sorts. Spotify gives access to music to anyone for free, or for a small subscription and is designed to replace CD's and tradition mediums. 

My friend Andrew London raised an interesting point the other day during an interview for Coast Radio. Andrew has noticed a few changes in the buying habits of people at his gigs. In the past people who liked the gig would come racing up in big numbers - in a  buying frenzy if you will. He has observed a decline in the number of people who now do this. Maybe this is because people are aware they can get the music afterwards for free so why buy it?! 

Here is the key - artists need to control how their music is made available to consumers. If you do not like Spotify then do not use it. You have choices. Streaming is here to say. It is not for me to say this is a bad thing; this is being driven by what the people want. Artists need to learn how to operate in this environment. Use Spotify for what it is. 

I have a new CD coming out soon and will not be using Spotify, iTunes or any similar websites to sell my music - I will be controlling this rigourously. I might loose a few sales from people who might stumble upon my CD but I think I will gain by those who really want the music going to one place for it. I have past CD's on Spotify and will be leaving them on there - using Spotify to my advantage (hopefully). I will be making this new CD only available on Bandcamp and a few physical copies for selling at gigs. Click here to go to my bandcamp page. 

I truly believe there has never been a better time to be a musician. (Click here to read my first blog to see why I say this). Remember there are still people doing well in current times - try to figure out what are they doing differently. It is most likely they are thinking differently and using the ‘services’ to their advantage. 

Keep in touch:

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/nickgranny

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nickgranvillemusic

... and you can download my latest album from:  nickgranville.bandcamp.com/album/home

There is no denying it - we are all influenced by others. Deciding upon your BIG THREE.

When considering the playing of any of the great musicians it becomes apparent that everyone is influenced by someone else in someway or another. All of the great players share this; no one is a total original. If they were it would be so weird to listen to that few would find it appealing.

Wes Montgomery is a good example, he was influenced heavily by Charlie Christian. I believe one of Montgomery's first regular gig's was performing a tribute of some sort to Christian. He had to sound as close as possible to his hero and was paid for it! George Benson was influenced by Wes Montgomery in a big way ... and one of Pat Metheny's key influences is Jim Hall. You can clearly hear it in Pat's sound and his approach (which is a vertical approach: see my YouTube video where I discuss working on a vertical approach using the minor pentatonic scale - click here). Yet clearly Pat has his own sound. 

I advise my students to choose three players to study and to make these people their focus. I call them the big three. To start you should consider learning these people's style, their choice of notes, their phrasing, how to recreate their tone and their time feel. At the end of the day, no matter how hard you try to sound exactly like someone else, you will never achieve it, but it does not matter. The goal is to absorb then to come up with your own sound based on a deep understanding of what came before you. As the saying goes - imitate, assimilate, innovate.

I would advise you go to the source. If for example you wanted to sound like George Benson then it would be a good idea to check out Charlie Christian. Remember, the people on your list do not have to be guitar players, although this makes it easier to directly use anything that you transcribe (knowing it will work on your instrument). Besides, if you play the guitar it is probable that you do so because you love the instrument. 

Now that you have decided on your big three it does not mean these are set in stone. This list will likely change over time but the important thing is to get started. Try to learn everything you can about these people. Some important things aspects to consider could be:

Their playing characteristics? 
What instrument / amps and effects they use?
Who are their key influences?
What makes them special?
What are the tunes they play regularly?
What is it you can borrow from them?
Are they still around to get lessons with?
What is their background? 
What is the album the everyone raves about?
What can you think of?

Keep in touch:

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/nickgranny

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nickgranvillemusic

... and you can download my latest album from:  nickgranville.bandcamp.com/album/home