The most surprising thing about reading the papers this morning, is that how much the death of Kevin DuBrow has been documented. The former lead singer of Quiet Riot must have been either more beloved or just plain well known for his band’s reknown as an early MTV success than I would have thought.
A friend sent me a copy of Wired Magazine’s interview, and a New York Magazine piece about the aritcle show how intellectually bankrupt and out of touch the Record business CEOS are and have been for many years. I was in the business when the internet came up and they perceived it as a way to promote artists only. As things changed the reality of what position the record companies had in the food chain of the business was made apparent – they were plankton to radio and retail’s whale. They were the raw material to radio and retail, who held a great deal of power over what acts would be successful and what wouldn’t. As I remember it, the number one reason that music was not sold over the internet “back in the day” were the powerful chain retailers influence and threats that they would boycott any music sold on-line. If Doug Morris wasn’t so rich, he would be pathetic. The sad part is all the talent that was wasted on kowtowing to unimaginative radio programmers and chain stores, limiting their options to do more. Many of those people have been selling real estate for some time now.
