Disqus - Latest Comments for gah650

Re: Architectural Digest w/ digital iPad/Kindle access is down to just $6/yr with free shipping today (Reg. $30)

George Howard — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 11:31:03 -0000

Re: Why Blockchain is the New Website

George Howard — Sat, 19 Dec 2015 10:07:27 -0000

nice piece (love the graphic), and agree completely. I've added it to the (growing) list of resources on this topic, which can be found here: http://www.9giantsteps.com/...

Re: Flipping The Model

George Howard — Sun, 22 Jun 2014 17:08:17 -0000

Agree with the idea of a "simplified" TV ("No wires, no UI, just a screen and connectivity.").

Surprised that no one has mentioned Aereo (apologies if I missed it; I searched the comments). This was the last piece in our cable-cutting puzzle, and works very well with Fred's theory that the content is on your device.

In fact, Aereo comes pretty close to solving the remote issue. That is, you use your device (phone/tablet) to find what you want to watch via the Aereo UI, and then cast/stream to the TV.

I'm purposefully avoiding the IP issues around Aereo, because, whether or not Aereo survives, this type of tech will.

Also, agree with one of the commenter's point about audio. I would MUCH prefer to buy a TV with no speakers whatsoever, and just connect to my Sonos surround set up.

Sonos, in some respects, is the audio equivalent of Fred's strawman for video; that is, the content is on the device, and you just stream to the speakers - which have no UI, etc.

George

Re: True Detective Review: "Form and Void" :: TV :: Reviews :: Paste

George Howard — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 10:55:57 -0000

Great review, Shane. I've really loved and looked forward to your pieces on TD, and am looking forward to what will fill the void.

Re: Watch Haim's "If I Could Change Your Mind" Video

George Howard — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 06:46:42 -0000

Maybe my favorite band of the last several years.

Re: Antifragile by Nassim Taleb (Book Review)

George Howard — Wed, 22 May 2013 08:39:13 -0000

Fantastic summary of an important book.

Re: Should There Be a Compulsory License for Derivative Works?

George Howard — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:37:46 -0000

well, when the (c) is split, all rev from the (c) (mechanical income, perf, etc.) is divided amongst the (c) holders. once the (c) is divided - absent some agreement to the contrary (ie a license) - you can't put it back together again, and so the orig holder would not be able to own the derivative unless the person who created the derivative makes a deal to do this.

Re: Should There Be a Compulsory License for Derivative Works?

George Howard — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:13:12 -0000

hey! great to hear from you.

easiest way to think about your question/point about splitting the (c), is to think of it almost like a co-write. that is, once the derivative is created there are 2 or more people who may have a claim on some % of the (c) (in the same way as if you write a song with another person - he/she would have an interest - absent some agreement to the contrary - in the (c).

George

Re: Should There Be a Compulsory License for Derivative Works?

George Howard — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:52:31 -0000

thanks for your comment.

re A, you're wrong. there are no moral rights clauses in US (c) law. there are, of course, remedies avail, but only through tort. re b - i don't follow.

George

Re: Get Your Music Used in Film, TV, & Ads

George Howard — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 11:43:18 -0000

I would send unmastered stems. If they then go with your song (or the version on the stems), you could master (and - maybe - build some of the expense of the mastering into your fee).

George

Re: How Streaming Services Make It Easier To Cover A Song

George Howard — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 20:24:19 -0000

I'm up for it!

let's do it!

George

Re: How Streaming Services Make It Easier To Cover A Song

George Howard — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 20:23:08 -0000

Clark, so long as the melody is not significantly altered in the instrumental version from how it appears in the version with lyric, it's a cover, and would follow the procedure Jeff outlines above.

Best,George

Re: The Intern, The Artist & The Internet

George Howard — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 16:21:35 -0000

@Hermajesty1 you're absolutely right: words reveal people. I provided you with links to my words/videos/etc. Here they are again:
http://www.artistshousemusi...

here's my personal blog:

www.9giantsteps.com

here's my twitter:
www.twitter.com/gah650
here's my linked in:http://www.linkedin.com/in/...

i am who i am.

Re: The Intern, The Artist & The Internet

George Howard — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 16:00:26 -0000

@Hermajesty1

in response to this:
Create value, create a world that in some way is better than the one that was given to you

i honestly feel that Jeff (and I've played a VERY small role) and his team has done this and do this every day.

my basis of comparison is the old label system (of which i was very much a part of, and which i tried at that time, and under those circumstances to do what you suggest - create value, a better world, etc.).

some links to my work on behalf of helping artists (i co-founded and was vp/exec editor - a non-profit to help artists: www.artistshouse.org):

http://www.artistshousemusi...

i really do feel a strong commitment to trying to do what i can to help.

i try every day. Jeff does too.

I'm sorry you don't see it this way.

all the best,

George

Re: The Intern, The Artist & The Internet

George Howard — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 15:30:11 -0000

@Hermajesty1 it's really up to jeff if he allows you or anyone else to keep posting here.

knowing Jeff, I'm sure he'll be far more tolerant of non-value adding posts than I.

Please read my response to you above with respect to your choices (i.e. find TC's services valuable, and use them; or, find them lacking value, and don't).

This straw man argument you keep throwing out about meeting in person is frustrating.

I suppose it's a gesture of civility, which I appreciate, but it's hollow.

what would we say in person that can't be said here.

I've stated really clearly my POV. You've stated yours.

OK - we disagree. that's why there's chocolate and vanilla.

if you like the service, use it.

if you don't, don't.

if you find Jeff to be [fill in whatever derogatory descriptor you want], say so and move on.

what else do you want.

at the end of the day, as i said in my other response, no one is keeping you from - as you suggest to Jeff - finding these virtuous VCs (who you know exist) and starting your own company to compete with Jeff's.

I genuinely encourage you to do so.

what you will find when you do that is that you can't please everyone, and that - counter to conventional wisdom - the customer is not always right, and that you can not satisfy some customers, and therefore it is FAR better to "fire" those customers so that you can focus on providing value to customers who find value in your service.

so, again, you go right ahead and keep posting about how jeff is bad, the service is bad, etc.

if jeff allows you to keep doing so, great. if it were me, I'd "fire" you and ban you from posting, so that I could focus on providing value to those who do value the service.

i hope you start your own company.

to be clear: nothing personal. you seem like a fantastic person. it's just that what Jeff does with his business doesn't now and likely never will be what you want.

so, you have to either find another or build one yourself.

Thanks,George

Re: The Intern, The Artist & The Internet

George Howard — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 15:21:28 -0000

@Hermajesty1 thanks for the reply, and thank you for the work that you do.

i take issue, however, with the assumption that Jeff is somehow being disingenuous in order to - i suppose the assertion goes - better market his business.

I DO know Jeff, and have known him and worked closely with him for around 20 years.

we don't always agree. In fact, one of the things that i value about our business and personal relationship is that we can and do disagree and still respect each other's pov.

that said, the implication that Jeff is somehow not being forthcoming is just wrong.

you don't have to believe his pov (though he does tend to support it with data), and you don't have to believe the data (certainly, there will always be data that can counter other data).

All you really need to decide is whether or not the service he has created — and this I KNOW for sure: a service that was designed to help musicians gain access to a system of distribution, that prior to Jeff's business was largely inaccessible to most — is beneficial to you or not.

If it is, great. Use it. support it, tell others about it.

if it's not. don't use it. tell others why you don't use it, etc.

that's really the bottom line.

I also take issue with the idea that Jeff is somehow not running his business the "right" way.

you suggest in your comment that you think he should be running it another way. You state:

"Instead he could, if he wanted to, bring together civil minded venture capitalists (they do exist) who are willing to make less money to improve the lives of musicians, care for the very people that have created a career for him, and trully [sic] give back to the community."

Forgive me, but this is VERY presumptuous and rude. Jeff, as all business people do, must make choices, and use business judgment. It is out of line for you to suggest that he should be financing it/running it in any other way than he has.

Again, I go to my points above. if you feel the service has value, use it. if not, don't. simple.

don't tell him how to run his business.

instead, start one yourself and run it precisely as you see fit.

i KNOW Jeff would not tell you how to run yours.

Thanks,George

Re: Then vs. Now: The Path to Success for Artists

George Howard — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 14:47:37 -0000

@facebook-22017555 i ran - at the time - the world's largest independent record label. i can tell you that the vast majority of promotional money and time was ineffective. where it helped was when it accelerate the shift of promotion from the artist/label to the fans.

that is, however rarely, some time of promotion will pique the interest of a fan who will then go on and convert others to the music that was promoted.

the good news is that today - if an artist is great, plays live frequently and in front of people who share his/her values, and utilizes social media/email, etc - there is a far more efficient (in terms of both time and money) way of increasing the odds of shifting the burden of promotion from the artist/label to the fans than there was in the gatekeeper (i.e. press/radio, etc.) era.

easy now? of course not.

would i go back to the old system? of course not.

Best,George

Re: Then vs. Now: The Path to Success for Artists

George Howard — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 14:44:08 -0000

@Dancehutch @Ferrell -hoping there's no confusion here. I was never saying that i agreed with the "clutter" line of reasoning. i violently disagree. this is a line that gatekeepers toss out to support their old ways of doing business, which were exclusionary.

just want to be clear.

Thanks,George

Re: The Intern, The Artist & The Internet

George Howard — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 13:03:57 -0000

@Valuepdx cutting and pasting:
c'mon guys. no offense, but you sound like petulant kids: "Jeff, why isn't it easier? Why doesn't your service make everything better?"TuneCore is a service. it provides a very specific tool for artists to use. no more, no less.If you feel the service doesn't help you, don't use it.I don't get this idea that a service should magically make your career successful, etc. Oh wait, actually I do, it's EXACTLY the mindset i dealt with for 20 years running a label. the artist would say, "here you go, here's my record, it's great, make me famous."didn't work for many.Best,George

Re: The Intern, The Artist & The Internet

George Howard — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 13:02:22 -0000

@Robby @facebook-1146850788 c'mon guys. no offense, but you sound like petulant kids: "Jeff, why isn't it easier? Why doesn't your service make everything better?"

TuneCore is a service. it provides a very specific tool for artists to use. no more, no less.

If you feel the service doesn't help you, don't use it.

I don't get this idea that a service should magically make your career successful, etc.

Oh wait, actually I do, it's EXACTLY the mindset i dealt with for 20 years running a label. the artist would say, "here you go, here's my record, it's great, make me famous."

didn't work for many.

Best,George

Re: The Intern, The Artist & The Internet

George Howard — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 12:49:10 -0000

@facebook-1146850788 so, so wrong.

consolidation? you're giving "them" too much power.

we've had - largely because of Jeff/TC - the opposite of consolidation, and - increasingly - "they" are losing their grasp (arguably, the only thing the majors continue to control/the only thing you "need" them for is big time radio).

you really want go back to a system full of intermediaries, each controlling your destiny, and taking a cut along the way?

i prefer autonomy.

George

Re: The Intern, The Artist & The Internet

George Howard — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 12:35:26 -0000

@zenoscillator you keep going back to this "working professional music" thing.

could you please focus on access?

again, i ask, would you rather the access be concentrated to a VERY small group, as opposed to unfettered access to anyone who wants it; what they do with that access is on them. as opposed to it being the provenance of the gatekeepers.

why would anyone want that?

George

Re: The Intern, The Artist & The Internet

George Howard — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 12:32:15 -0000

@zenoscillator how can you say this. so you want to go back to a time when there were a small handful of artists who made a bunch of money and NO ONE ELSE HAD ACCESS?!

really.

no one else could get in the game.

that's what you want?

really?!

George

Re: The Intern, The Artist & The Internet

George Howard — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 12:30:48 -0000

@Hermajesty1 wait, so starting a company that in the course of less than 10 years has distributed more music more than all the labels combined, and has allowed access to musicians who heretofore had no access is not "doing something radical?"

please stop posting here, and go away.

George

Re: The Intern, The Artist & The Internet

George Howard — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 12:26:52 -0000

@Hermajesty1 stop.
implying that Jeff or I don't know what it's like to live the life of the musician is plain wrong. both of us do. it's what drives us to try and improve the situation.if you don't believe what TC is doing is a beneficial service, don't use it. find another. George