I’ve been deriving tremendous inspiration lately from an interesting source. Unlike my current crop of inspirational figures, he’s not a professional musician or novelist (at least as far as I know). In fact, he’s someone I know very little about. But what I do know about him is this: in the music industry, you could put his name to that classic TV ad for the investment broker EF Hutton. In other words, when Bob Lefsetz talks, people listen.
Music biz folk, from coffee-making interns to CEO’s of Fortune 500 companies, pay attention to his every word. He’s a professional speaker to music related conferences and management offices. In the past, he has worked as a record label consultant and entertainment attorney for numerous artists. In recent years, he’s had public feuds with Gene Simmons and Kid Rock.
The ‘Lefsetz Letter,’ goes out almost daily to thousands of subscribers, sometimes two or three times a day. Although some of these newsletters seem to be whipped off in a frenzy, there are frequent moments of stellar writing. I’m always envious at his prolific blogging output and look forward to these letters in my ‘in-box’ each day. All newslestters are archived on his blog.
Discovering Bob Lefsetz has been a blessing, especially at a time when music, something so sacred to life itself, has been scarred, battered, beaten and abused by mishandling at all levels. Bob’s words are a precious reminder about the importance of quality music, why it matters and how to apply its meaning to this bleak industry we’ve all watched implode from within. If you’re someone like me, who doesn’t play by the rules, refuses to be prattled to, is continually underestimated, has had numerous doors slammed in his face (but won’t stop knocking), it is comforting to know there is someone on the inside who shares your commitment to integrity and is willing to fight for what you know is right despite everyone around telling you you’re wrong.
But enough of my banter. There are no words that can better capture what Bob Lefsetz represents than those of Bob himself…
“Most of the instant arena acts don’t last. If you think Justin Bieber will continue to sell tickets, then you’ve never heard of the Jonas Brothers or Miley Cyrus.” Full post
“Entrepreneurs are born, not made. Or to put it more accurately, it’s who you are, not what you own or who your daddy is or where you went to school that matters. Can you think on your feet? Can you make things happen? Steve Jobs dropped out of college.” Full post
(On the sale of the ‘Huffington Post’ website to AOL for $300 Million)
“This is a music business story. Arianna Huffington didn’t know shit about the World Wide Web. She was just a tireless self-promoter who wanted to be famous. A money hungry woman who married a gay Republican, then divorced him and switched sides. This is someone to believe in? Of course not. Which is why hair metal died. Because the bands tried to look dangerous but they were singing wimpy ballads. You can’t have it both ways. James Hetfield doesn’t duet with Susan Boyle. Sure, you might get a bit of publicity, some instant coin, but you alienate your core.” Full post
(On The Black Eyed Peas at the Superbowl)
“I’d like to say they were terrible, unwatchable, the end of the world as we know it. But they were not. They were a representation of America…yesterday. Have you noticed the new Black Eyed Peas album has stiffed? That none of the singles has broken through? Live by the hit, die by the hit. The BEP were entertainment. They were watchable. They fit the bill. But music, when done right, is cutting edge. It’s about questioning the status quo. Wave goodbye to the Black Eyed Peas. Bye-bye! Fergie will have a solo career, with more peaks than Slash’s. Will.i.am will always find a gig and I’d say the other two would be forgotten, but they were never known. I hope you enjoyed the spectacle. I did. But it was meaningless. And when done right, music means everything in the world.”
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“Our greatest stars were alienated. They were not the cheerleader or the captain of the football team. They were closer to suicide than being voted most popular. But there’s a little bit of alienation in all of us. And when they sing, we swoon.” Full post
“Sure, you can get on MTV and VH1 and be famous for a minute, everybody knows your name, but I can’t remember the name of that band that wrote their album in the bubble, and what about those acts in “Bands On The Run”? That’s the MTV model. Instant fame. A rocket to the moon. But those rockets very quickly fall back to earth. And MTV doesn’t care about music, do you think “The Jersey Shore” is about music?” Full post
“We all need someone to believe in. And our last best hope is the artists. Art, when done right, is pure and niche and unobstructed by the viewpoint of those who don’t make it.
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“If the first thing you’re thinking about is money, you’re doomed. It’s just too tough. Not that it’s illegal to think about getting paid, but if you don’t love what you do, if you wouldn’t do it for free, give up now. Because you just ain’t gonna make it.” Full post