Commentary Archive
Five Best Film Soundtracks of All Time
November 25, 2012
Ever since Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937, many films have relied on soundtrack accompaniments to further immerse viewers in its setting and plot. In addition to providing hearty doses of nostalgia, carefully selected soundtracks play a pivotal role in promoting a film’s central theme. These are five excellent films that serve as
Musicians & Advertising: Where Music & Commerce Collide
November 17, 2012
There is a long-standing and complex relationship between the advertising and music industries. Musicians seek any method possible to provide their music with exposure, especially in a highly competitive industry with a seemingly endless list of products/artists. But how far is too far? Is sacrificing one’s integrity worth netting more fans? In the cases of
Best Song Covers of All Time
October 31, 2012
Covers are a long-standing tradition in music. For decades, some bands have made their careers exclusively churning out the hits of artists like The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, or ABBA, while others simply cover a song to expose an undervalued track or artist. Whatever the reason, many covers turn out terribly, as a disguise for a
Bands That Will Survive the Zombie Apocalypse
October 11, 2012
In the unlikely scenario that AMC’s Walking Dead does come true and zombies start to wander the earth in search of human flesh, certain skill sets will be in demand. Doctors, marksmen, and foragers will certainly be valued, but what about musicians? When the zombies destroy all power sources and your iPod runs out of
Sticker Disclaimers on Artist’s Albums
September 21, 2012
In the same week that Chris Brown unveiled his horribly misguided new neck tattoo, a rather opportunist and cheeky HMV customer decided to further highlight the R&B star’s well-publicized offense by placing a ‘Do Not Buy This Album! This Man Beats Women’ sticker on his current album, Fortune. Unfortunately, for the anonymous shopper, the stunt
How Much Do Bands Make to Play Private Events?
September 20, 2012
With album sales currently in free fall and showing little sign of recovery, the live stage has now become the main way to earn a crust for most artists. But those raking in seven-figure sums aren’t necessarily having to embark on mammoth year-long world tours to reap such rewards. Whether you’re a CEO of a
Most Famous Tax Evading Musicians
September 18, 2012
In their various forms throughout history, taxes have inspired the most famous musicians in fascinating ways. Big names like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and James Brown took advantage of loopholes in the taxing system, while others like Lauryn Hill and Prince concocted some fascinating arguments for not paying. Alas, most of them ended up
Throat Problems Silence Some of Music’s Biggest Acts
September 16, 2012
Barely a week goes by lately without another high-profile star cancelling a major tour due to various throat problems. John Mayer announced an indefinite live hiatus last year following surgery to treat a granuloma condition. Simon Le Bon revealed that six semi-tones had been wiped off the top of his range after damaging his vocal
Rising Stars To Check Out at Atlanta’s Counterpoint Festival
September 15, 2012
Hipster-haired dubstep maestro Skrillex, Swedish superstar DJ Avicii, and French dream-pop outfit M83 are most likely to grab the headlines when they perform at Atlanta’s brand new electronic music festival, Counterpoint, later this month. But for those making the trek to the 350-acre Chattahoochee River setting between Sept 27 and 29, there are a whole
Most Interesting Musician Tour Rider Demands
September 11, 2012
Van Halen’s request for a bowl of M&Ms ‘with the brown ones taken out’ has gone down in history as the ultimate example of how ludicrous a tour rider can be. Having claimed that the clause was only put there to ensure that concert promoters were reading the contract thoroughly, there was, at least, a
