So I attended the first (monthly?) Sounds Of Progression round table discussion this Monday at the Warner Brothers office in Atlanta, Ga. Everyone seems to think Atlanta has a hold on the music industry right now so a few of my industry homies – Maurice Garland, Bem Joiner and Moses Davis – decided it’s time to make cents of the theory.

The idea was for us all to come together in an effort to discuss ways to promote each other and kreate some dialogue that might work to develop “change” and develop new revenue streams.

Why not right?

Barack Obama would be proud of us uniting in the spirit of unearthing a better tomorrow and it’s quite possible that many of us (them) found positives in the initial meeting.

For the most part, it was a great chat! However, in my honest opinion, there has to be more than formal discourse if we’re going to make any strides.

Plain and simple, for the music industry to change we’re going to have to do something about the trash our children are consuming on a daily basis. What they hear on the radio is bullshit and we all know it. Sadly, they don’t.

So are we going to continue to sit in a room and vent, or are we going to march up to V103 and do something about it? Bottom line, that’s what will ultimately determine the results we seek. If we are who we say we are, they will have to listen and adhere to our demands.

Right?

I heard so many of these proud artists and managers talk about how they don’t need radio and they listen to alternative stations that play underground music… that they sell plenty merch at their shows, so they’ve learned to monotize themselves without the benefit of major radio play or a major label… they’ve figured out the system, or at least their own.

To me it’s bullshit if you’re an artist trying to make money and you don’t want radio play.

I’m from the Bay Area and no matter what you know or what you think you’ve learned over the years, the independent hustle was instigated in the Golden State. Out of necessity dammit! Not choice!!

KMEL wouldn’t play Too Short so guess what? He sold his tapes in the park, on the bus, out the trunk of his car and E-40 took it to another level.  Jay T The Bigga Figga, Messy Marv, San Quinn, Mac Dre and so on, they ALL got their own chips. But guess what? They all want(ed) radio play. Anyone who says they don’t want to roll their window down and hear the car next to them bumpin’ their shit, is full of hot caca.

Unsurprisingly,  I understand where it comes from. The underground makes artists that way. They summon that inner maverick and decide they don’t need the mainstream… and that’s kool. If you think you don’t need it, maybe you don’t.

However, don’t think the state of the music industry is going to change if you stay there. It will remain the same and so will your circumstances… good or bad.

Hopefully y’all ain’t mad, but I had to express myself like N.W.A….

Peace 2 fingers!