Sinead O'Connor

Death of the music artist

Man….When I saw the press of the death of Sinead O’Connor I paused and reflected! It was my moment of silence! Sinead O’Connor definitely deserves such a thing. I mean she was such a firebrand. She was put here to make defining statements! However, in that moment other feelings came over me! Thoughts I had been feeling but didn’t know how to put into words but Sinead allowed me to make it happen. That is what a artist should do……Compel!

As I survey the landscape and look at overt ‘‘corporatization’’ that has taken over this society it brings a stoic sadness to my heart! Sinead O’Connor wouldn’t be accepted at all in this era because she would have been neutered! She would have been programmed to fit in and deprogrammed to not ‘‘fit out’’. As I look out at the society it is all about being safe! Do not make waves so you can ‘‘get the check’’. Sinead would have probably gave that a thumbs down! I have imagined managing Sinead O’Connor and I started laughing because it seems that would have been a whirlwind! I know it would be memorable and not boring.

With the overt takeover without paying for the music industry by the ‘‘Digerati’’ we now are left with ‘‘the faceless artist’’! Artist who are raised neutered. They have been devolved to being a ‘‘creator’’! I can’t stand seeing that word when used to reference a true music artist! Yes the music artist creates but they are in the artistry zone not creating just for views or viralability! For the true music artist going viral is not the point…..It is about creating timeless pieces of music or art.

If they are only a ‘‘music creator’’ then they are I.G or ‘‘Tikkity Tok’’ born and raised. These places now are fueled and feed us with all of this disposable music! The purpose of the music artist is to ‘‘birth’’ musical compositions that stand the test of time! The bulk of the musical output on these platforms when posted on streaming platforms may not generate a stream! a report came out this year and said that! The bulk of what is called music will not stand the test of time or even the test of the moment!

The goal of the music artist team (label, manager, P.R, marketing, and booking agent) is to assist in creating a hit record not to go viral. In this era the go viral part is the keys to the kingdom but doesn’t necessarily allow longevity! New music is suffering because of this! That fact is starting to be noticed. I am a ‘‘ears and eye guy’’ no matter how I try to be a data guy when it comes to the artist. A viral record/moment is one time but a hit record can become a career! Kate Bush proved that in 2022! Her music (song) stood the test of time and became a viral sensation 37 years later. That is the power of artistry.

The cool thing about Sinead was she also went viral before it was a thing! However, it was separate from the song and her music. Sinead made a statement versus trying to go viral! She made a statement that was burning inside of her soul. She was not going for click bait. She was not going for retweets or shares! She was making a good old fashion statement on her viewpoint on the world! Whether you agreed or disagreed with her you knew it was sincere!

What is the word the Digerati has debased now….. #AUTHENTIC! That word was for the real deal not a prop! It was like …..hey she really did that! This now brings me to the next keyword……#RISK! Creators are thinking about getting that check! What a difference between the artist and the creator which needs to be understood. Being a true artist is risky! The Digerati has apparently turned being a creator into a job! When I found out this is how they are representing what a creator is; I found it to be reprehensible. Being an artist is not a job, it is a lifestyle! The next two words the that have been hijacked and held hostage are FAIR AND DEMOCRATIC! Any real artist knows that the game is not fair and it is not democratic. I have been saying why are they misrepresenting this to people? The game is not built for the masses you have to have a thick restitution.

This is why the word creator has been substituted seductively and been supersized so the many can join this festival of data being the new oil! This feeds the Digerati’s child aka ‘‘THE ALGORITHM’’. This also increases child abuse and depression. Anybody knows the music game is filled with drugs and alcohol for that purpose. Everyone is not built for this. I see an increase of personal train wrecks. Also child labor laws are being circumvented around the globe! Tik Tok is prime time for that.

Sinead would have written a song about that subject but we will never know now. However, a creator will never do such a thing. Also, I am shocked to see these comments about a music class system! Music is not a government agency. A middle class artist…….huh!!!!! The beauty of the game is that you can change your projection by the right record! That has nothing to do with class! That has to do with talent, vision and courage. I am like who makes this stuff up. I have seen this in some credible music podcasts and I am like huh……Terrible! There is no working wage in the music game and now with streaming it is even ten times worse! There is no class structure…..It is just those who got the hits and those who don’t. A million streams can’t feed an artist and the team, yet the narrative is the tech aka Spotify saved the industry. However, the artist can’t live off of that million. That has nothing to do with label. The independent solopreneur artist can’t survive even if they are getting all the streaming monies! No one really say’s this. This is why everyone has many hats on now and can’t spend the time focused on writing great songs! The songwriters are being strangled by the streaming economy. I am theorizing that the quality of song composition has plunged! Where was the summer hit?

Calling Taylor and Beyonce music artists is a very false narrative! Those two are billion dollar operations that came from the music industry that the tech driven media always have something negative say about…..I ask where is the billion dollar artist since tech did there coup of the music industry? You got Billie Eilish but she got to do another 7-10 years to see what happens to her! The media always goes to the artist that the majors created when it suits their needs but then always touting that the tech allows the artist to keep there money because they can do it by themselves! Any person in real business knows you can’t ‘‘blow up’’ by yourself. I know that as a independent label. I know the amount of work a record takes. I have four national club chart records under my belt that allowed us to travel half way around the world but it was not enough. A record can become your life if you get any traction.

In closing, technology can flood you with music but the reality of it the overwhelming bulk is disposable. Sinead O’Connor wasn’t disposable in life and she definitely will not be disposable in death! With her death I am burying the music artist era! It is symbolically and metaphorically a New Orleans funeral. I have only saw them in movies so I hope what was shown was legit culturally….. LOL. Sinead’s signature song was written by the ‘‘artist of artists’’ Prince! Nothing compares 2 U was his song! Well Sinead that song was for you! Thank you for blessing us with that masterpiece! Artistry is not egalitarian! The Digerati has society believing that it is. All of this creativity is swallowing up artistry because the creativity is becoming the standard not artistry. Please start to revise your vision! True artistry is not fair/democratic or egalitarian…..It is based on difference. I always seek the difference.

#ObservationReporter

Disclaimer: No A.I here! All H.I aka human intelligence.

P.S: I have written a narrative on my 20 plus years musical journey that I will shifting my attention to for 2024. #BACKTOTHEMUSIC

Now what will your mind allow you to do?