James Blake Is Right
Summary
TLDRIn this discourse, Anthony Fantano discusses the privileged backgrounds of some successful indie artists, such as The Last Dinner Party, and the broader issue of economic disparity in the music industry. He argues that while these artists are not the problem, they are a symptom of a larger issue. Fantano also addresses James Blake's critique of streaming platforms for their minimal financial support to artists and the resulting impact on music appreciation. He calls for direct support of artists, challenging the notion that music should be free, and urges fans to advocate for fair pay and industry improvements.
Takeaways
- 🎤 Anthony Fantano discusses the privilege and economic background of artists in the indie music scene.
- 🤔 A recent article about indie rock/pop band The Last Dinner Party sparked controversy due to a misattributed quote.
- 💰 The economic privilege of some artists is a topic of debate, with some arguing it gives them an unfair advantage.
- 🎵 Fantano argues that privilege is not a new issue in the music industry and cites Vampire Weekend as an example.
- 🚀 Success in the music industry today is not a zero-sum game, with more opportunities for artists from various backgrounds.
- 💸 The music industry's economic model is flawed, with streaming platforms paying artists very little for their work.
- 📉 James Blake's Twitter rant highlights the challenges artists face due to streaming services and platforms like TikTok.
- 🙌 Fantano suggests not being angry at privileged artists but focusing on systemic issues within the industry.
- 🛍️ He encourages fans to directly support artists by purchasing their music and merchandise.
- 📢 Fantano calls for an end to toxic perceptions about artist compensation and support for fair pay and unionization efforts.
- 📝 Legislation introduced by Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib aims to improve musician pay through streaming services.
Q & A
What was the controversy surrounding the band The Last Dinner Party?
-The controversy arose from a quote taken out of context in an article about The Last Dinner Party, which made the band appear out of touch and ignorant towards the economic struggles of the average working people.
How did Anthony Fantano respond to the situation with The Last Dinner Party?
-Anthony Fantano expressed that he still loves their new LP and doesn't hold the band responsible for the misrepresentation in the article. He acknowledged the conversation it sparked about economic privilege in the music industry.
What is the broader issue that the controversy with The Last Dinner Party highlights?
-The controversy highlights the issue of economic privilege in the music industry, where artists from wealthy backgrounds may have an advantage in gaining success and recognition over less privileged artists.
What is the role of streaming platforms in the current state of the music industry?
-Streaming platforms are criticized for not providing sufficient financial support to artists, which contributes to the difficulty of artists, especially those from less privileged backgrounds, to make a living from their music.
What did James Blake tweet about the music industry?
-James Blake criticized streaming platforms for not paying artists enough and for platforms like TikTok breaking down music into bite-sized chunks, which he believes detracts from the appreciation of songcraft and production.
What is Anthony Fantano's suggestion for supporting artists?
-Anthony Fantano suggests directly supporting artists by buying their merchandise, records, or attending their tours, and supporting their efforts to improve pay and conditions in the industry.
What is the significance of the legislation introduced by Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib?
-The legislation aims to pay musicians more through streaming services, which could be a significant improvement over the current low pay and would help support artists in the industry.
How does Anthony Fantano view the role of wealthy artists in the music industry?
-He believes that wealthy artists are not the problem but a symptom of a larger issue. He suggests that they are better off making music than engaging in other activities that could have a more negative impact on society.
What is the term 'parasocial' in the context of the script?
-The term 'parasocial' refers to the one-sided, non-reciprocal relationship that fans may have with artists, where they presume certain things about the artist's life based on limited information.
What is the importance of artists being paid fairly, according to Anthony Fantano?
-According to Anthony Fantano, fair pay for artists is crucial for allowing a diverse range of musicians, including those from less privileged backgrounds, to succeed and thrive in the industry.
What action does Anthony Fantano encourage fans to take regarding the music industry's treatment of artists?
-He encourages fans to make noise and push for better pay and conditions for artists, including supporting legislation and unionization efforts that aim to improve the situation.
Outlines
🎤 Music Privilege and Economic Discourse
Anthony Fantano discusses the recent PR moments of two indie artists and the resulting conversations about economic privilege in the music industry. He addresses the controversy surrounding a quote from the Last Dinner Party and the perception of them being out of touch with the economic struggles of the working class. Fantano argues that while the band's background may influence their music, it's not surprising given their wealth. He also touches on the broader issue of economic privilege in the music industry, citing examples like Vampire Weekend and the challenges faced by artists from less privileged backgrounds.
🎵 Artistic Pursuits and Economic Status
Fantano continues the discussion by reflecting on the use of economic privilege for artistic pursuits, suggesting that it's better for wealthy individuals to create music than to engage in other potentially harmful activities. He acknowledges his own advantages and expresses empathy for those who are frustrated by the success of privileged artists. However, he emphasizes that these artists are symptoms of a larger issue, not the problem itself. He calls for a fairer music industry that supports artists of all economic backgrounds and encourages fans to support their favorite artists directly.
📢 Advocacy for Fair Music Industry Practices
In the final paragraph, Fantano addresses James Blake's criticism of streaming platforms and the impact of social media on music consumption. He highlights the challenges faced by artists at all levels of the industry, including the financial squeeze and the need for more support from the industry. Fantano urges fans not to be outwardly angry at privileged artists but to focus on supporting all artists and advocating for better pay and industry practices. He mentions recent legislation introduced by Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib to improve musician pay through streaming services and encourages fans to support such efforts.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Indie music
💡Economic privilege
💡Success in music
💡Streaming platforms
💡Attention economy
💡Privilege and music career
💡Artistic expression
💡Music industry challenges
💡Fair compensation
💡Unionization efforts
💡Legislation for musicians
Highlights
Anthony Fantano discusses the economic privilege in the indie music scene.
The Last Dinner Party's recent PR moment and the controversy surrounding a quote in an article.
The perception of indie artists from privileged backgrounds and the impact on the music industry.
The argument that privileged artists may prevent less privileged musicians from succeeding.
The influence of an artist's background on their music and the public's acceptance.
The changing attitude towards artists' economic status in the music industry.
The current state of the music industry where success is not a zero-sum game.
The idea that artists from privileged backgrounds might be doing less harm by making music.
The challenge of struggling artists in an age where music doesn't make much money.
James Blake's Twitter tirade on streaming platforms and the lack of financial support for artists.
The connection between the economic privilege of artists and the state of the music industry.
The suggestion to not be angry at privileged artists but to address the systemic issues.
The importance of directly supporting artists through purchases and attending live shows.
The call to change perceptions about artists' worth and support fair pay from the industry.
The potential impact of artists banding together to demand better treatment from labels and streaming platforms.
The introduction of legislation by Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib to improve musician pay through streaming services.
The encouragement for music fans to support artists and push for industry improvements.
Transcripts
hey everyone Anthony fantano here
internet's busiest music nerd and it's
time for discourse are we playing Mario
Cart right now cuz I feel like I'm about
to get first on this course okay listen
this past week in the world of Music two
different artists from two different
sects of the Indie world were having
respective PR moments and even though
they were very different in terms of
their reception and overall topic I
think they're very much connected and
and I would like to link them together
here and create between them a super
discourse Frankenstein monster starting
first with the new upand cominging
beloved indie rock and pop outfit the
last dinner party now in a bit of
inaccurate attribution recently there
was a piece uh covering the group
talking about their recent popularity
and this piece caused a lot of people to
get angry because uh the quote in
question in it uh out of the context in
which it was originally said it made the
band seem uh very out of touch very
ignorant toward the economic plights of
average everyday working people those
who are struggling to make ends meet on
a regular basis here's the quote in
question and while in my opinion uh it
doesn't really look that much different
in the original piece it was lifted from
it was not quite the snoody looking down
the pores type moment that it was read
to be in this newer article this newer
piece so no hate to the band no shade
toward them I still love their new LP
but this situation caused a conversation
among many on Twitter talking about how
groups such as the last dinner party and
many others in the music world and the
Indie scene broadly come from a place of
just staggering economic privilege I
even got an email from a fan before all
of this uh asking me what I thought of
the last dinner party in groups like
them using their high levels of uh
status and economic privilege to kind of
Leverage their success in the music
industry because there are a lot of
artists out there even some who have
built very passionate followings on the
Underground circuit who come from
households where one or both of the
parents make a seven fig salary uh have
net worths in the millions and billions
and there are people who have been very
outspoken on Twitter specifically in
reaction to this last dinner party stuff
saying things like these girls shouldn't
even have a music career they shouldn't
even try because their success and their
spot in the industry right now is
preventing a more deserving horror group
of musicians from ascending and becoming
popular themselves if we get rid of the
last dinner party who's going to replace
them it's not like there are seven other
groups of a lower economic status that
are making the same kind of music in
fact I think their background kind of
influences their music in a way you
can't really be surprised RIS that a
bunch of energetic in-your-face girls
who like to dress like oldw World
Aristocrats might come from money and
that's kind of the other reason that I
feel like uh this whole we don't like
rich people being successful in music uh
Genie is not kind of going back in the
bottle not only has this been a thing
for years but we're long past the point
where artists even feel the need to hide
this anymore like literally what the
[ __ ] is Vampire Weekend the only only
aesthetic they brought to the table is
hey we're a bunch of uh richy Rich Ivy
League school kids making cutesy silly
kind of lowii Indie pop and rock tunes
occasionally with a West African twist
which was also weird yeah that was very
much thrown in our faces pretty
unabashedly and audiences ate it the
[ __ ] up for over a decade now you could
officially use your upper crust economic
status to make your band look cool the
levies have broken on this Dam not only
that but especially now today in the age
of streaming uh success in the music
industry is no longer a zero sum game
like not only do you have more contracts
going out to artists over a mid-tier
viral Fame than ever these days but
there are tons of artists out there
every day who are releasing beloved
albums who are gaining large followings
who come from pretty low or average
economic means not to imply that it's
only good music that gets popular or
gains attention or success in the
internet age on top of this I know the
attention economy isn't like infinite in
terms of its size and space and I feel
like the solution to this problem of
only so many eyes and ears to go around
is that artists should be getting paid
more for the attention that they do get
imagine a music industry where a 100,000
monthly listeners on Spotify affords you
a full-time living you and a whole band
and honestly I can't really blame a lot
of these rich kids for wanting to use
their privilege and the Comforts they've
been afforded in life to make art I mean
making art is fun it's most likely what
a lot of you would be doing if you had
nothing else to do and considering the
very high economic status of a lot of
these individuals in the music industry
uh making music that entertains people
is probably the least destructive thing
they could be doing I would rather many
of them be doing that than I don't know
uh working under their dad as an oil
tycoon or taking the reins of their
family's trust fund I guess in terms of
global economic social damage these
people could be unleashing onto the
globe uh making music is maybe like the
best thing they could be doing with
their time and look as somebody who's
been around for a minute and has seen a
lot of artists with these kinds of
backgrounds attempt to build music
careers out of them for every one
Vampire Weekend you see there's like
dozens of other artists out there that
come from a similar place and are really
just going nowhere and if one of these
[ __ ] does manage to come out with a
great record good amazing fantastic I
would rather they have spent their time
focusing and accomplishing that as
opposed to I don't know inventing a new
kind of mortgage that uh kicks people
out of their homes or becoming the next
Elon Musk there's an alternate universe
where he actually pursued a shitty
SoundCloud DJ career and I wish we were
there after having said all of that
though I get your concern I myself don't
come from you know much economically
speaking and I'll be straight I've had
advantages in life I have great teeth I
was raised in an Italian American Family
my parents liked me and yeah sometimes
it does boil my blood to think of people
having all of that and on top of it
really no economic worries in the world
and getting to do everything and
anything they ever wanted as a result of
that but the reason I can't stay mad at
those particular individuals who again
use that privilege to uh Forge a
successful music career because they can
afford to like really get in the
trenches and take multiple hits on
albums that don't go anywhere or use
their influence to Cozy up to people who
know people who know people who know
people who will get their feet in the
door in certain situations really at the
end of the day those people are a
symptom of a much greater issue they're
not the problem the problem being even
if you got rid of the last dinner party
even if you got rid of every trust fund
baby in the music industry today people
of average or poorer economic
backgrounds can't afford to be
struggling artists in an age where your
music literally makes no money enter
stage right the second part of this
discourse a TI raade that one James
Blake went on over Twitter we will put a
lot of these tweets on the screen right
now but to sum them up efficiently James
pretty much went at all of these
platforms that uh music fans access
their favorite music through and talked
about streaming platforms essentially
putting little to no money in artist
pockets and then on top of that
platforms like Tik Tok breaking down the
uh level of attention paid to music
broadly because now everything is
getting shortened and kind of fit into
bite-sized chunks and we're not actually
appreciating songcraft and uh lengthier
pieces and dense Lush amazing production
now this is the current state of the
music industry it is very real and this
and the topic I was just discussing in
the video are very much connected we
can't sit here and be surprised at the
number of people are rich and privileged
succeeding in the music industry today
where your average person even if they
are talented even if they do have good
song ideas even if they have the
potential to be the greatest musical
artist the world has ever known they
can't afford to fund an entire 20 30
state tour that makes no money and that
they lose money on they can't afford to
spend all of their free time just
Hawking and promoting and pushing and
linking over and over and over all the
stuff they've made on social media
there's a squeeze for money there's a
squeeze for time that artists at every
level of the industry are feeling even
somebody as successful as James here if
a guy like James is feeling the pinch
who's been in the music industry for as
long as he has and also you know has a
dad who was a songwriter and a producer
too that's got to help if this guy feels
like he's being slided by this system
imagine how it feels for anybody
starting out with zero anything so I
guess let me say what I think we can do
from here one don't be outwardly angry
or hateful toward artists who uh you
know maybe come from a place of
privilege just simply based on that
background again they're not the problem
they're a symptom there would be more
artists of average means either
succeeding before them or succeeding
around them if they just had the
capacity to do so in a music industry
that paid and supported them fairly also
let me just say how weirdly parasocial
it is to presume any number of things
about an artist just based on who their
parents are and how much money they make
because even with those factors so many
different family Dynamics could be at
play next stop acting like music is free
and that artists are just really lucky
to be able to make music for a living
that they're barely actually making
artists are making music because they're
passionate to do so because they're
great at it and they're hoping to do it
for a job they're not doing it just as
like a favor to you so when you can
please directly support them and their
efforts by uh buying their merch buying
their records or going and supporting
them on a tour or something and lastly
but most importantly please get rid of
these nasty and toxic perceptions
that artists don't deserve more money
and support from the industry they're
operating within stop responding to them
with jealousy and hate whenever they are
calling out things like how crappy the
pay is from streaming services because
it's that very crappy pay that's
preventing uh people who are smaller
than them economically and Status wise
too from starting out and succeeding
from nothing when you see artists
calling out these streaming platforms or
uh doing something like getting behind
unionization efforts for example support
that get behind that and get loud about
it if the biggest artists in the
industry today got together and you know
did a boycott of music releases from
their labels or prevented their stuff
from going on streaming platforms a lot
of what's happening today could be
completely flipped on its head I mean
look at the recent accomplishments that
were made by the uh Screen Actor Guild
and the writer Guild while obviously the
agreements they ultimately came to were
not perfect and there's still a lot of
room for improvement uh those groups of
workers have way more leverage in their
industry than musicians broadly do right
now where even the biggest artists are
routinely at the mercy of their labels
and streaming platforms as it just so
happens congresswoman Rashida TB just
introduced
legislation that would pay musicians
more through the streaming services
which is obviously not a silver bullet
solution to this problem but a vast
improvement over the current state of
things and given that a lot of you guys
are music fans who want musicians to do
better if not musicians yourselves you
might actually want to get behind this
legislation passing and call your
Senators call your Congress people
because Lord knows that if you stay
silent and do nothing uh the labels are
going to Lobby against this thing and
it'll be totally buried in the dirt Make
Some Noise push for something that could
uh improve things let me know what you
guys think in the comments about all of
this over here next to my head is
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Anthony fantano music forever
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