Promotion>Production>Product?

Promotion>Production>Product?

Random thoughts from Steve Fearon.

It is perhaps a sign of our times of over-commercialisation and our attitude to music, that I am seeing an increasing amount of emphasis being placed on the marketability and production quality of a song/band over the actual quality of the 'product'.

I think in this day an age, production quality is more attainable than ever, and there is admittedly little excuse for less than at least mediocre production values, and an artists image is of course an important aspect of the whole package...however the lack of attention on the songwriting itself is becoming a little worrying.

With all the time and money spent by people on getting the PR and mix right, learning new production techniques, new social media methods...how many artists are putting the same effort into the art of songwriting?

How many people have spent days hunched over a computer trying to get that Kick sounding just right?

LOADS

how many people have spent days working on a vocal melody, or a nice transition from the bridge to the chorus, or in trying to learn new ways of writing challenging counter-melodies?

Less I am willing to bet.

I am not suggesting that we neglect the production, or the business side of creating music, but it worries me that these are often getting more time and attention than the art to which we all fell in love in the first place.

The song is what speaks to the heart, so if you get that right the rest will amplify it.

If you neglect the art, what will you have to shine up and market?

Ask Mr Cowell...he has made a career from it.

As a positive end to this rather dour article (Sorry!) here is a track from our latest addition to the roster, MACHINE ROX!