hear me out: should Merlin Network underwrite a streaming* platform for “indie” (non-major) music? make it a nonprofit.

and also cut ties with you know who/what.

* ok ~really~ hear me out, or bring back the download. quality over quantity. 1:1 $ value measurement & distribution.

Feeble Little Horse have temporarily released their 2022 demo "Sober Arc" with all sales benefitting families who've lost their homes in the LA wildfires

Allegra Krieger has shared 'Relief,' an album of voice memos for unreleased songs, to benefit victims of the LA wildfires

ugh

i have not stopped listening to The Walkmen's You & Me on repeat since mid-Dec. someone please send me some new or old music I've maybe never heard before. any genre, just make it good.

Constantly thinking of this Marilyn Frye quote

From @taylorlorenz.bsky.social’s newsletter www.usermag.co/p/tiktok-is-...

alright let’s hear it. what’s the read on Universal acquiring Downtown?

been trying not to say it but going to say it. a palm reader suggested i read you-know-who’s manifesto a few weeks ago.

some managers have to worry about their bands disappearing or getting into fights. i have to worry about mine getting injured in dance battles with each other

not to be dramatic here but spam calls are truly ruining my life

a particularly relevant URL today? hypem.com/merch-table

this is how i used lists before working in the industry, and still do i suppose. but now they’re ruined because every time one of my acts is not included, i have to do imaginary revenge 😈

the cloud is not going well

one of many gems in the yacht rock dockumentary is this SCTV sketch on michael mcdonald ft. rick moranis

so many ways to do things but the current trend/model for a developing act seems to be moving towards:
self release 1 EP, 1 full-length —> small indie label for 2 LPs —> bigger “indie” for 2 LPs —> distro deal at lower % / self-release again & buy your catalog back. maybe skip step 3 if you can.

big ups to New Commute for highlighting like half the Adult Decisions roster :) Allegra Krieger, Being Dead, Bloomsday, and Fust all made the cut + a ton of our friends: www.newcommute.net/feed/2024/11...

in other news, i saw gummo for the 1st time in theaters last night and never again. never again. no one warned me about the cats.

lessons from the most intense year managing bands pt. 1:
- booking agents are A+ partners when good at their jobs & D- when not
- my style/approach is different, gotta own it
- it really does take 1 yr to get sync fee 🙄
- i have perfected the tour book
- i must be 15% tougher than I want to be