This movies was so incredibly bizarre that it was perfect.

Just watched this.

Al "took the piss out" of the music industry and the biopic genre. Well done. Absolutely fantastic when MJ starts doing covers of Al's originals. Coolio stewing while listening to Amish Paradise was hilarious. The best bit was regarding substance abuse for musicians and how there is no one in the industry who avoids substance abuse. He is an outsider and he is self-aware of that fact.

The irony of the industry today is that artists rarely make their own songs, they may have some lyrics they contribute, but the music is usually composed by the no name guy who works for the label. Meaning weird Al has just as much art to contribute than the frontman artist accepting the Grammy for performing someone else's work.

The Debt said:

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Just watched this.

Al "took the piss out" of the music industry and the biopic genre. Well done. Absolutely fantastic when MJ starts doing covers of Al's originals. Coolio stewing while listening to Amish Paradise was hilarious. The best bit was regarding substance abuse for musicians and how there is no one in the industry who avoids substance abuse. He is an outsider and he is self-aware of that fact.

The irony of the industry today is that artists rarely make their own songs, they may have some lyrics they contribute, but the music is usually composed by the no name guy who works for the label. Meaning weird Al has just as much art to contribute than the frontman artist accepting the Grammy for performing someone else's work.

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Taylor Swift and Billie Elish beg to differ.

But labels pay musicians millions to re-create their music.

Chuck Cunningham said:

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The Debt said:

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Just watched this.

Al "took the piss out" of the music industry and the biopic genre. Well done. Absolutely fantastic when MJ starts doing covers of Al's originals. Coolio stewing while listening to Amish Paradise was hilarious. The best bit was regarding substance abuse for musicians and how there is no one in the industry who avoids substance abuse. He is an outsider and he is self-aware of that fact.

The irony of the industry today is that artists rarely make their own songs, they may have some lyrics they contribute, but the music is usually composed by the no name guy who works for the label. Meaning weird Al has just as much art to contribute than the frontman artist accepting the Grammy for performing someone else's work.

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Taylor Swift and Billie Elish beg to differ.

But labels pay musicians millions to re-create their music.

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Yes there are exceptions. But when labels sign artists to a 14-record deal to release a record every 2 years...they have a team of people churning out beats and hooks and compositions.

Do you honestly think Taylor swift writes the violin part that makes up the bridge? How much music theory does the average musician actually know or do they just like the sound of a set of notes?

Making modern music is very much a collaborative effort, what percent do you think is in control of the named artist? At best you will see 50%, but it could be as little as zero.

Think toxic by Britney spears. Have you ever seen the sheet music to that? You honestly think Britney came up with that?

Do you think the person that comes up with the violin part gets a songwriting credit?

All of this machinery
Making modern music
Can still be open-hearted

Know Your Enemy said:

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Do you think the person that comes up with the violin part gets a songwriting credit?

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No. But that's not the position I'm arguing.

Let's look at the 1950s. Bands were responsible for every sound you heard. One or two guitars, a bass, a drum, vocals (lead and backup). Everything about the song was from those 3-5 people.

I remember a n interview with Ted Nugent when he recalled playing a sample of something new and the record company wantes to add a keyboard to round-out the notes. He said to them he's a musician and a competent guitarist and he can round out his own notes.

While the Nuge got his way this illustrates that the business side of the industry knows what sells to consumers, and the creative side is ultimately shifting to the demands of the label.

Weaker wills would be like "a keyboardist? Fine." Less talented artists (read as "has less musicality") would be thrilled to have more talent around them. Whatever sells more.

Sure there are guys like Prince and Edgar Winter who can play every instrument and every part, but probably since the Monkeys the industry has been focused on making an artist a brand in lieu of actual musical talent.

American Idol is precisely that. "Let's take an alright singer, tell the audience of 100m viewers their life story, their struggles, their dreams, etc etc and have the audience track them for 3 months and now the consumer has brand awareness." Not to mention in the show they are signing covers of other people's music....which ironically is what they will be doing when their new hit single comes out.

Ever wonder why there is no battle of the bands, or singers singing battling with original songs? If they are singer/songwriters, surely they have some of their own stuff and would sign whatever is necessary to have their own music broadcast to the world. But that's not the point of the shows, it's to make a brand, not an artist.