OURSTAGE Q&A WITH TOM SILVERMAN (TOMMY BOY ENTERTAINMENT, NEW MUSIC SEMINAR)

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tomsilverman_02Hip Hop pioneer, record producer and Tommy Boy Records’ founder, Tom Silverman has three decades of gold, platinum and multi-platinum records under his belt thanks to his work with such artists as Queen Latifah, De La Soul and House of Pain. But Silverman is more than a celebrated multi-hyphenate. He is also an industry architect who conceived the New Music Seminar; the music conference prototype from which events like SXSW were built. This music mogul is now reading the old music industry its last rites and ushering in the dawn of a new music era. OurStage sat down with Silverman and asked him to share his views on the past, present and future of the business behind the music.

KB: You’ve been a pioneer and producer of influential music since the early 80’s. What was the industry like when you first started out in your career?

TS: A question in relativism. To the neophyte ˜Tom Silverman’ it did not seem as big or daunting as it is today. But ignorance is bliss. I was able to break radical new artists and records with little money and little staff. I was able to get Urban radio play myself.

There wasn’t the Internet or cell phone. Fax machines were new technology. The computers that came first were big and clumsy and did very little. The kilobyte was the measure of the technologist. Music was recorded via analog. Drum machines and synthesizers were analog. We recorded on 2-inch tape and edited on half-inch tape. We pushed the limit of the technology we had from recording, to mastering, to marketing.

Rap was a spin-off of Urban Disco. Many of the early Hip Hop artists had Disco in their names. People forget that Rap was Urban Disco in the early 80’s and it was a statement against the corporate R&B that had ruled for so long.

Motown, Island, Chrysalis, Arista and A&M were independent labels.

KB: What do you think is the most significant change within the industry in the last five years?

TS: Last 5 years “ The democratization of distribution (everyone can get distribution).

Last 10 years “ The democratization of recording (everyone can have a studio).

Last 30 years “ The mobilization of music with the invention of the Boombox”and more importantly the advent of personal music listening with the Walkman (a far more important invention than the iPod).

KB: From the perspective of Tommy Boy Entertainment, what has it been like to release music as an Indie artist amidst all of the changes within industry? How do you think these changes have impacted your major label counterparts?

TS: It sucks for independents. It sucks way more for the majors.

KB: How would you briefly summarize the current state of the industry?

TS: The current record industry is in the hospice on life support.

KB: Do bands get discovered any more? How do talented artists make it these days?

TS: Talented artists are getting stuck in the system now more than ever. Some bands are still getting discovered”but fewer each year”it seems due to the growing conservatism of traditional radio and the growing glut of releases.

KB: What is your advice to musicians trying to navigate the new waters of the music industry?

TB: Throw out the rule book. Differentiate your songs, recordings, image/statement and performance. Work harder on being better. Being a musician requires you to think about photos, videos, blogging and Twitter now. Get a business partner (either label, or manager or bass player) to deal with the flow of your creative to your fans” collecting and managing fans and monetizing your relationship with fans.

Artists interested in hearing more of Tommy Silverman’s insights are encouraged to attend the New Music Seminar in NYC on July 21st. For more information on this not-to-be-missed event, click HERE.