"Before the Music Dies"

So it's Spring Break for me, and I just gave up my search for a website to watch the Celtics-Knicks game for free (since I have no access to TV for the night).  Instead, I decided to watch a film available to anybody on Hulu (with ads, a minor frustration) called Before the Music Dies.  It's a remarkable 2006 documentary about the state of the music industry, inspired by the final words of director Andrew Shapter's deceased brother.  In class we recently watched a similarly-themed documentary, with a more empirical approach to examination of the music industry with more small-time names, called "Money for Nothing" which was pretty outdated.  I think that this newer film - partly in its administrative aspects (editing style, budget, and execution), partly its recent production, and partly use of big industry names/performers - creates a better critique of the entire network of companies that makes up the arms of the beast that is the music industry.

Covering radio, record labels, music writing, aesthetics, Auto-Tune, short-term business models, piracy, constantly changing distribution formats, alternative labels, competition and formulas, the film interviews music fans, managers, executives, writers, big-name and indie artists alike (Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Dave Matthews, Erykah Badu, Elvis Costello, Widespread Panic to name a few) for an unmatched picture of the industry.  There is a decided focus on the manufactured aspect of the industry; very few labels allow radio stations or musicians to work entirely on their own accord, because the goal is always more green.  We get to hear about the fall of the industry from artists who watched it fall and those who persevered alike, and at times the movie can be a bit depressing, like the industry is too far gone.  But the end message is one of hope, it asks those who buy and those who make music to try to rebel against the system that is clearly broken at this point.

The film also puts a decent focus on an artist that has been sort of left by the wayside by record labels, although in part by his own choice because of his poor experience.  I read an article about this artist, Doyle Bramhall II, years ago when he was in Eric Clapton's band, and his story is pretty amazing.  I was disappointed that the movie didn't delve into his incredible past, but learning about his struggle with the industry was also great.  Bramhall's father, Doyle I, was great friends with Stevie Ray Vaughn and his brother Jimmie and the two lived in the Bramhalls' home for quite some time.  As a result of all those legendary guitar players hanging around while he was growing up, the younger Bramhall picked up the guitar all the time, but as a lefty was forced to turn the guitar upside down, and still managed to teach himself the instrument under the influence of very skilled players.  And Bramhall still plays the guitar in that manner, with the strings opposite of a normal guitar because he still plays it like it were a right-handed guitar upside down.  (Contrary to popular belief, even Hendrix didn't play like that, it's very difficult)

Everyone who every listens to music to watch this movie, even if you think you understand how the industry works.  I hope my professor will consider "Before the Music Dies" for the next round of this class instead of "Money for Nothing"