Jan05

Open Letter From DJ Shadow

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DJ Shadow

WARNING: RAMBLING TIRADE FROM A 37-YEAR OLD TECHNOPHOBE BELOW

Well, here we are again, another year, another decade. Optimism about the future is tempered with a nagging sense that underlying factors causing most of the misery in the world still exist. Lucky, then, that I’m a musician and not a politician.


Specifically, when it comes to the wallet, everyone’s suffering…of that there can be no doubt. And what of the financial prospects for musicians and recording artists in the years to come? Shaky, at best. Unless you’re one of the grotesque ‘Idol’-type pop disasters in the top 5, you’re looking at getting a day job or finding other sources of income. Conventional wisdom amongst my peers has been remarkably short-sided over the last decade: “Yeah, CD sales are down, but all the money is in licensing.” Not anymore. “Yeah, licensing money is down, but the video game industry is killing it.” Less so these days, according to recent data. “Well, the real money is in touring.” Really? When was the last time you saw a ‘new,’ post-record company artist headline a major music festival? At this rate, we’ll be stuck with Coldplay for decades (no offense intended). Read The Full Letter

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16 Responses to “Open Letter From DJ Shadow”

  1. DJ Shadow Cues Up Controversy | URB.COM says:
    January 8, 2010 at 11:10 am

    [...] downloading, James Brown, Michna Posted 1 minute ago Earlier this week, we posted an open letter from DJ Shadow that effectively told off all downloaders. Obviously, this cause quite a stir for [...]

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  2. laroka says:
    January 6, 2010 at 1:59 pm

    Dear Josh,
    A friend reminded me of your line from Scratch where you speak upon all these artists that you were diggin for and that none of those artists have careers and so forth. While nostalgic and reminiscent, I can not bear to deny the resemblence and direction you seem to be going. You have alienated a gigantic fan base. Me included. I was beyond an avid fan. You are unaccepting of a paradigm shift that you have absolutely no power over and think that there is a problem. Days of making a 12″ of uncleared samples of other people’s blood, sweat and tears are long gone. The game has changed. I just don’t understand how a working and very successful musician and businessman such as yourself can seem so jaded and unthoughtful and so fusking insolent.

    You seem to be talking out of both sides of your mouth. You believe music sucks right now? Why? Pay attention. There is some of the most interesting, introspective and enlightening music coming out. Yes, it’s true it isn’t Isaac Hayes or David Axelrod, but open your eyes, ears and mind. I am sorry there is not a “new” Jay-Z or Biggie. There are plenty of people occupying worthwhile spaces on the racks and websites that deserve it. Brother Ali, who bridges the gaps between Chuck D, Freeway and Atmosphere. MGMT who capture psychedelic and tongue in cheek lyrics. M83. Blu. These New Puritans. La Roux. Blakroc. The Dead Weathers. Diplo. Flying Lotus. Glitch Mob.I could name a continuous list of great and new artists. I am not saying all these people are the next DJ Shadow or James Brown or Q-Tip, but these are viable new(er) artists that are challenging and changing music. Puting their soul into music to move you, me and everybody in between. They inspire me the way that Entroducing did.

    It’s funny, I am seeing some awesome similarities between your attitude with the attitude of the sampled artists of the 90s. Some of them weren’t accepting of the music and considered it blasphemous for producers of the 90’s to reuse. Some even called it worse, they called it theft. Some of them were very cool and open. I remember meeting Monty Stark and was so inspired and open and appreciative of new music. But you did try and make music that was different nonetheless. Challenging how music is made.

    It’s situations like this that you wish an artist didn’t write or talk and THEY JUST MADE MUSIC. Please. Make music that moves me.Sample, don’t sample. I don’t care. Challenge me. Surprise me. Do what you love and it will shine through. If a major label won’t release it with samples, do you need them? You are still a force to be wreckoned with. You are blessed and have more opportunity than I can fully quantify. I feel as if I have made some challenging and beautiful music comparable to what any other successful artist has put out but have not made the jump into a greater realm. I wish I had 10% of the opportunity that you had, I would be a rich, humble and satiated man. I continue to invest time, effort and money into what I love. You have a base of knowledge and resources far greater than I can imagine. Yes, there are some amazing artists out there who let their music go for free. Watch and learn from the likes of Trent Reznor. He has worked the game to a T and still makes amazing music. They are lucky enough to have fans who are willing to support them come rain sleet or recession. You have done well. You don’t have to be one of those artists, but if you don’t want to do so, you may not want to keep yabbering about it. Your use of YOUR site to voice YOUR opinions is precisely what makes the internet amazing. Don’t complain. DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Be smarter. Be quicker. Be creative. Or don’t and go away ungraceful and reminiscent of James Brown in the 80’s. Others don’t have the voice you have. In this case, chances are, I wish they did. They would probably say someting most of us can use. Inspiration.

    Don’t come off as disgruntled and the old guy on the block yelling get off my lawn.

    I am reminded of one of Rev Run’s recent Daily Words of Wisdom that he sends out everyday: “Everyone is old who stops learning, whether your(sic) 20 or 80!”. Think about it and understand it, the clock on the wall reads a quarter past midnight…

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  4. uberVU - social comments says:
    January 5, 2010 at 9:57 am

    Social comments and analytics for this post…

    This post was mentioned on Twitter by leiftheviking: RT @URBmag: URB.COM: Open Letter From DJ Shadow http://bit.ly/6D9iYR #djshadow…

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