Post by Traditional Music Forum on Mar 27, 2021 18:00:22 GMT
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TMF Newsletter | August 2020
This newsletter is a space for our members, and others active in traditional music in Scotland, to share news, stories and thoughts. Contributions are always welcome.
Click here to send.
FROM THE NETHERBOW
I marvel at the amount of new music that continues to be released (see below for a sample), even in these most difficult of times for musicians.
There must be a law of diminishing returns in operation, however.
In an age of lost gigs, changing delivery platforms, and risible income from streaming where does the money come from for the next album? Spotify CEO, Daniel Ek's recent statement that modern musicians had to move away from a model of producing an album every three or four years and produce more frequently added insult to injury, especially for our corner of the music business.
When people stream rather than buy the musician is essentially left in the position of forking out to make the music available with little prospect of recouping any outlay. It is not so much the low royalties from streaming that are the issue (although they are outrageous) as the sense engendered in the consumer that music is now essentially free, give or take a tenner a month. Even kids who have grown up with musician parents have adopted that attitude. Older music fans are still buying CDs as the queues at signing tents at festivals (remember them?) will testify, but look at the generation below and you find that even young musicians don't possess the equipment to play them on.
Being a folkie I can't help but think of the transition from hand-loom weaving to steam-driven machines and the disruption and poverty the latter brought to many lives.
I'm a four-loom weaver as many a one knows;
I've nowt to eat and I've worn out me clothes.
Me clogs are both broken, no looms to weave on,
And I've woven meself to far end.
People are thinking hard at the moment about a solution that works for musicians and consumers. Let's hope we can come up with one before too many are at 'far end'.
David Francis
Director, TMF
TMF BLOG:
MOURNING MUSIC AND 'THE BEFORE TIME' - by Jeri Foreman
It is well worth taking the time to read this blog by fiddler Jeri Foreman, as she highlights how the pandemic and lockdown has affected musicians.
"I have heard a lot of people saying that creativity has become a challenge. It has not all disappeared for me, but I did think that I would be much more prolific than I have been, in the event of so much spare time. I think this is associated with the grief we all feel for our industry and also, our lack of social interactions and travel. For many, creativity requires time, investment and some feeling of security and at the moment, we only have one of these things."
BANDCAMP FRIDAYS TO CONTINUE THROUGHOUT 2020 TO SUPPORT ARTISTS IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC
Bandcamp Fridays started in March 2020 to support artists impacted by the pandemic. On the first Friday of each month Bandcamp waive their fees so that the artist receives 100% of the revenue.
In the past few months the music community has come together in a huge way: in just four days, fans put more than $20 million directly into the pockets of artists and labels.
Because the pandemic is far from over Bandcamp Fridays will continue on the first Friday of every month until the end of the year. So if you're thinking of buying some music or merch from artists, please consider doing so on Bandcamp Fridays:
4th September
2nd October
6th November
4th December
Read more: daily.bandcamp.com/features/update-on-bandcamp-fridays
FRASER SHAW - THE REMIX PROJECT UPDATE
REIMAGINING THE MUSIC OF FRASER SHAW
The trustees of the Fraser Shaw Trust have said that the response to the Fraser Shaw Remix Project was phenomenal. The standard and diversity of musical ideas was incredible.
Here are the ten fantastic artists who have been chosen to reimagine Fraser's tunes:
Ali Aitken, Chris Gray, Euan McLaughlin, Fraser Fifield, John Somerville, Kevin O'Neill, Mary Ann Kennedy, Rachel Hair, Sally Simpson, Steven Gilfoyle.
The Fraser Shaw Trust exists to promote music and support musicians through education and projects like this. Our fundraising also goes towards local MS charities where we strive to make a difference to MS sufferers.
Funds are raised through the sale of Fraser's music books, CD's and other fundraising campaigns. The charity is run by friends and family of Fraser all of who volunteer their time.
Donations can be made at www.frasershawtrust.com
NEW MUSIC
JAMES HARPER - CULZEAN
Released 1st July 2020
Available from bandcamp
2020 sees Ja
Unsubscribe from this list
TMF Newsletter | August 2020
This newsletter is a space for our members, and others active in traditional music in Scotland, to share news, stories and thoughts. Contributions are always welcome.
Click here to send.
FROM THE NETHERBOW
I marvel at the amount of new music that continues to be released (see below for a sample), even in these most difficult of times for musicians.
There must be a law of diminishing returns in operation, however.
In an age of lost gigs, changing delivery platforms, and risible income from streaming where does the money come from for the next album? Spotify CEO, Daniel Ek's recent statement that modern musicians had to move away from a model of producing an album every three or four years and produce more frequently added insult to injury, especially for our corner of the music business.
When people stream rather than buy the musician is essentially left in the position of forking out to make the music available with little prospect of recouping any outlay. It is not so much the low royalties from streaming that are the issue (although they are outrageous) as the sense engendered in the consumer that music is now essentially free, give or take a tenner a month. Even kids who have grown up with musician parents have adopted that attitude. Older music fans are still buying CDs as the queues at signing tents at festivals (remember them?) will testify, but look at the generation below and you find that even young musicians don't possess the equipment to play them on.
Being a folkie I can't help but think of the transition from hand-loom weaving to steam-driven machines and the disruption and poverty the latter brought to many lives.
I'm a four-loom weaver as many a one knows;
I've nowt to eat and I've worn out me clothes.
Me clogs are both broken, no looms to weave on,
And I've woven meself to far end.
People are thinking hard at the moment about a solution that works for musicians and consumers. Let's hope we can come up with one before too many are at 'far end'.
David Francis
Director, TMF
TMF BLOG:
MOURNING MUSIC AND 'THE BEFORE TIME' - by Jeri Foreman
It is well worth taking the time to read this blog by fiddler Jeri Foreman, as she highlights how the pandemic and lockdown has affected musicians.
"I have heard a lot of people saying that creativity has become a challenge. It has not all disappeared for me, but I did think that I would be much more prolific than I have been, in the event of so much spare time. I think this is associated with the grief we all feel for our industry and also, our lack of social interactions and travel. For many, creativity requires time, investment and some feeling of security and at the moment, we only have one of these things."
BANDCAMP FRIDAYS TO CONTINUE THROUGHOUT 2020 TO SUPPORT ARTISTS IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC
Bandcamp Fridays started in March 2020 to support artists impacted by the pandemic. On the first Friday of each month Bandcamp waive their fees so that the artist receives 100% of the revenue.
In the past few months the music community has come together in a huge way: in just four days, fans put more than $20 million directly into the pockets of artists and labels.
Because the pandemic is far from over Bandcamp Fridays will continue on the first Friday of every month until the end of the year. So if you're thinking of buying some music or merch from artists, please consider doing so on Bandcamp Fridays:
4th September
2nd October
6th November
4th December
Read more: daily.bandcamp.com/features/update-on-bandcamp-fridays
FRASER SHAW - THE REMIX PROJECT UPDATE
REIMAGINING THE MUSIC OF FRASER SHAW
The trustees of the Fraser Shaw Trust have said that the response to the Fraser Shaw Remix Project was phenomenal. The standard and diversity of musical ideas was incredible.
Here are the ten fantastic artists who have been chosen to reimagine Fraser's tunes:
Ali Aitken, Chris Gray, Euan McLaughlin, Fraser Fifield, John Somerville, Kevin O'Neill, Mary Ann Kennedy, Rachel Hair, Sally Simpson, Steven Gilfoyle.
The Fraser Shaw Trust exists to promote music and support musicians through education and projects like this. Our fundraising also goes towards local MS charities where we strive to make a difference to MS sufferers.
Funds are raised through the sale of Fraser's music books, CD's and other fundraising campaigns. The charity is run by friends and family of Fraser all of who volunteer their time.
Donations can be made at www.frasershawtrust.com
NEW MUSIC
JAMES HARPER - CULZEAN
Released 1st July 2020
Available from bandcamp
2020 sees Ja