Jimmy 3.0

August 12, 2009, once again Radiohead announced it would be light years ahead of any other act.  The band announced it would no longer release full length albums and concentrate on digital download singles.  What a concept!

I can possibly name two or three Nashville acts in the past five years that have recorded a full length album that was solid from start to finish.  Unfortunately, most full length records are one to three potential singles with the rest just filling the gaps.

This is something that has bothered me for years.  What is the purpose of fill music?  I know artists, producers, labels, can convince themselves the other seven or eight songs are good material, but the reality is the opposite.  I point fingers (all ten) directly at fill music as the reason the music industry (especially country) has been on its death bed.

Singles, three packs, five packs are the only way to substantially grow a career in my opinion.  Keep the attention off an album project and have more quality and less quantity.  It’s a simple idea that few in this business seem to grasp.  If I were to get a call to consult for any record company today, I would bet the farm on building grassroots, online communities and killing the full length record.

I’ll put it this way… If I go eat out somewhere and only 10 to 20% of the meal is good, I doubt I will return.