The King Is Dead.

Michael Jackson was an Icon with a capital ‘i’. He took his work seriously and never produced a sub-par piece of work. Whether you like his style, or not, you cannot deny his consistent level of excellence. I remember waiting to watch a new video or listen to a new song when he would be working. My expectation was that it was always top shelf. I don’t remember being disappointed.

His personal life, of course, was a freak-show. There was a sweet innocence about his demeanor. Personally, I prefer not to think he was perverted, that he was trying to go back to another time when everyone wasn’t suspect. I may be wrong, but I prefer not to have to rectify that type of perversion with the art and message that his art portrayed. Some know the truth, but in this day and age you don’t know who’s telling the truth.

It was obvious he was trying to fill a bottomless hole. His plastic surgery, skin color, Neverland. Deep down, I think he was longing for acceptance. Perhaps, from his father. Perhaps from his fans. Perhaps from the press. Perhaps from himself.

Surely he got glimpses of it when each of his projects were released... Thriller had no critics... but I sense it was never enough.

I cranked up BLACK OR WHITE last night. I love that song.. mostly I love the performance. There is so much energy in that performance and so many other MJ creations.

I never idolized Michael Jackson, but I bought his stuff. It was always worth the money. I did my part to contribute to his acceptance, but I’m only human, and in the end, its not the acceptance of other humans that ultimately fulfills.

“If you’re wantin’ to be my brother it don’t matter if you’re black or white.”

Performance "Tax" on Broadcast Radio. VOTE YES! Here's why...

There’s a fire storm raging about the new performance “tax” that is being presented to Congress.

Now, I’m the first to bristle at new taxes, but I got a bad feeling in my stomach when it was the radio stations and NAB pushing to stop it in its tracks. Keep in mind that it was the broadcasters who formed BMI to limit performance royalties paid out to composers and songwriters... (competing with ASCAP) I kept hearing things like greedy record labels.. so I looked into it.

First off, the word TAX... the broadcasters came up with that.. there is no mention of the word in the bill.

Seems that performers are not paid performance royalties in the US. Writers and publishers are, and have been since 1909 or some such year.. but for 80 years, performers are not and have not been paid. The excuse the broadcasters have used for years is the music business is paid via sales as a result of radio air play. Of course, with the advent of illegal downloads, most of that revenue is gone. Additionally, as the major labels dominance continues to wane, smaller labels get more airplay, but continue to get no compensation.

NAB is arguing that it will cause less music to be played on the radio. Like there’s a lot now? Demand will dictate how much music is played on the radio, and having to pay another 1/2 cent royalty to the performer is not going to eliminate profit for the broadcasters.

Music is the reason people listen. Artists should be compensated for their work.

Furthermore, as most are unaware, there are millions collected world wide for US artists on foreign stations, but because the US does not pay, those royalties are not distributed to US artists. That would open those funds up for artists as well.

Get on your horn. Let your congressman know that we want artists to be paid, just like publishers and writers are paid.

Remember, the Big labels.. well when their gone, its just us small labels and musicians left.. and how are we going to change the laws, then?

So, unless you’re not for artist getting paid for performing their works, you should be FOR this bill, not against it.

The House Bill in question is H.R. 848. Check into it, and spread the word. Call your Representative.