My good friend, Gary Sallee is an avid reader of a writer named Bob Lefsetz, a premiere blogger on the entertainment (mostly music) industry. As Gary told me when he forwarded this post about Bruce Springsteen, “I love and hate Bob Lefsetz, but this one is so on target I had to share.”
I’ve edited his post down just a bit — and want to make some comments at the end — however, this is so mind-blowing, I’m quoting a significant portion of his writing. See if this doesn’t challenge your thinking just a bit…or more:
“Next Sunday, Bruce Springsteen will perform during halftime at the Super Bowl. Fans will fawn, the press will recite hosannas, the new album’s sales will spike and tickets will fly. But will it be a success?
Back in ’75, when Bruce appeared simultaneously on the covers of both “Time” and “Newsweek”, it was seen as a disaster. Bruised by the perception of overhype, Springsteen retreated and didn’t release another album until three years later. The dark, brooding “Darkness At The Edge Of Town”, which many consider his best.
Bruce went back on the road and won fans over one by one, via his live shows. There was an intimate connection between Springsteen and his fans, that bonded them to him. Bruce became an icon. It took the mainstream another half decade to realize it, with “Born To Run”, but in the world of rock, Bruce was a God. And isn’t that all that matters?
Somehow we’ve equated ubiquity with success. Sure, I can understand wanting enough fans and fame to pay your bills and give up your day job, but if you’re always swinging for the fences, playing to the press and the lowest common denominator, does this increase your cred, even your bank account on a long term basis?
Bruce has got a new album. It’s been available online for weeks. It sounds terrible.
Literally. You’d think the Boss would take a stand. No. Because Bruce is so busy playing in the stadiums, so worried about money, that music has become secondary. This is a problem facing all recording artists. But we usually count on the leaders to break ground. But not Springsteen.
And then there’s the press. Mostly fawning. Sucking at the (mother’s milk). Trying to become famous themselves. Kissing the butts of the players. Like Maria Bartiromo, flying on Citigroup’s private jet. The journalists are just like Springsteen. More concerned with the trappings than the essence. They need to write good things about the Boss so they can be friends with him. And his management. So they can get perks.
But this is not really about the Boss. This is about us. Our culture. If something generates revenue, one can’t say anything negative about it. You can’t criticize “Paul Blart: Mall Cop”, it was number one two weeks in a row!
But weren’t musicians supposed to be about more than money? Didn’t they claim dollars didn’t keep you warm at night? Who is spewing these falsehoods into their ears, making them scamp for every last buck?
Their handlers. Their labels, managers and agents. Used to be they got into the industry in order to be closer to the music. Now they’re in it for the money. They saw Tommy Mottola make all that cash, they want theirs too. They want that rich and famous lifestyle.
So, just like with the financial crisis, we’ve got a business heading straight for a cliff and no one will blow the whistle. BECAUSE EVERYBODY’S MAKING TOO ******* MUCH MONEY!
But “Working On A Dream” won’t even sell two million copies in the U.S. And everybody who goes to the gig wants to hear the old tunes. Just go and see. Try visiting a bathroom while Bruce plays a new number, you’ll have to join the queue.
Used to be our musicians were leaders. Now they’re sheep. And we’re the poorer for it.”
If you’re a big fan of Bruce Springsteen, I’ll bet this wasn’t a fun article to digest. However, as I was reading this, all I could think of is, “What happens when the differentiator stops being different?” It’s incredibly difficult, I’m certain — when you attain such a level of success and your audience cheers everything you do — how do maintain the very edge that made you so popular?
Jokingly, I guess I could say that I would LOVE to find out! However, we can see organizations that were once successful that have lost the essence of what created their uniqueness — and they’ve suffered as a result.
We’ll discuss more about those groups later — however, a great place for all of us to start is simply to ask, “Am I still doing what got me to this point? Or, am I coasting along and simply repeating my old tricks?”
And, if you want to join me as a subscriber of Bob, click here.
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