Magne,

I'll tell you how I feel about that. You can call it God, Higher power, faith or "Positive Mental Attitude" But it all is VERY Relavant. If you read anything I say here, and that extends to every aspect of my teaching, every part of my existance, that is GET RID OF THE NEGATIVITY!

I hear people constantly complaining about every aspect of the music industry, from without and within. I see people on these and related web sites complaining about everything from Taylor Swift to downloading, to rip offs in songwriter services, and THEN have to endure people on the "inside of the business' complain about "inside cuts" the "Big Machine' and how nothing can get done. And these are the people the one's on the outside accuse of "BEING THE MACHINE!" It is mind numbing.

In every song I write,every person I work with, the first thing is to completely get rid of every negative connotation song. If it doesn't have a "Rope of hope" or positive feel to it, we get rid of it. The reason is that people for the most part, don't want to hear that. At least not in country music. Those "cry in your beer" whiney stuff" are long gone aside from the occassional song. Even a current Toby Keith song, "I'm Crying for Me" is about one of Toby's friends, a very famous bass player who recently died of Cancer. There are references to "You're playing that left handed upside down bass in Heaven" now a bit over the top, I'll admit,but still finding a positive spin on a tough issue.

That extends to the people I work with to all aspects of their attitudes. You can't get anywhere putting anyone down and life ain't fair. So if people that don't seem "worthy" to you, songs that don't seem that great are on the radio, you just have to deal with it. Worry about what you are doing, not what anyone else is doing.

That, in my opinion, is part of the reason they are succeeding. And also having a better understanding of the bigger picture. A few weeks ago, Big Machine, Julie Moriva's publisher, offered to buy her a new dress and send her to the ACM awards in Los Vegas.
Julie told them "No." Because it would just be excess expense and she actually would not get much done out there. That showed them a lot when it came to caring about their bottom line. So if you don't think that pays off long term for her, you are not paying attention.

The whole point is that the people who succeed are working on many fronts.

First of all, they continually work within the rules as they are played on the major playing field. Writing lots of songs, continual work. That engenders respect and a response from the industry.

Second, they continually work to build fan base. That is the constant touring that Scott refers to in the "old days." That actually is even more important today. In addition to constant touring and even more personal appearances, there is the added dimension ot Twitter, My Space, Face book, and keeping directly in touch with your fan base to make each one feel catered to.

Third, maintaining a constant forward movement. Always thinking outside the box and about more than just themselves. Observing the companies who support you and their overall bottom line, is just part of that. Basically showing that you know how everything works.

Fourth, constantly attracting people to your "songwriting or performing Universe." This means more and more fans, profesional people and a constant understanding of what is happening three, four and five steps ahead.

So that is what I suggest everyone who wants to do this emulates.

MAB