Comments on: The Menace of Fan Video

By: JD Myers

JD Myers — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:50:51 +0000

The ONLY reason for you not to want cameras filming you is in case you suck and you get caught doing it well. I personally wish that somebody was filming every show I did and posted all of it. It’s nothing but free advertising for me in my mind. Of course for the most part I feel pretty good about what I do on stage so I wouldn’t be losing sleep at night.

Chesney’s been on “my list” since I met him in 1997. We both had the same producer Barry Beckett and KC stopped by the studio when I was recording to see Barry for a couple of minutes. I tried to talk to him but even in 1997 his ego was so huge I felt myself being pushed out of the room. I can hardly imagine him now that he’s the biggest star in country music.

Kenny Chesney is the biggest thing I’ve gotten wrong in my life. I didn’t see that kind of success coming. It really blindsided me.

By: Hoggy from OZ

Hoggy from OZ — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 05:02:29 +0000

I live in Australia and my favourite artist is Brad Paisley, but unfortunately he has not current plans to tour Australia and has yet to release a live DVD down here, so YouTube is the only way I can see his live performances without leaving the country…

By: Littleboot

Littleboot — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:35:30 +0000

I don’t know the nimber of times I’ve…. I don’t know the numbers of HOURS I’ve watched footage of bands I’ve never seen, never will see, etc. etc. Youtube is a awesome website because it does give these giants free publicity and they should open arms to it. I bet I’ve spent close to $100 on downloads from itunes because I saw a video with a great song I never heard of. Then again, you do have to have some kinda rules thing, if not youtube will loose that special something.

By: J.R. Journey

J.R. Journey — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:16:50 +0000

I was never one to take a bunch of pictures at a concert, much less videos. I would rather just pay attention to what’s happening onstage. But I never understood why some artists get all nazi-like with their no-camera policies either.

Like Leeann, I think some of the resistance is based on fear that if they do make a mistake, it will be documented and spread around the net within a couple hours. If it’s not filmed, only the 10,000 or so people at the show have a memory of it.

By: Lily

Lily — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:41:26 +0000

Like Nid I’m European and the only chance to see someone in concert is on Youtube. Even more important: every other year I go on vacation to the U.S. and if by chance there’s a country show at my chosen destination I try to catch it. And this I do based on the impression of those videos.

But I think the location is important too. I’ve been to small clubs where the stage is hardly raised above the audience. So when you have people constantly crowding the stage area because for whatever reason 100 pictures are not enough already, it is annoying, for the audience too. The artist has constantly someone taking pictures down his throat, flashes blinding him and constant shuffling and moving around even through ballads.

And I absolutely agree with C.M. about the camera / cellphone thing. I’ve been to London some weeks ago and went to see a Musical. Before the show they made the obligatory no camera allowed blablaba. Yeah, but during the performance the woman next to me made recordings on here blackberry when her daughter liked a song especially, the young men in front of me were text messaging and all through the theater you could see display lights. No camera – but feel free to use your cell!

By: Nid aka MetrostarDB

Nid aka MetrostarDB — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:04:46 +0000

My prime reason for looking at fan videos on Youtube of the Country artists I like; is that I live in the UK and Youtube, for the most part, is the ONLY chance I get to see people I support through buying their CD’s, in a concert environment. Take that away from me and I may NEVER see these artists ‘Live.’

By: Cookie

Cookie — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:08:08 +0000

For me part of the fun of a live performance is having the photos or 1 miniute videos for MY memories!

By: C.M. Wilcox

C.M. Wilcox — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:33:46 +0000

Thanks for the book recommendations, Joe! The Lessig titles sound especially interesting.

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:03:26 +0000

I’m in TOTAL agreement here. Very well put.

Some interesting books the music industry is largely ignoring:
“Remix: Making Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy”
http://www.amazon.com/Remix-Making-Commerce-Thrive-Economy/dp/B0029LHWFY/ref=pd_sim_b_24

“Free Culture: the Nature and Future of Creativity”
http://www.amazon.com/Free-Culture-Nature-Future-Creativity/dp/0143034650/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b

“Free: the Future of a Radical Price:
http://www.amazon.com/Free-Future-Radical-Chris-Anderson/dp/1401322905/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253217504&sr=8-1

By: Carrie Underwood Joins Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame; John Fogerty Thrills At Americana Music Festival | The 9513

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:41:46 +0000

[...] Country California’s C.M. Wilcox doesn’t understand the danger of fan videos at concerts… Are people going to piece together songs, albums, discographies from Youtube clips to avoid paying for music? If they’ve got that much free time and that little interest in supporting the artists, do you think you’ll convert them into music consumers by disallowing fan video at concerts? People who would rather resort to MacGyver tactics for poor recordings than pay $0.99 per song for quality wouldn’t have been your big consumers in the first place. People like that will find a way to get around any roadblock you lay in their path. [...]