Outsiders

"Nothing of value was ever created inside the British music business. It always came from the outside, from outsiders created in the real world. These people, out of necessity, rejection, frustration and talent, and with vision, built their own ark and sailed it alongside and ahead of the music industry. 

In doing so they created their own market. They did their own research and development. They did it, and they still do it, in small clubs, playing in front of a few people, supporting other bands, going up and down the country in little vans. They do it in home-made studios, they do it on MySpace. They don't do it on XFactor."

Johnny Marr - University of Salford Lecture

from The Independent (14th Nov 2008)

I loved this transcript in Friday's Independent. First off, it was just great to get a chance to read some of Johnny Marr's thoughts on the music business. But most of all, I enjoyed how he distills down these long tail concepts.

He goes on to say how we live in a time of "conformity and uniformity" - and I agree that this is perpetuated by shows such as XFactor. I sometimes worry that a whole generation will grow up thinking that the music business alone will validate their talent, that hard work will never pay off unless that judge at the end of the stage gives them their big break.

But as Marr points out, the outsiders carry on. And in the end, it is the outsiders that are inevitably most remembered and revered for what they create.

Image by Nicola Jennings