Remember Little Richard

Remember Little Richard

Let’s not overlook Little Richard. I first heard his music years ago at a Johnny Rockets in Atlanta and thought  – who is that?! CNN’s documentary “Little Richard: I Am Everything” features Little Richard’s life story and his...
On NPR’s Tiny Desk concerts

On NPR’s Tiny Desk concerts

NPR’s Tiny Desk concerts have gone mainstream. The Tiny Desk concert series has become a platform for pop artists to showcase their in-the-room musical skills and assert their performing prowess. Pop artists, such as Post Malone and Usher, use Tiny Desk...
On NPR’s Tiny Desk concerts

Has TikTok killed the music video star?

Has TikTok killed the music video star? Pretty much. Artists are shifting their focus from full-length music videos to short-form content on platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts. Two key points: 1. Traditional music videos are losing their impact as attention has...
On NPR’s Tiny Desk concerts

On shorter songs

Have you ever noticed that songs these days are getting shorter? Here comes the hook…. Here it comes again! It’s no longer: Intro, Verse, Pre-chorus, Chorus, Verse… Yep, songs today are getting shorter, with many under 2 minutes. This is a departure...

On nu metal

Have you ever been in a mosh pit? I ran through one at a Metallica concert years ago… And I kept running – away from metal music. It just wasn’t my jam. But lately, I’ve been listening to a type of metal music called “nu metal.” (also known as aggro-metal) It’s like...

Hip Hop at 50

It’s the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop. And I’m from Atlanta. I have many thoughts… Let’s start with how Hip Hop has gone from a subgenre to a cultural force that has had a major influence on brands and consumerism. Louis Vuitton, Gucci, ROLEX aren’t just brands....

In defense of bass players

Growing up, everyone wanted to be a guitarist. (I’m pretty sure this is a guitar emoji 🎸….) 🎵 My friends were joining bands left and right. And nobody wanted to be the bassist. But everyone needed a bassist. That’s partly why I became a bassist. I wanted to be part of...
On NPR’s Tiny Desk concerts

On AI & Music

🎵 So, will AI replace musicians? Not those who create the music I like to produce. At least not yet. Jazz, Tango, Samba, Classical, Alternative, Family, Worldbeat. 🥁 🛗 Sure, AI can churn out easy listening, elevator music, loops. Music for almost any mood: happy,...

On Spotify’s price increase

⬆️ Spotify raises its subscription price by $1. Its first price hike since 2011. That’s remarkable price stability over the past decade. 💸 Apple Music & YouTube Music recently increased prices, too. I don’t think this is the end of price hikes across...