Indie music business 2006

Some reflections on today's volatile indie music business.

From the same source, the winners of of the 2006 Independent Music Awards, with song samples.

Carol McComb on beginning guitar, 2000

Nobody is born with a guitar in the hand and the golden voice. Even after people have become fairly accomplished musicians, they still have bad days, and they are still capable of missing even the simplest chord.

From the Beginning Guitarist's Handbook

More on teacher, author, songwriter, and performer Carol McComb

Kelly Joe Phelps on songwriting, 2001

It’s a good thing to not pretend that you understand everything. You can write a song or sing a song about something and actually leave it saying, “I don’t know what this is about.” You’re singing about your confusion about it, the fact that it’s a mystery to you. That’s a good thing because that’s a true thing. You don’t understand everything. When you sing about relationships, I don’t know how you can tie it up in the end because so much of it is not understandable.

From the book The Complete Singer-Songwriter: A Troubadour's Guide to Writing, Performing, Recording, and Business

More about Kelly Joe Phelps

Why I picked KJP as one of Acoustic Guitar's top artists of the '90s

Joe Henry on John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band, 2004

His writing had more to do with his own self discovery than with expressing a very smart idea. There’s a real primitive thing about his lyric writing that makes it more emotional for me, and it ages better as a result. It’s not like clever wordplay; it’s more like biting into an idea and spitting it out. It doesn’t have the same kind of crafted elegance maybe, but it has a lot more pure blood running through it.

From a John Lennon 25th anniversary story in Acoustic Guitar magazine

More about Joe Henry

Spins: Bruce Cockburn, Christmas

If I had to choose just one selection from my piles of Christmas music, Cockburn's 1993 record would probably be it. Heartfelt singing, sweet guitar arrangements of classic carols, a nice mix of familiar and obscure songs...and not a single cheesy or false note on it. Just timeless good music, well worth seeking out.