Introduction and Tradition of Visiting Tim's Palace

In this section, the speaker introduces themselves and talks about their tradition of visiting Tim's Palace whenever they come to Los Angeles.

• The speaker is at Tim's Palace, also known as House of Guitars in Tarzana.

• They mention that it is a tradition for them to visit Tim's place whenever they come to Los Angeles.

• The speaker jokes about the long commute due to traffic in LA.

Discussion on Pedal Boards and New Gear

In this section, the speaker discusses Tim's pedal board and new gear.

• The speaker mentions that Tim has a pedal board with new and unfamiliar pedals.

• They talk about seeing these pedals during a previous live stream.

• Specific pedals mentioned include Karma pedals, lvx delay, HX Stomps, and the canvas tuner.

Topic Introduction: Death of the Middle Class Musician

In this section, the speaker introduces the topic of discussion - the death of the middle class musician.

• The speaker mentions that they will be discussing a serious topic - the death of the middle class musician.

• They briefly mention some practical multi-effects units and highlight their favorite - the canvas tuner.

Music Business in LA in Earlier Times

In this section, the speaker reflects on how vibrant and thriving the music business used to be in Los Angeles.

• When the speaker moved to LA in 1979, there was a thriving music business with numerous opportunities for musicians.

• They mention finding gigs through a newspaper called "the recycler" where they would sell gear but also find gig opportunities.

• The speaker talks about starting to meet musicians, doing showcases, and getting paid for rehearsals and gigs.

Decline of the Music Industry and Middle Class Musicians

In this section, the speaker discusses the decline of the music industry and the disappearance of middle-class musicians.

• The speaker reminisces about how Sunset Boulevard used to be filled with billboards of music artists, which is no longer the case.

• They mention that seeing a Rolls-Royce was often associated with someone in the music business, but now it's rare.

• The speaker explains that while there may have been unfair or corrupt aspects to the industry, it also created jobs for many people in the middle.

• They highlight how successful records would financially support multiple other records and genres.

• Live musicians were essential as there were no computers or sampling at that time.

Start of Disappearance of Middle Class Musicians

In this section, the speaker discusses when they started noticing a decline in middle-class musicians.

• The decline began around 1983 when drum machines like Linn drum machines started replacing drummers in recordings.

• The speaker mentions doing demos for major artists one day and then working with middle-class songwriters in home studios on another day.

Impact on Songwriting and Album Tracks

In this section, the speaker talks about how changes in songwriting impacted middle-class musicians.

• The speaker recalls playing on a Bruce Springsteen record one day and then doing demos at a songwriter's home studio who had one big hit.

• They explain that having just an album track could provide enough income to support a family back then.

• However, competition increased for writing singles, leading to a focus on writing similar chord progressions to increase the chances of creating hits.

• As a result, album tracks became less common and less financially rewarding.

Changing Landscape in Nashville

In this section, the speaker discusses changes in the music industry, specifically in Nashville.

• The speaker mentions conversations with Nashville songwriters who revealed that having a couple of album tracks used to be enough to make a living.

• However, competition for writing singles increased, leading to more similarity in songs and fewer opportunities for middle-class musicians.

Personal Experience as a Middle Class Musician

In this section, the speaker shares their personal experience as a middle-class musician after working with Rick Springfield.

• After working with Rick Springfield, the speaker found themselves transitioning from working with well-known artists to regular individuals.

• They mention doing demos for people who had one song on a soundtrack, which could provide them with stability and career opportunities.

• The speaker highlights how even non-album tracks on soundtracks could give people a career boost.

Timestamps are approximate and may vary slightly.

The Challenges of Being a Session Musician

In this section, the speaker discusses the challenges he faced as a session musician in the late 80s. He talks about how he would go from one home studio to another, facing arguments over his guitar parts. He also mentions the fluctuating payment rates for session work during that time period.

Challenges Faced as a Session Musician

• The speaker describes how he would face arguments over his guitar parts in different home studios.

• He mentions going from one session to another, spending long hours driving all over town.

• Payment rates for session work varied during that time period, starting from around $400 for a three-hour session and gradually increasing to $800.

Middle-Class Benefits for Musicians

In this section, the speaker highlights the benefits and perks that came with being a middle-class musician. He specifically mentions his experience working with Rick Springfield and how he was valued as a musician. The speaker also discusses pension payments and healthcare benefits available to musicians.

Middle-Class Benefits

• Despite not being paid as a session player for Rick Springfield's albums, the speaker received additional benefits such as double scale payments, pension contributions, and healthcare coverage.

• These benefits were part of an agreement between artists and musicians that valued their contributions.

• The speaker emphasizes that although there was a limit on what he was paid directly, the overall fee for working on records was great due to these additional benefits.

Royalties and Performance Payments

In this section, the speaker discusses royalties and performance payments received by musicians. He explains how certain countries pay royalties for performances except for the US. However, neighboring rights payments are received from various countries except Syria and North Korea.

Royalties and Performance Payments

• The speaker mentions that every country except the US, Syria, and North Korea pays royalties for performances.

• Disney was responsible for taking away performance payments to American artists in the 1950s, but these payments have gradually returned.

• Musicians receive neighboring rights payments from various countries where their music is played, such as France.

• There are different agencies and organizations that handle these royalty payments, such as PPL.

The Importance of Pensions and Retirement Savings

In this section, the speaker emphasizes the importance of pensions and retirement savings for musicians. He talks about how he started paying into a pension plan in the 80s and highlights how it saved many musicians from losing everything during a potential collapse.

Pensions and Retirement Savings

• The speaker started paying into a pension plan in the 80s and continued contributing throughout the 90s and early 2000s.

• The musicians' pension was at risk of collapsing but was ultimately saved due to legislation.

• Having a pension provides security for musicians in their retirement years.

Payment Structures in the Film Industry

In this section, the speaker discusses payment structures in the film industry compared to the record industry. He explains that while streaming has greatly diminished payment opportunities in the record industry, there are still payment structures in place for Union film work.

Payment Structures in Film Industry

• The record industry's payment structure has significantly decreased due to streaming platforms dominating the market.

• However, payment structures for Union film work still exist, although they benefit only a small number of musicians involved.

• The film industry's payment structure was designed to accommodate larger orchestras but can also benefit smaller ensembles by distributing royalties among fewer individuals.

Limited Film Work Opportunities

In this section, the speaker discusses his limited involvement in film work due to not being a reader. He explains that readers, who can sight-read music, have better chances of getting film gigs.

Limited Film Work Opportunities

• The speaker had limited opportunities for film work because he was not a reader, meaning he couldn't sight-read music.

• Readers have an advantage in the film industry as they can deliver perfect performances on the first take.

• As a result, the speaker's involvement in film work was minimal compared to his music work.

Conclusion

In this transcript, the speaker shares insights into the challenges faced by session musicians and highlights the benefits and payment structures available to middle-class musicians. He also discusses royalties, performance payments, pensions, and retirement savings. Additionally, he touches upon the differences between payment structures in the record and film industries and how being a reader can impact opportunities for film work.

New Section

The complexity of different jobs in the music industry and the importance of being prepared for any task.

Complexity of Jobs in the Music Industry

• Being a musician can be both easy and complex, depending on the situation. It is important to be prepared for any challenge that may arise.

• A story about a retired guitar player who was asked to do a gig that seemed easy but turned out to be as complex as composing music like Stravinsky.

• Comparing being a musician to an ambulance driver, where you never know what kind of situation you will encounter. It is essential to be ready for anything.

Middle Class Jobs in the Music Industry

• In addition to performing, there are various middle-class jobs in the music industry such as rehearsal studio staff, copyists, and contractors.

• Contractors play a crucial role by handling all the sessions and ensuring musicians get paid. They were well-known figures in the industry.

• Studio maintenance teams are responsible for fixing equipment issues, but sometimes outside specialists need to be called in for more complex problems.

Money-Making Opportunities

• The money generated by successful artists allowed for multiple records to be produced simultaneously, creating job opportunities for engineers and other professionals.

• Publishing deals provided songwriters with yearly salaries, allowing them to focus on making music and writing songs until around 2005 when this practice started declining.

• Jingles were another source of income for musicians before computer-generated music became prevalent. Musicians would receive fees from jingle recordings and additional payments if they were used repeatedly or in different versions.

The Impact of Technology on the Music Industry

In this section, the speaker discusses how advancements in technology have changed the music industry and affected musicians' income.

Changes in Income Distribution

• With the rise of technology, there is less money to be made in the music industry.

• The people at the top, such as record labels and streaming platforms, tend to make most of the money.

• Musicians are now expected to do everything themselves, leading to lower wages for their work.

Tour Support and Recording Budgets

• In the past, record companies would provide tour support for artists as a way to promote their music.

• A typical tour support budget for a band could be around $150,000.

• Additionally, there were budgets allocated for recording expenses and living expenses during tours.

High Costs of Music Videos and Demos

• During the era of MTV, record companies would spend exorbitant amounts of money on music videos.

• Famous photographers could charge up to $80,000 for a single-day photo shoot.

• There was also a demo industry where musicians would go to studios that were not equipped for major label records but offered more affordable rates.

Opportunities for Musicians in Los Angeles

• Los Angeles provided opportunities for musicians at different skill levels.

• Musicians could learn and improve their skills while working on various sessions at different levels.

• Demo studios charged around $30 per hour, making it accessible for musicians to record their tracks.

Affordability and Craft Development

• In the past, artists could afford to live in cities like LA solely from gig earnings.

• This allowed them ample time to focus on honing their craft without financial stress.

• Affordable living costs enabled musicians to invest in gear while still maintaining a decent bank balance.

The Changing Landscape

• The current music industry lacks a clear ladder or progression system for musicians.

• There are fewer opportunities for mid-level success, and the focus is on a small number of superstar musicians.

• The gig economy has affected everyone involved in serving touring artists, leading to lower wages and less value placed on musicians.

Impact on Songwriters

• Songwriters may have their songs streamed by major artists but still struggle financially.

• The industry's shift towards streaming platforms has led to a race to the bottom in terms of compensation.

This summary covers the main points discussed in the transcript regarding the impact of technology on the music industry.

New Section

In this section, the speaker discusses his perspective on recording music in unconventional spaces and the changing landscape of the music industry.

Recording in Unconventional Spaces

• The speaker is asked if it bothers him that Billy Eilish recorded her album in a bedroom.

• He responds by saying that it doesn't bother him at all and mentions that he has a garage studio where he currently mixes music.

• He expresses his support for recording in non-traditional spaces.

Changing Landscape of the Music Industry

• The speaker acknowledges that the music business has changed and become more challenging.

• He notes that there are now fewer jobs available due to advancements in technology.

• Making records and creating music now requires fewer people than before.

New Section

In this section, the speaker reflects on his experiences in the music industry and shares his thoughts on comments from viewers.

Reflections on Music Industry Experience

• The speaker talks about living through exciting times in the music business during his youth.

• He mentions being exposed to great music at a young age and cherishes those memories.

• Despite changes in the industry, he wouldn't trade those experiences for anything.

Viewer Comments

• The speaker mentions appreciating both positive and negative comments from viewers.

• Positive comments are valued for their appreciation, while negative comments don't affect him as much.

• He emphasizes that both positive and negative comments have their place.

Timestamps were not provided for some sections.