Lee Abrams' Blog: ENGAGING THE ARTIST
by Lee Abrams
XM launched in 2001. We quickly became known for quality music, something to date, we hold paramount. It'sa bit like Word War II when he took the American GI to liberate Europe against evil. XM is the modern day musical equivalent as it is for us to help release American ears against the evils created radio statements. As we have built our reputation musical, it was clear that we were going to a higher level. MORE musical freedom and passion. We needed a vehicle that will put us in a different space. This is really not unlike HBO.They ran a lot of movies, but once they introduced original programming, they are separated from the pack. Sopranos, Sex and the City, and a myriad of other originals made so much a movie channel. OK So how can XM create original programming in the form of time? We have a lot of it with concerts and artist "spectacular" they "great response, but they are not really original in terms of a new idea. Well, we're all about music, so let's start artists. Initially, the response of artists outside the weather was warm.It could mark the new groups that seek to plug their new CD, but those who have a history ... and legitimacy in the long term, we simply burned by radio. They do not want to go on air and talk about breasts, or the answer "deep" questions about how he is great to be back in town. We needed something new ... great ... and intellectual. Something that artists do not find interesting and the fans could see a new facet of the artist. Interviews generally suck. The artist would rather ordering service room, the DJ is intimidated and listeners want to hear music ... Combined with the fact that 99% of all interviews are lame.No new information. Nothing in the least bit upset. Boring. Now Bob Edwards and several of our guys are masters interview --- but generally an interview is part of a Cattle Call to support a new version. On the way, George Taylor Morris Yes and Graham Nash XM. They have been made, but instead of a concert right, he intersperse songs with an interesting Q & A. About the song ... structure ... inspiration. As with most XM shows there was an audience. Artists have enjoyed it ... me tooWe then went to the drawing board and created a design for a new show that had this format and listening to a show that was very friendly and unique artist. We called it Artist Confidential. The first artist was Don Henley. Unfortunately, he had a cold and could not perform ... but there were plenty of things to say. The uncensored forum did not hurt his rants a bit. The public had the chance to ask questions ... About anything (except the Eagles). We were on something. Intelligent interview cerebral ... audience of super fans ... Interactive Q & A. Now add the element of performance and May, we have a hit. Some of the most comical and interesting moments in my career have been around the signing of these Artist Confidential artists. Take Paul McCartney. This was HUGE. It started with Bill Porricelli…then Lee Eastman (both with his management). Didn’t really get much traction at first. Then we did Coldplay and in attendance was Mark Di Dia, the GM of Capitol. He was knocked out by the show. He suggested I reach out to Paddy Spinks, one of Paul’s insiders. Paddy’s an old acquaintance that I knew when he was with King Crimson.It reminded me of a drunken night out in 1980 when he brought Robert Fripp to my house in Atlanta. Robert taught me a secret to its accuracy --- conveniently with the lights off. It took two years to get Paul to do Artist Confidential, but we were on the fast track now. The ideal date for Paul was the afternoon he played DC. 4pm start and he has been through 5 for sound check (his hour show that was recorded and mixed for the game about a month later). Now the team is incredibly professional Paul ... but very high maintenance .... And standards. Again, he is a Beatle. No problem.But every day is a near catastrophic as we approached the show date. They looked for everything. 20 emails per day. Logistics hell. Jayme Karp, who handles logistics for the show was nuts. We all were. The night before the show, the SWAT team of Paul visited. Uh Oh! Show could be off! The seats in the green room has leather! So, we recruit a group of trainees to get out the sturdy leather and make the fabric. Piano is tuned ... but we need a piano tuner in place just in case it goes out of tune ... and it gets worse from there. We're all freaking Kinda ... the show must go on. It's Show time. Rains. Miserable.Paul arrived at Dulles Airport, about an hour away from XM. It's 3pm. N Paul. It's 3:10. N Paul. It is 3:20 ET his road manager receives a call. Paul has arrived! But it is 3:20, with time like that, it will arrive about 4:30. Sound Check and it will continue at 4:55 and leave at 5. A 5-minute show ??!!?? Then about 15 minutes later, the explosion of a 9/11-ish sirens swallowed air. Roaring motorcycles zip up XM. It's Paul! A police escort. It comes with time to spare! Despite warnings to give Paul his space travel and contact, he is the nicest person imaginable. Totally cool.It relaxes and makes a breathtaking spectacle. Wrote a song on the field to illustrate the process of writing songs ... 4 draws people from the audience to jam with him. The audience was composed of music students, VIPs, fans of Paul and just normal music freaks. It was magical. At the end of the show, he thanked the engineers. It Hugs Jayme ... It takes lots of pictures and even complimented me on the teacups UK, I left my wife, as he was his rider. Then there was Yusuf Islam aka Cat Stevens. I was a little crazy waiting for a terrorist. This will be one on one he did with the radio since the 70s.We held a breakfast to discuss the issue. Hmmm .... The breakfast at a place in DC. Move right? Does it go into a diatribe? Man I was wrong. Here was the perfect gentleman ... that would make a Classic Artist Confidential. A few weeks later he had the airplane incident. I was embarrassed for him. It was a great guy. Brian Wilson was "interesting" ... Rush were fans of Bolivia and Taiwan --- To fly in an hour. At 10 feet of their heroes. This is not radio "interviews", but something far more driven by intellect and music. These things have no rules. Well, cell phones gotta be off.But that's all. There may be a question "stupid" rule since we do not want to mute the lower mass consumption, but the audience is mainly students and music fans of hard core ... they are notoriously smart in their questioning. Performance is truly a journey. Phil Collins is a 11 piece band sound ... Judy Collins is seated at the piano and tickled his way in his career ... Willie Nelson brings his son to play well ... We even made Santana to our studio Jazz at Lincoln Center. A cosmic journey. Lincoln Center is kinda different because there are unions.The union merged to light the lights .... Plus it's New York where everything is just a touch crazy. Artist Confidential is becoming a label program for XM. It serves several purposes. It is organic and real, not one of those canned cheese, edit and edit-to-fit-FM shows. It deals with artists outside of time. All styles. All ages. The only real criteria is that they have a story to tell. Therefore we Odetta ... and Andrea Bocelli ... and Rosanne Cash ... and Trey Anastasio ... and the list continues. It is the intellect and the careers of artists, present and future, not a promo piece for the new CD.We call this "complete" radio. At a time when thought is "Get a morning show, to test the library and get some boards is the game plan, we feel a radio station must be a complete experience. This exhibition helps us to achieve. We have expanded the "Confidential" concept by adding "Classical Confidential." See the very basis unless it is hosted by Classical guru Martin Goldsmith, instead of George Taylor Morris who manages deftly Artist Confidential. The classical it's just a different world and Martin is certainly the man for that.Then of course there are several specific channels such as meetings LOFT shows that Mike Marrone and Kate Bradley put together for the Loft and dozens of other shows are all original artists and embark on a cerebral level and music. Another show that helps us become more "complete" is so ... yet. Back in 1974 I saw Yes perform Close To The Edge, take a break, then perform Tales from Topographic Oceans. Depending on your point of view it was either a colossal bore or a sonic journey. Being a fan, it was a journey into another world. Bright.The thing that made me think, is that "complete" album performed live would be an extraordinary listening experience in terms of live music on the radio. Traditionally, live sets are a mixture of old and new hymns as with the recall. This is something different and we try to be all about different. On the way the BBC has tried this and then Deep Purple Machine Head made some years ago. I thought it would be perfect XM concept. By studying the possibility, it became clear that most groups that have created truly Classic Albums were either: So we went and talked to artists about this.The idea is that they can re-interpret the album in any way ... re-invent ... re-arrange. The only "rule" is that it must be the full album for exactly the same as running it was on vinyl. We have done several in this series from Cheap Trick to Budokhan to Dave Mason's Alone Together. Aqualung Jethro Tull was particularly cool, as has been mentioned by Lynyrd Skynyrd. In addition to creating new versions of Locomotive Breath and Free Bird to play, there's something magical about hearing strange bands achieve something so classic ... today.AND hearing the album in the same order as when you put on it is a turntable 30 years ... not to mention the joy of a public hearing this ten meters. Unless the Allman Brothers. They made a value of two half material so that even the Grand Canyon could not bring the crowd with this amount of gear. The fact is that radio needs to reconnect with the artists. Radio shot himself in the foot in terms of "possession" of artists.Information about the artists ... a real compelling and different individual over the airwaves that are actually interesting to the artist and the fans are listening to something that we are responsible to bring ... about 2006 words. Years ago, a guy Springsteen May disembarked from the bus and headed to the local station to play some tunes. No more ... at least on most stations. I am always amazed at how engagement with artists must be radio conditions instead of under performers. You know --- Talk about hits ... HYPE the new CD.Yes, these are important ingredients in many cases ... but as with everything, I think it is necessary to think beyond the old school Radio Playbook. It's all about career .. not just beaten. It's all commit to the artist not the new single. That's all recognize that radio should "own" music, do not print or on television ... Some years back, it was my chance to be selected as a member of the audiance Atrtist Confidential Series / XM Brian Wilson Presents / 10/09 / 04. At that time, I did a little review of my experience and posted it on board Brian.I wanted to send both, but the email I was contacted from XM, would not accept my answer. Anyway, recently, some people asked me again to send them this review and I thought I might try again to send it to you. Hope it reaches you and thank you again for the opportunity of a lifetime, I will always cherish the memory. Thank you, LumboVanSMiLE@aol.com Having known Brian Wilson Presents Smile on Friday night at the Keswick Theater in Glenside Pa.He was more than a little difficult to relax and sleep a little for the trip to DC the next morning, in fact, I was up at 5am, by questioning what I had to see and listen my CDs smile when reading the concert program. I finally fall asleep for what seemed a moment when I was startled by the ringing telephone and a rap, rap, rapping at my chamber door....
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