When I began Tape Op it was a reaction, in part, to the prevalence of high-end studios in other recording magazines. I'd see a photo of a giant console in a fancy room and think, "I've never made a record in a room like that." I knew that I (as well as most of my friends and peers) was making albums in small studios, most of which were in secondary markets (i.e. not L.A., New York, Nashville, or London). I wanted to make sure I was able to give voice to these people and places. Since then, Tape Op's coverage has certainly widened; and while I think that is a good thing, I still have a gut feeling that I need to be very "careful." I know the magazine's focus should be well balanced, between people working in top-end studios with major clients, as well as personal studios, small commercial setups, regional recording strongholds, as well as producers and engineers that work in certain niches.
I've been curious about the changes going on all around us in the music world. The Internet, the recession, and the gutting of the music business income had a tangible effect on business for my studio, magazine, and production career. Over time I've noticed that among the artists I work with, there are less and less making any sort of living from music alone. I recently picked up and read the book Culture Crash: The Killing of the Creative Class by Scott Timberg. In this study, Timberg examines what has happened, as well as examining the changes wrought by the Internet and the recession... But one of the factors he brings to the fore is an essential dumbing down of American culture, as driven by the "winner takes all" mindset. What exactly is "winner takes all"? Timberg uses a great example with the Olympics, where a gold medal winner might go on to reap the benefits of lucrative endorsements and deals, whereas the silver medal winner most likely gets shuttled off to relative obscurity. This is the business of music that I personally abhor. This is the world of Top 10 sales lists, Grammy Awards telecasts, boring commercial radio, and million dollar music videos.