I am reposting this from the other thread because it was locked immediately after. This will clearly explain how I feel about this whole discussion and why this shouldn't even be an issue.
I am a song writer. I have been writing songs since 1979. That's pushing 40 years soon. Most of the guys playing here probably aren't even that old.
I went to school. I learned music theory. I studied the charts. I can compose anything from a symphony (I actually did write one) to a pop song. I have done it all. I can do it all. I have contacted publishers and A&R men and managers and you name it for most of my adult life.
I have literally done everything I know to do in order to make it in the music business. Again, we're talking almost 40 years. I didn't try something for just a few months and give up. I worked my ass off.
And in all that time I have almost nothing to show for it. I have one song that was published by a publisher who ALMOST got it recorded by Crystal Gale and another song that made it to the finals in a song contest.
That's it.
40 years and that's all I have to show for it.
Nobody said "Poor Steve, let's change the rules, requirements or whatever so he can have a hit record."
This is the reality of life. If you're not good enough, you're not good enough. Nobody cares and nobody is going to change the rules just because you're not good enough.
And I never expected anybody to change the rules for me. I had two choices. I could continue to try to have success with my music or I could quit.
That's it. Those were my two choices. There is nothing in between. You do, or you don't. But nobody is going to bend the rules to make me happy.
I chose to continue with my music and will continue to do so until I die.
Just this last year I even set up a Soundcloud account for myself. A paid one. Costs me over $100 a year for something I make no money from. Well, I do, but not from my music. I sell synthesizer sound banks for a living. It's not making music but it's something.
This is the way it is Ron. And in a way, I'm offended that people are asking for special treatment because they can't have the success that they want. Nobody is forcing you to play this game just as nobody is forcing me to keep writing music. I do it because I really love doing it. Have their been times I stopped? Hell yes. I took a break from 2003 to 2008 because I was burnt out. It took me almost 25 years to get burnt out, so forgive me for caving in for a few years. But I'm back and quite honestly, now that I just do this because it's in my soul, I'll never quit again. Success or not, I'm in it forever now.
This is something from a CD I recently put together. It's a Broadway style soundtrack. Something I had wanted to do since I was a kid and finally did this year. It took me 35 days to write 17 songs. It was the most fun I had in a very long time. The singer is computer generated because I'm too poor to hire a singer. Everything is done by me on PC.
Point is, this is life. If TGCT has lost its shine for you, maybe it's time to move on. But please, don't expect the world to change things just to make a few people who are dissatisfied with the status quo happy.
In the meantime, I still hope to someday have at least a little success in the music business.
Once Upon A TimeHope you're able to make peace with this whole situation.
