The state of OUR artists in OUR generation.

[Justin]

You know, I was thinkin' and wonderin' who will be the stand out artists of our generation. Our generation of artists aren't like our parents, they had longevity, ours are here one year, gone the next 5 or gone for good.

The emphasis had steered away from the craft to the money, not to say that was never the case before but now it's so prevalent that artists constantly remind us that that is the reason they are in the business on their albums and flash it in our faces.

We need a true music revolution. I'm not saying true musicians don't exist but I am saying that the music scene for true musicians is sad.

What are your thoughts?

[jamadianUK]

Look at your own record/cd/download list and answer the question. My list is full of commercial artists as well as indie acts, but majority are store bought as opposed to directly from the hangs of the artists.

I don't see many of the artist I listened to in the nineties in the chatrs at the moment. But when I listen to their albums I'm not really surprised, as it's mostly irrelvant to todays expanding and evolving enviroment.

[Justin]

I'm just saying that there seems to be no more longevity with artists in music today. There are so many and they just come and go.

Now this retirement business, I've never known artists to retire but they do now.

[jamadianUK]

True,but a real pension is in other business that has a real profit, and more chance of you being your own boss.

I wished Mase stayed in retirement.

[Justin]

But do you think that is fair to the fans? An artist comes out has a few great selling cds and then bow out cause they got all the money they wanted. It truly is more business than passion now huh?

[jamadianUK]

Look at your dollar bill,then overstand the message. Talent does not grant you instant sucess, so you need to have a back up plan regardless. Even if you get the sucess and money, the well will run dry in the end.

I work in one commerical industry that always needs workers, but I'm already looking to expand in another market because the economy is never steadfast. Musiq is not a foundation that you can build upon without clear shurity that you are in this for a few years. Even the old school players within the entertainment industry have different gigs on the side,so when 'between jobs' money is still coming in.

I'm not trying to agree with artists leaving us in the lurch, but I understand the politics in the background. I understand that they have a right to entertaine us as well as feed their families and enjoy the life they lead.

[Justin]

That's true. Man, times have changed quite a bit. Remember the times when artists used to get at least two chances then they would disappear?

So many artists are doing plays now. Mikki Howard is, remember her?

[jamadianUK]

In the UK a lot of artists are entertainers full stop. You do the concert halls,thearter, radio hosts,daytime television...you do every aspect within the media scope. After all that is what being an artist is about, constantly evolving and being as creative as possable.This shows me that artists are not as one dimesional as people sometime assume.

I'm hoping to see a play Sunday afternoon, by a well respected Black British Actor Kwame Kwesi. For years he was on a very high profile saturday night drama series, but left to pursue the theratical acts, and is doing excellent ( so good it's hard to get tickets, you have to go out of the city).

If I was within the entertainment bussiness, I would not limit myself to one area, I would pursue everything and target myself to reach even more within my line of work. I know the field is hard to break but it's not a limation I want to to hold onto.

Question Justin. Why do you want to break into the entertainment field yourself?

[Justin]

Well, my father is a director and I initially went to school to be a doctor, spent two years taking Pre-Med/Biology classes until one day I realized that my passion for directing out-weighed my passion for television. SO I changed my major and have been shooting for my dream every since. The only difference is my father does television, I'll start in tv but I want to direct, write and produce movies and music videos.

I want to do it because I've always been a writer of short stories and a news writer/review writer first. I figure I add that with my creativeness (which is sometimes on another level - ask Auset) and put it all together to produce something young, fresh and new.

[jamadianUK]

I like to watch short foreign films ( language is not a barrier to me) I also have a serious sweet tooth for animation. I'm not a serious film fanatic, I just prefere to spend my last £10 watching a classic film than go raving all night.

I understand why you choose to follow your dreams and pursue a life in what you love. It was a very brave thing to do, I salute you.

We need to set uip a forum on films/plays/art/etc and get out of musiq Jforum. What you say Justin?