Hey All,
Recently, i've been sorting through old memoirs from over the years. Old pictures, video, fan mail, demos, awards, concert flyers and stuff, and I realized-I did a whole lot of things. Time does truly fly.
It seems I mostly forgot most of the things I've done over the years. After all, I was having one hell of a time doing them. For a guy who didn't have the potential to make it as a recording artist (as told to me by a famous producer in 1994), I sure as heck achieved quite a bit over the years.
Sure, I never got a Grammy or a RIAA award, or got on the cover of big magazines (at least not "big" in the People magazine sense, and not in the U.S. at all) but I had my share of experiences with people who have.
In fact, some of my closest friends and family are in the music, television and film industries. Growing up in the business, I saw many things. Many things I wanted to achieve, and many more things I wanted to avoid. I can recall times aspiring recording artists being taken advantage of (in more ways than one) right before my very eyes. I also can recall seeing a hero of mine strung out on heroin, not looking one bit as glamorous as he did on stage.
Sure, I've had my pitfalls but as an independent artist (for the most part), I did some pretty cool things. Got to travel-Saw so many different places and people, had so many adventures and played some awesome, legendary stages. I'll never forget seeing my name on the marquee after signing my first contract with a booking agency as a solo artist. Sometimes it's hard to believe that I headlined at theaters and played onstage with music legends. All from a guy who didn't have the potential. And when I played all the big shows offered by that "first agency" (legal reasons prevent me from disclosing the company) I got screwed. As in highly underpaid. I should have just rented the venues and sold my own tickets.
Also, I can recall my first time on television for a cable show in NYC. I felt so important. Then I found out later that it was public access and that no one watched the show! But more television shows came to follow over the years. No matter how big or small the show, I was always honored to be asked to appear. By the way, I never received ANYTHING from any ASCAP for ANY of the times my music was performed on television. Or radio either, for that matter. I guess they think I became a member for the prestige, not the money. Or they simply think I can't count. That's another reason I should have more than I do.
All while this was occurring, I was receiving correspondence from around the world like Brazil, Canada, Italy, Peru, Sweden and the U.K. from fans about my music. I was floored, because I didn't know the my music was available everywhere. Apparently, my music was distributed by a distributor who had agreements with other distributors in various other territories.
I was so happy. Until it was time to get the check from the distributors. My label and I would call and call, and always got the distributor's voice mail. No callbacks EVER, as in NEVER EVER. Sent a letter via certified mail, then we received a response-The check would be sent at the close of the quarter. Then it was within 45 days of the close of the quarter. Then it was 60 days... on and on. Till this day, the quarter hasn't closed for that distributor. Some of the others simply closed down shop and disappeared without sending a check or the returning the merchandise back to my label. Incredible. If I just stole some money and merchandise from someone, i'd be in jail. With a company, you get protection under the corporate veil and ZERO personal liability. Now THAT'S what I call capitalism.
Of course this was a few years back (pre-iTunes era) and when people still actually bought CD's to some extent. When I did finally get with some decent distributors (for example, Juno Records), the sales dwindled and though I did actually move some units, the sales volume isn't quite what it used to be. Yet another reason I don't have more than I do.
Maybe if some of those deadbeat businesses/organizations actually paid me what I deserve maybe I wouldn't have to struggle not to be a deadbeat myself. You know, Aaron Morales DOES have bills. I should call them and say, "It would be nice to receive some of the money you made off selling my music so I can pay my bills. After all, i'm sure you used your share of the money to pay your expenses and operating costs. Now can I have my share, so I can pay mine?"
Of course, like other guys in the music business, i'll have to keep a lawyer on a retainer to chase after all the companies. I should compile a list of all the companies who don't pay up, but it would be far easier to name the few that do.
Until next time...
A.M.
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