Did The Recession Kill Nashville’s Indies?

Nashville buzz: Equity Music closes, WhiteStar (launched only in September with George Ducas, Danielle Peck and Jason Meadows) is already to put it charitably reported to be ‘slow” in reimbursing business expenses from fall promotional travel to the point that the Tennessee Department of Labor is investigating, Brad Howell exits Broken Bow, Mike Wilson in for Denise Roberts at Universal Records South, Nancy Tunick leaves WB and Anne Weaver departs Robbins Nashville.

Does this signal the end of the world as we know it?

Hardly.

Independent or major, the basics still apply.

1. As long as there are hopes and dreams, there will be a good business in every music center in the world trying to become and/or groom the next superstar.

2. Radio plays hit songs without regard for the return address on the package. We need hits. The more, the better.

3. Labels which don’t produce hits, don’t make it. In this case, "it’s NOT the economy, stupid," it's the lack of hit songs.

4. The majority of the folks who come to Music City year after year full of hope are sent home with empty wallets and a garage full of unsold plastic. A few become millionaires.

Hits that get radio airplay because listeners love them still sell more than ‘under the radar’ approaches.

Distribute something amazing, especially now, and the world will find you (click, for example, to watch Jib Jab make the KSON, San Diego, morning team dance like elves with special guest Keith Urban).

Actually, country radio is aggressively listening and looking for just that ... "something amazing."

Always has, always will.