Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #66528 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-12-12
• Format: NTSC
• Running time: 95 minutes

Amazon.com
Before the Music Dies is an extraordinary documentary and cautionary overview about the state of the music business in America. Written by Andrew Shapter and Joel Rasmussen (and directed by Shapter), each of whom lost loved ones who happened to be musicians, Before the Music Dies is a journey through a vital music scene in the U.S.—-artistically speaking—-that is no longer nurtured and supported commercially. Shapter and Rasmussen take a chapter-like approach to demonstrating how every phase of getting music from artists to consumers is under the control of conglomerates and bottom-line analysts primarily concerned with keeping investors happy. Thus, we see musicians with enormous potential eschewed by the handful of major record labels that are still around. Meanwhile—-as Eric Clapton, interviewed for the film, puts it—-entire teams of makeover people and technicians exist to turn tone-deaf but attractive women into pop stars. Also highlighted is the record industry's love-hate relationship with file-sharing and downloadable music stored on sundry listening devices, which threatens control over commercially-packaged content as well as the enormous profits reaped from highly-priced CDs. Several case studies—-especially the story of singer-songwriter-bluesman Doyle Bramhall II and how he survived ill treatment by a major only to find success on the same independent label as Dave Matthews-—is fascinating. Interviewees include Branford Marsalis, Bonnie Raitt, Matthews, Elvis Costello, and Erykah Badu. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Excellent Expose
Shows how musicians no longer create music. Promoters, marketers, and sponsors make "music" and create personalities in order to push product. One telling scene shows some teenage girls talking about how "hot" Ashley Simpson is and how "real" she is. When asked if they knew who Bob Dylan was, they all shook their heads. When told that he inspired millions of people back in the 60s, and asked whether Ashley Simpson inspired them to do anything, they all just looked confused. Music? Inspiring? What a strange concept.

Another segment shows how radio stations have become focus-grouped marketing machines instead of a real venue for real artists to get airplay. While there have always been issues of "payola" in the business, the radio station monopoly in this country has completely homogenized the new music scene. Even "classic" radio stations limit their airplay to a limited variety...you will rarely hear a deep album cut from a classic album...just the hits.

Real musicians are being relegated to background roles, while artificially enhanced body parts, heavy make-up, and a few dance steps are all it takes to become a music star. In one segment, Steve Poltz (great singer/songwriter...check out his solo CDs One Left Shoe and Friendly Fire and his work with The Rugburns) improvs a song on his guitar, and the hit-making machine goes to work. First they get a beautiful, untalented girl to sing (off key) into the microphone. She never sees the musicians who play behind her on the track. Then, the computer "fixes" the vocals, graphically changing the pitch of her voice in just the right places to make it sound as if she is actually on key. She is then filmed in seductive poses, lip-synching the lyrics while "her" voice plays over the action. The result is a slick video of a beautiful girl singing a trendy, vapid song...one that fits all the formulas for a hit. I would not be surprised to hear it on the radio someday soon.

Interviews with Branford Marsalis, Dave Matthews, Erykah Badu, and Eric Clapton are all particularly insightful. All confirm that the great music acts from the 70's and 80's (Aretha, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Led Zep, the Who, etc.) would never have had a chance in today's market. So the next time your son or daughter tells you about how "awesome" the latest Brittney Spears CD is, show them just how little of Brittney is actually in the CD, and how much of it is marketing, make-up, and computers. Show them this film. Then buy them some real music, played by real musicians.

Highly entertaining and a real eye-opener
I watched this movie last night at a screening at Antone's in Austin. It's AWESOME. And I'm not even into music that much. It has great insights from famous and non-famous people, lots of good music to boot, and is really inspiring and eye-opening if you're a musician or interested in music.

The previous reviewer did a fab job at conveying the essence of it, so let me just briefly add my two cents. You will learn a lot about the music industry watching this. We all know what is going on on some level but the (hilarious) segment with the no-talent-but-pretty model really drove it home for me. I will never look at Britney & Co. videos the same way again. (They play a lot at my local gym.)

Regarding the whole downloading songs thing, do it if you must. But also be fair and at least occasionally support the artist by buying their music and fan articles. The same goes for the makers of this film, who I know through a friend of mine who gave them some money so they could make this movie. They're true independent filmmakers who are not exactly living the Hollywood lifestyle right now. Buy the DVD to support them, you won't regret it. Also thank you to Amazon for agreeing to distribute this film.

THe most insightful and entertaining look into the music industry ever
This film addresses the big, ugly, and very real issues surrounding the consolidation and standardization of the music industry. With more technological innovation and diversity of tallent and distribution channels, musician and fans are paving their own roads.
The artists and interviews are remarkable. I can't wait for the soundtrack!!