2008 is Here: Just a Few Words
We hate to speculate, BUT….
2007 proved to be a testing year for all Tejanos. DJ Kane loses his EMI deal, Radio PDs around the state are hesitant to push new material (resulting in the redundant overplay of the synth Tejano music from 15 years ago), many bands are starting to go independant (rebuking offers from labels), the younger generation is losing even more interest in Tejano, the fake surge of Duranguense popularity is taking many Tejano fans, nobody wants to hire bands anymore for events, the bands that are hired don’t get paid what they deserve.
From a musician’s point of view, many bands who want to take the industry seriously are seen by many as just hobby enthusiasts.  Is this the label’s fault? Is this the musician’s fault? Is this the fan’s fault? Or better yet, is this the fault of the American economy? It is safe to say that by today’s standards, it is nearly impossible to live off of playing music anymore (I say nearly impossible; if your name is Ramon Ayala or Ricky Muñoz, then you’re exempt from this statement). Gone are the days when a Tejano band had a furnished bus and an 18-wheeler hauling equipment (yeah, you remember those days). Will those days see light in 2008?
I feel that 2008 will be an important year. Not only is our jackass of a president going to be out soon, Tejano music will make a huge comeback. We might see a surge of great artists come out of nowhere, most of them representing themselves. Bands might have an easier time filling their contacts list. So called “promoters” might do a better job at guaranteeing bands what they deserve, and actually delivering what they promised (instead of running away, like many of you poor old sods have done). Maybe PDs will recognise the great talent that has been spawned from the present day, instead of playing 15 year old music.
One thing is for damn sure: Without musicians, the ones who do the foundation work, what this industry is all about (MUSIC, DUH!!!!!), none of this would ever exist. Lets recognise talent, and give credit where due. Musicians, quit copying other people, do your own thing. Be original. Right now, I’m listening to the radio, and it sounds like ther eare 10 versions of Solido, 10 versions of Siggno, 10 versions of Intocable, and it makes me want to puke. And quit writing your music in the restroom, cause it sounds like whats in the toilet.
Lets do this! Tejano can be powerful again! 2008 is going to be great!
TO THE TEJANO ROXTARS OF 2008!
Speculating VW,
While you surface attention to a great problem you failed to tell the true story. Where is your solution? In reality, that’s where you should have begun. Yes, we agree radio is out of balance, events have suffered, and expensive toys have gone away for some people who couldn’t afford them in the first place (egos were bigger then their wallets).
From another musician’s point of view, real musicians through our history have anchored down for battles at all levels: financial, educational, and economic. This challenge is not unique by any means and the true fighters reinvent themselves to survive (Freddy Fender, Little Joe, Ruben Ramos, La Mafia, etc just to name a few). HACE MAS EL QUE QUIERE QUE EL QUE PUEDE (Those who desire accomplish more than those can). Nothing is impossible when you are seriously committed. The economy is not to blame, WE are! Not showing up to gigs, getting there late, making one sided deals with sharks, unjustifiable prices, egos with glamour, pre Madonna attitudes have tainted the fruits of our labor. The true challenge is to get Tejano artists to a reality check. A label (large or small) will not invest on a broken horse who thinks he’ll recover tomorrow, those days are over. Artists have to prove their creative powers can move Tejano consumers spirits, that’s business not personal. Build with originality not cookie cutter recordings. Stop looking for the brother-in-law deal!
SIDE BAR-What killed the market? Labels provided $K recording budgets. Artists spent one quarter of that budget on recording and pocketed the rest up front. How long can that scam run? They should have invested the entire $K to compete at a national level (some did, not most). Those deals catch up and they get feed up!
There is no substitute for hard work. If you have a spine, the time has come to unionize, pay your dues and build ONE VOICE of trust. The battle begins at home. Clean house and bag those weak players, bad attitude chemical dependent vatos, those who contribute no action to the cause but complain each day – build a Dream Team of doers, thinkers, and the future is yours. Under promise and over deliver at every gig. Why, because that’s what every other genre is doing. Underground rock, Hip-Hop, alternative — musicians do WHATEVER it takes to build a circuit, a market, a living for themselves if you’re for real.
Correction: without loyal consumers there is no market for musicians. Consumers ask for very little. They crave attention, value, and leadership (of which we are absent of) from artists and groups. They deserve better and are getting it from other hard working musicians in Regional, Duranguense. Grupero. Want more evidence, there’s book to be written? Want change, make a plan.
The solutions? Let’s band together, no, not for a meeting but for a life time. Let’s promise to get up each morning thanking God for his talent and do something positive to move that career forward (interviews, promotions, marketing, community service). Cut the chisme! Let’s change radio where Dinosaurs have their feet on Tejano music neck, by raising our voices to another level where management cannot tunes us out any longer. Let’s look to internet radio. WHAT IS GOOD FOR YOU IS GOOD FOR TEJANO MUSIC. We all have vested interest in regaining our self respect. It start with you and me together.
When you’re through puking, take these words to heart. On this journey we all agree on one thing — WE LOVE TEJANO MUSIC in any form. Are we ready to take our medicine and build back what Tejano music lovers are longing for? I am.
Invest your energy in making positive changes for Tejano music.
VIVE Tejano
Vive Tejano said this on January 2nd, 2008 at 9:37 am
wow…tejano left me speechless…
in addition to his comments, and Vincent’s, i think we need to come out with something new, a new sound, instead of trying to sound like everyone else.
” for God looked down upon us, and was not pleased, and therfore gave tejano music a new sound: (insert your name here) and all was well once again in the world….”
something needs to snap somewhere, ….change! including myself.
jesus chacon said this on January 2nd, 2008 at 9:51 am
well said, tejano, a bit lengthy, but well written nonetheless……..i’m surprised someone so high would grace our peon site with such a presence as yours….hope you enjoy your stay here at tBL. i don’t attempt to cover every single point / problem out there; however, our user’s comments are greatly appreciated and enlighten our other readers even more. thank you for commenting.
come back soon!
Vincent Winterbourne said this on January 2nd, 2008 at 10:05 am
Are you serious about a union… or was that rhetorical? I don’t believe a union would work because there is no one to negotiate with and it consolidates power to a few, which was one of the problems to begin with. It’s a free market right now and I’m ok with that. If you can get $6000 a gig… why not get it? One voice is a great concept, but we all have too many different beliefs under are own umbrella we call La Onda, that having one voice would truly be a miracle. We can’t even truly define what Tejano music is.
What is needed is marketing. Promotions are the most important element in a bands success. We must market our Onda in places that it hasn’t been marketed before. You want to see more youth involved?…well market to the youth! You want to hear the new bands on the radio?… well tell the radio station what you want to hear!
I saw a lot of positive signs this year… of the top of my head I can think of 8 Tejano Cd’s released by artists under the age of 21. Who would have guessed that would happen? This industry isn’t going anywhere… I believe the next step will take place this year.
TAP said this on January 2nd, 2008 at 10:52 am
haha union. dues…..meeeeeeh.
where’s my coffee!
Vincent Winterbourne said this on January 2nd, 2008 at 10:56 am
amen…as a tejano fan, I have slowed down on buying cd’s and such because I am not getting what I have been craving for years now and that is originality. I agree with Vince that when I happen to listen to the radio ( online i must say because all the local radio stations play nothing but duranguese and mierda) it all sounds the same and cover songs as well. Give me something original, some original lyrics with some bad ass sound arrangements. Thats what Ive been craving…and when that day comes, Ill start spending more money on cd’s again. As for promoters….they have been gettin a real bad name here recently ( probably always have)…I have been hearing about many bands getting ripped off and that aint cool at all….everyone loses there because the bands has no money to feed themselves, and from that they wont come and play and then that leaves the consumer like me craving for that band to come back as well, but they wont because of the malice. Its a rippling effect…..
I wont stop being a fan but we do need to tighten up….
may 2008 be that year!
mamazzita117 said this on January 2nd, 2008 at 11:38 am
Vicente,
Set your Goggle Alert to Tejano Music to keep an edge, that’s what we do.
From experience, we’ve worked all sides of the Tejano music coin: musician, promoter, marketer, etc. True success is planned so — no plan, no success easy economics. The union idea is solid (build a proprietary process building the marketing infrastructure) where those who work prosper, those who ponder don’t. Bands invest very little and expect promoters to take a bath in building a market. Busiess is a two way street where, not charity. Again, what his good for one is good for the whole.
Brother, there won’t be any coffee, because if we don’t band under one umbrella the other genres will soon be eating our lunch — big time! Remember an umbrella has several brackets holding together. So let’s find a way to make each bracket strong.
Let the process begin and allow dialogue like this to continue bringing new ideas to the table. The door to Tejano music is wide open in opportunity for youth marketing, female artists and creative excellence. Bring it on!
We all have a vested interest on many levels.
VIVE Tejano
Vive Tejano said this on January 2nd, 2008 at 12:04 pm
i’ll have to check out this goggle thing, cause google isn’t doing anything for me.
i want my coffee damnit. check please.
Vincent Winterbourne said this on January 2nd, 2008 at 12:26 pm
let’s you and i (everyone)take the step, not the next step, but THE step.
I’m all for doing something to keep our music alive, to promote it, to make it a powerhouse, and not just in Texas.
There is a lot of us Texans scattered thruout the states.
what would it take? I’m all for helping out, financially even,
if it’s going to get something fresh, some new talent exposed…
i’ve told Vince he is a key player in taking this to the extreme!
Like tejano mentioned, an umbrella is composed of multiple parts,
not just one component….a “roundtable” perhaps?….
jesus chacon said this on January 2nd, 2008 at 12:34 pm
I truly believe that as well. What is good for one is good for all. I think people in the industry too much blame the fans for the drop in support. I think we in the industry need to do a better job of getting the fans excited and inspired again. We will be producing a local TV show here in Dallas in the next few months… anything you guys come up with let me know…
PS
still don’t like the union idea.
TAP said this on January 2nd, 2008 at 1:36 pm
OOOH!! how bout a bikini shot of never mind. LOL. you guys are going to do the Tejanocast after all!? man best of luck to you all.
Vincent Winterbourne said this on January 2nd, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Ryan said he will give you his bikini shot… all you had to do was ask.
TAP said this on January 2nd, 2008 at 2:26 pm
wowzerz!! i enjoyed that very much. any way, I hope that 08 brings tejano (and tejanos alike) back to being a heavy hitter on the air waves. as for me, ive been building my house one brick at a time. Im kind of comfortable here in indie world but i long for that success like anyone else.
ps the union idea does suck!! theres one here that i was a part of and they did less than nothing for me. 4 real…have you heard of me???? i didnt think so…. one show at a time 4 me, just like the bricks
izzy atx said this on January 2nd, 2008 at 2:31 pm
LMAO @ TAP. dude. gross. lmao.
Vincent Winterbourne said this on January 2nd, 2008 at 3:19 pm
p.s. master, WTF is this goggle everyone speaks of?
i’ve heard of google…
jesus chacon said this on January 3rd, 2008 at 8:33 am
lol mr. vive misspelled google. i was joking. lol.
Vincent Winterbourne said this on January 3rd, 2008 at 9:29 am
a “google” is the thing that dangles at the back of your mouth. when you set up your google task bar, you can have it alert you on any thing new that hits the net, such as the word “tejano”.
izzy atx said this on January 3rd, 2008 at 9:24 pm
steve wozniak has left the building
Vincent Winterbourne said this on January 3rd, 2008 at 9:37 pm