Jazz; as a Commercial Entity

[Mickey Bass]

The disappearance of Jazz Music from Commercially Advertising Radio Stations contributed greatly to a decline in the popularity of this Music.

In light of the fact that there is not now one single Commercially Advertising Radio Station in this Country playing Jazz in their programming; many benefits for the Jazz Community have been lost.

Firstly, Musicians no longer receive those Royalties which were paid to air their Music, on Commercially operating stations. Aside from this fact, Commercial Advertisers such as Record Stores, Jazz Concert and Festival Promoters, Jazz Magazines, Musical Instrument Companies, etc. have lost that place to Advertise & Promote their products. Consequently, there is a need and a demand for commercially advertising radio to promote and sell many products not just Jazz, but the big wigs in these major corporations say that Jazz is not a marketable product, which we all know is false. Jazz was the music used in most TV shows (& Movie) sound scores, during the 50's, 60's, 70's, and into the 80's.

On the other hand, Jazz After Mid-Night was always a good venue for Jazz over the years. It seems to me that someone or some group should seek out a Commercially Advertising Station and present to them the real need and demand for this music. For example, Kathy Hughes owns Radio 1 and TV 1 as well as Inner City Broadcasting which are all primarily Black Owned, yet seem to be doing the same thing as all the other Radio Stations with their Talk Radio formats. If somebody was to approach these stations they may be inclined to do a Jazz After Mid-Night Program format.

Any 'takers'? Who knows nothing beats a failure but a try!

Mickey Bass

[Mickey Bass]

P.S. Say what you mean, mean what you say. talk is cheap, and actions speak far louder...than words.

[Mickey Bass]

The above comment is really not what this conversation is about....but, I'm interested to know which of my records did you purchase?

[Keith Rogers]

Hey Mickey, I agree with you also that there is a commercial market for jazz. Universities is flooded with kids and adults investing thousands of dollars to learn this timeless American Art Form. I have to disagree with TLed when he said that we have to just deal with what is!! I believe its just a matter of how do we make it happen, which i believe is your basic query Mickey. Tled was correct when he spoke about the relevance of the times, but then again we had a record number of voters this election because of the parallel world of yesterday and today. Some people said there would never be a black president in their life time, I guess they have to change their mind now. (that can be a whole new conversation) but back to the music!!! Jazz is a music that can stand on its own, its the oldest music art form that was made here in America, but at the same time when played correctly it always sounds new. WHAT A TREAT!! I believe more interviews would be a way to promote the music like rich has stated but also which i think would be more important is to follow what NIKE said. they said that they were promoting their sneakers to children to help brand their product..this way when the kids grow older they would be very familiar with the brand and it would be natural for them to purchase their brand because its been apart of them as they were growing up..in order to reach the children you have to reach the adults. it has been proven that music increases ones intelligence. What parent wouldn't want their child to be intelligent.so I believe one way is to get workshops going that include children and adults, get talkshows to discuss these things..because majority of the citizens here in America follows what the Television tells them is good or bad. I will continue another time because i have alot to say. By the way Mickey Bass i researched you and found your website www.mickeybass.com...you have been playing with the TITANS...I have found your other website www.rainbowjazz.com and purchased an album...I LOVE IT...Its an honor to respond to a blog created by a Jazz Master like you..Wow Mickey's Tune was written by you and Recorded by LEE MORGAN...Like i said i will continue this conversation, but until then if possible can you post any of your up and coming performances...I LIVE IN NYC...AND IF YOUR IN NYC, I WOULD BE DOING MY PART AND SUPPORTING THE MUSIC...I dont mean to sound like a groupie..LOL...but this MAN MICKEY BASS HAS WORKED WITH THE BEST OF THEM....and i would like to just post this again www.mickeybass.com and www.rainbowjazz.com for anyone else interested...MICKEY AGAIN PLEASE POST ANY SHOWS YOU HAVE COMING UP...THANK YOU!! and lets all try to figure this problem out!!!!
"obama09"

[Curtis Faulkner]

Having read these comments to Mickey's dialog, I think the key words here surrounding it are "commercial"; Of or engaging in commerce, having profit as a chief aim. "Entity", a particular and discrete unite, the fact of existence, being. Now by entering the conversation this way, may firstly seem that I'm being far to technical with words, not my intent. Trust me, I'm not an "intellectual geek", just a guy who's spent the past twenty plus years seeking to broaden and stabilize our relationship with this art form to redirect the benefit of its value. Jazz firstly, is an art and for the purposes of this conversation I'll challenge each to read its (art) meaning. So, in and of itself, its neither commercial or an entity.
All of what has been expressed, goes to the heart of what "institutions" are about. Thus, the question is, like Lincoln Center, what other institutions (particularly black formed) exsist? Perhaps the answers to moving jazz artistry back to being commercially viable, rest in increasing institutions who's goals and missions are such. Most all of the other institutions mentioned that seem to have some said input to its re-emergance, are simply waiting on partnering opportunities with a business plan. As a promoter, manager and aficonado, I have seen the need for the building and supporting of organized efforts particular within our black communities to do this. Unfortunately, we seem to often express such responsibilities on others and/or feel overwhelmed by the task. But, all things move when concerted efforts begin to show committment. (Ask Barack)
The Juneteenth Heritage & Jazz Festival, Inc. is one such effort. From it as also emerged the National Juneteenth Jazz Presenters compiled of venue owners and artist willing to show committment.
.

[Mickey Bass]

Yes - I agree, Quincy Jones is organizing this, and we should all support this.

[edward darden]

PS--I'm new to this site and just discovered a posting about the upcoming NEA vote in Congress. This is the thing that we should be making noise about.

[edward darden]

ok, Mickey, if we can agree on this as a goal then the next question is whether or to what extent an infra-structure exists on which to build. Here is where I turn from skeptic to optimist. Western culture worldwide is advancing quickly into a changing state as the political changes in the USA and other places seem to prove. Notice that conservative politicians are deeply opposed to arts spending in the TARP. Here is where we can advance the cultural agenda, i.e., build on the current infra-structure for jazz as America's classical music. I think it is a fraud to say that supporting spending for arts does not stimulate the economy. If we look back at the post 1929 period, when Hollywood helped American through the Depression (notice the double meaning) surely we can say that arts funding is equally as essential today. But the right wing has little opposiion on this front and therefore gets away with having arts funds stripped away while funds for bombs and such get more. Can we organize a political movement for the arts?

[Mickey Bass]

Yes - ; if that was a part of the infra-structure, there would then be something to build upon, and Jazz is Americas' Classic music.

[edward darden]

please forgive me two things, 1) only skimming the previous comments and 2) adding a somewhat skeptical note to this conversation: Here's the skept--Jazz in the commercial venue may have to face its generational crisis; the problem is greater than needing more airtime. I came to this view when Hollie West explained to me the declining state of vinyl record collecting and sales. He said that collectors whose interest and dollars fueled the market are simply old and dying off hence the ever increasing decline in demand and value of vinyl records. It seems that something similar might apply to the audience damand for jazz on the airwaves. Our great WPFW in DC is perhaps a good microscope for this question. Keeping jazz programming has been a struggle despite a true commitment to the music. There are simply too many other demands to satisfy and that must limit the hours devoted to what I call jazz. I apologized at the head of this comment because perhaps the reality is that as Miles said many years ago when he changed directions, jazz is (dying) although he said it's dead. So the question may be how to aproximate the success of the european symphonic tradition, namely, settle on a few styles and time periods to highlight then erect a society around them dedicated to preservation of this historically significant gendre.

[Mickey Bass]

Thank you Michael!