The Great Molini

In no particular order.

• Dizzy Gillespie – Blues Alley, DC
• George Shearing – Smithsonian, DC
• Harry Connick Jr., Marcus Roberts, Joey DiFrancesco – Smithsonian, DC
• Ravi Shankar w/daughter Anushka – Paramount, Austin
• David Byrne w/Tosca Strings – Backyard, Austin
• Fugazi – Reno Park, DC
• Manu Chao – Stubbs, Austin
• Van Morrison – ACLFest, Austin
• Femi Kuti – ACL Taping, Austin
• The Shins – ACLFest, Austin
• Radiohead – Woodlands Pavilion, Austin
• B-52s/Bob Dylan – Dublin
• One World Concert at Obama’s Inauguration (highlight: Stevie Wonder)
• Pixies/U2 – NJ Stadium
• Elliott Smith – Steamboat
• Sea & Cake – Parish

When they interviewed Bruce Houghton on the CD Baby DIY Music Podcast, I stopped what I was doing many times to take notes.

The old model: A manager works with a record label who does promotion.

The new model: Managers and labels look for artists with the ability to draw at least a hundred people in three or four markets. They ask: Does it have momentum? Do they have a good team? They don’t look at the band, they look at the audience for a niche and ability to bring people out, give them a good time, something to talk about, tell friends.

It’s a new world, and not always an easy one, but Bruce believes (as I do) that the new model provides greater hope of a good middle-class income for artists who can play the new game.

Bruce runs a booking agency, Skyline Music, and blogs about the changing music industry at Hypebot.com.