One of the great pastimes of human history is to talk about revolution, about what an ideal world would look like. Wanting a better life for ourselves (and all of humanity, depending on your outlook) is basic to our condition, and is summed up well by good ol' William Shakespeare in Hamlet:
To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them?
Okay, so referencing this old nugget may be a bit cumbersome, but it is analogous to our latest guest's endeavors in the music and entertainment business. Eric Knight is a rock musician with his own management company, television/web series and entertainment company who wants to change the way the entertainment world does business. He's up against a sea of troubles and then some, namely the practices and principles of the world of entertainment over the last century. Eric's vision of the 50/50 split and artists with their publishing rights intact may seem like a pipe dream to many, but he has a number of things going for him which gives pause to my skeptical side.
We talk about that vision and his music in this episode which was recorded via Google Hangouts On Air, starting with a nod to a mutual favorite band from the 80s, Def Leppard. We welcome your comments and ideas on what your ideal world of music and entertainment looks like, too. Drop us a line here in the comments section or by email with the "Contact" link in the left column towards the top.
Enjoy the conversation and thanks for being here! - Joe Kendrick