blurred lines

Recently, I spoke with a friend who is involved with music. More specifically, he’s in a band. We were having a conversation which was roughly about how bands, namely the up-and-coming variety, interact with each other. From what I gathered, it is common for a band to view another band as two distinct entities: as artists/people/friends, and as a business. After I pondered all this, I decided that I take issue with this supposed black/white, either/or view.

A band may be a business, but I believe you cannot distinctly separate “people/friends” from “business” when the people ARE the business. They are interwoven, especially in music. The people are physically creating the end product every single day. Yes, they also function as a business as they choose how to market this product and themselves. However, without the people, the emotion, the creativity, and the music, the business would not exist. Simultaneously, business is not cut and dry. Whether people realize it or not, their business decisions are influenced by their human emotions- jealousy, curiosity, greed, happiness.

The people and the business are not two distinct entities.
They are joined at the hip.
They influence each other.
They do not stand alone.

Obviously, a lot of bands don’t agree. They say and do things in the name of “business” that they wouldn’t dare do in the name of friendship or artistry. I find this to be wrong, and I think this all-too-common ideal is a weakness that is rarely recognized. From there, it's a slippery slope down to where even the music suffers for the sake of business, and that is the ultimate tragedy.

Is this merely my personal opinion? Yes. Is this supposed to be directed at anyone in particular? No. I am fully aware that I am not involved in the business side of the industry, and therefore in theory, “I do not know what I am talking about.” That may be true, but I know enough about the human aspect of music to realize that it is impossible to truly separate the people and the business.

I'm trying as hard as I can
But I'd rather write a song than a business plan
Because this is me, saying the words I actually mean
I won't compromise this thing just to make it
. . .
Do you even know what you're even saying?
Or you just saying it, 'cause someone else said it?

[The Rocket Summer]