Glen Ballard speaks out

[hamilton]

While I agree with the sentiments, they seem a bit rich coming from Glen "Mr. Safe" Ballard. Oh, the irony...

Music Biz Must Take Chances, Producer Says

17/11/2004 10:45:34 AM

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The music industry needs courage in order to get out of the artistic and financial doldrums, according to Glen Ballard, a songwriter/producer who has worked with Alanis Morissette and No Doubt.

He made the remarks during his vanguard address Tuesday as part of The Hollywood Reporter/Billboard Film & Music Conference at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel.

"Blazing creativity is rarely recognized in the beginning," Ballard said. "It requires courage on the part of everyone involved. If imitation replaces inspiration, then we will elevate mediocrity far beyond what we've already done."

He pointed out that such artists as Morissette, Josh Groban, Norah Jones, Evanescence and OutKast succeeded in the face of rejection on many levels because someone -- either a radio station or an executive -- had the courage to take a chance.

"In journalism, there's a term called 'prior restraint,' and it applies to the pressure put on a paper or broadcaster to suppress stories before they ever come out," he said. "In a similar fashion, we've let the marketplace create a 'creative prior restraint' on what we think and what we think will go over. It leads to a staleness and a qualitative decline."

Ballard also said that artists should not make the radio their goal because music and radio have different goals.

"They're selling advertising space, and we're making music," he said. "Hopefully, our interests can converge. The minute you go into writing mode and are thinking about radio, you're in the wrong place."

Ballard also said to beware that radio doesn't dictate the music songwriters and artists make.

The music industry is going through hard times, Ballard said, and some of it is the industry's fault. He cited the failure to jump on the Internet bandwagon and too much bad music that has been produced. The industry also is affected by factors beyond its control, like increasing forms of entertainment all competing for audiences' attention.

"We need to encourage each other to take chances," Ballard said.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter