Yetnikoff Sounds Off On Sorry State Of Music Biz At Commotion Records Event

Chris Marlowe writes on HollywoodReporter.com that, "Attendees at Commotion Records’ event at the Grove in Los Angeles Tuesday evening got a double-barreled look at the music industry."

"…the former president of CBS Records Group during the highflying ’80s (and Commotion co-founder), took the floor, and it became "The Walter Yetnikoff Show."

"…An unholy terror at the height of his power at CBS, he has mellowed into an almost avuncular figure…"

"…During a question-and-answer session, the outspoken Yetnikoff vented his spleen about the contemporary music business. "When you set out just to make money, you often don’t," he said, noting the biz’s ongoing decline. "Today’s music industry bores me because it’s run by conglomerates. … Today’s pop music is mostly really boring, because it’s a copy of a copy of a copy."

"He added, "Would Bob Dylan get a contract today? I don’t think so — he sings funny." He pointed out that Bruce Springsteen was allowed to take a big chance with his now-classic solo 1982 album, "Nebraska." Yetnikoff said, "The patience (with Springsteen) paid off. In today’s climate, I’m not sure the record executives would be that patient."

"So who does Yetnikoff like in music these days? "The White Stripes — it’s original," he said."

Read the full story including much more in the indy film soundtrack business here.