Richard Marx Demonstrates The Fine Art Of Brand Self-Destruction
By Timothy Geigner of Techdirt.
A year ago, Mike [Masnick] presented at Midem, discussing how being more open, honest and awesome to the public and to your fans is a recipe for musical success in the internet era. It sounds like an easy concept, but it's one that few do really well. It means connecting with your fans and your public, engaging them positively, responding honestly to inquiries, and generally putting the ego aside and embracing a certain amount of humility.
Or, alternatively, you could go the Richard Marx route, which basically means acting like a self-important psychopath. That's what Edward McClelland at Salon discovered when he did a piece that made a joking reference about Marx.
As I wrote in a story last week on the Morning News, Marx – the Chicago-born singer best known for the 1980s soft-rock hits “Hold On to the Nights” and “Right Here Waiting” – demanded a sit-down with me after I called him “shameless” in a blog post for a local TV station’s news site.
Would you say that to my face?” he emailed me. “Let’s find out. I’ll meet you anywhere in the city, any time. I don’t travel again until the end of the week. Let’s hash this out like men."
Now, if you think it's a bit on the crazy side for 1980's ballad singers to go rushing around Chicago to meet up with people who said not nice things on the internet, you're not alone. Even stranger, it would appear that monitoring the interwebz and local papers for critics to respond to is something of a habit for Marx. He referred to one radio producer as a "coward", "jerk" and "douchebag" after he failed to show up for a radio appearance. The producer criticizing him for this qualified as a "pussy move" with Marx. He also was quite public in being upset at WGN-TV for not giving him more air time and told them essentially to go elsewhere if they needed a musical artist for their show in the future.
These are but a few examples and, in the age of the internet where these stories will never die, they represent the best way to torpedo any possible chance an artist might have at a career in the future. Then there was his email exchange with a writer for Chicagoist, which was memorialized in a YouTube video:
Right Here Waiting… Richard Marx & Scott Smith
There's just no reason to behave like this in any case, nevermind in an era where the harm done is multiplied and then refuses to disappear.
Now, in case you should think that my labeling Marx as "crazy" is unfair, take a look at a few samples from the email he sent to McClelland and dared him to post online.
-First, your editor, who’s not named but whose identity I can easily find, is a liar. I’ve never tipped less than 20% in my adult life, and you’re more than invited to call any establishments you think I may patronize to check it out.
-Second, to assume you can crawl inside my head and know what my motivation is for writing a song is arrogance reserved for the likes of Hitler and Stalin.
-The big question is why I give a shit about people like you or the things you write. Even my wife and some friends ask me why I don’t just let certain things go. Here’s my explanation. The internet, Twitter and blogs particularly, are a Utopian breeding ground for cowards. A place for small, frustrated people to spew vile, bitter shit without fearing true retribution. Today, you became the poster-boy for Chickenshit-itis. And for you, as well as anyone else who thinks this is as simple as me being “thin-skinned,” let me make a clear distinction, again…and for the last time: Mock or belittle my music all day long? Go for it. You’re entitled to your opinion. But disparage or call into question my character, and I’ll demand you answer for it.
I have to admit that last one is my favorite. Sadly, it is about being thin-skinned when you feel the need to drive your car from the suburbs into Chicago to meet face to face with some guy you don't know who said something you don't like on the internet — especially when that "something you don't like" is the barely offensive claim that you are "shameless." More importantly, it shines a light on a psyche that is so desperate for attention and praise that it demands action from those he does not know. I can't take Marx up on his offer to critique his music because, frankly, I've never heard it. Nor have I heard of him prior to this piece coming out.
And that's really the point. For the sake of longevity, acting childish can do amazing things to your career and future opportunities. And I mean amazing the same way that Chernobyl was amazing. While the consequences in the internet era for being awesome are significant, so is the opposite true.
haha! this is awesome.
I am actually a fan of Richard Marx’s music from the 80s to the mid-90s – especially songs like “Hazard” and “Silent Scream”. The only track of his I’ve liked in recent years is “Part of me”. It is a shame he felt then need to send that e-mail. I figured he was above all of this. I wonder why he feels the need to chase after his critics. It is a shame he is getting press for the wrong reasons. He’s a supremely talented songwriter.
So richard marx is pulling a kevin smith from jay and silent bob strike back… and it’s just even more funny that people on the internet are so afraid of richard marx!
While I’m not going to defend Marx lashing out. I think people need to understand what it must be like to be made the butt of so many jokes for 20 years, while trying to earn a living doing the only thing you ever wanted to do. If you’re not an artist, you really can’t understand just how hard it is to be in the industry, let alone stay in it for as long as Marx has tried to keep his career going. So when you have young kids online that don’t even know who you are or were posting things everywhere about you; in some it would bring out a defensive nature. But in this world we call the internet, it seems in many ways, all we come here to do it try to drag everyone else down and very little to respect what may have been achieved even if it was in a time before you could remember…
I think you have some growing up to do. I can understand Marx’ frustration with bullies like you as well.
This is a ridiculously wasteful piece of blogging. People, like yourself, should learn to shut up.
It sounds like Marx’s is just sick of Trolls. Marx has a point when he says that the internet is a breeding ground for chicken shits and cowards because it is. What’s wrong with him getting confrontational with some of these chickenshits?
He even said “Mock or belittle my music all day long? Go for it. You’re entitled to your opinion. But disparage or call into question my character, and I’ll demand you answer for it”.
I never really cared for his music (Thought it was wimpy). But personally I think he’s badass for doing this…..Maybe I need to start listening to him.
I applaud Marx for defending his character. It is easy to say things when you think they won’t be challenged and our internet helps create a society where it is acceptable to make comments about people without regard for truth or harm.