Is Geffen’s Ron Fair What’s Wrong With The Major Labels?

The press has been heralding the promotion of Ron Fair to head Geffen. After all he is a musician and not an accountant or lawyer.  "I’d always rather teach a music guy how to sell a record than try to teach a business guy how to make one," Fair’s boss at parent Universal Jimmy Iovine told the LA Times.

It makes sense, but here in his own words is Fair’s model for music industry success:

"To succeed today you have to get the biggest exposure possible, and that means pop. Pop music dominates radio, it dominates television, it dominates commercials and the Internet."

"There’s so much competition for people’s consciousness now that a band has to grab anything that gives them exposure. There’s no such thing as selling out, now. There’s just getting heard."

And then there is Fair’s love of manufactured acts and "extending a band’s identity beyond their songs".  Ron Fair is the guy behind the Pussycat Dolls and now the Slumber Party Girls.

What’s missing in this recipe for success?  GOOD MUSIC. LYRICS THAT MATTER. An image built on talent and integrity.  A career that is not dependent on the last chart position.  Fans whose passion for the artist extends beyond their libidos.

"It’s good to have someone in that position who actually loves music," said Andy Gould, the manager of Geffen act Rob Zombie. "If it works, the music guys might just win back this business."

Come on.  Maybe Ron Fair should get an award as a marketing genius.  Maybe he’s a fabulous executive and a great person.  But a "music guy"?  Let’s save that accolade for someone who thinks of music as more about art than commerce.

Source: LA Times