Bob Lefsetz recently sent out an email titled “Quality” and producer Bob Ezrin responded with conventional wisdom. Let’s not forget that Bob Ezrin has seen his fair share of quality artists that would even make me envious, he produced Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall’. This is what he says:

But unless it is especially touching in some way (even if it’s in a juvenile or prurient way), nobody will care and it will end up having no value at all. Which then goes to your title “Quality”. If a thing lacks quality of some sort, it will not touch anyone. It will simply be a not so special thing in a world of not so special things. It will blend in and disappear. But if a work or performance is of high quality and special, then it has at least a shot at becoming valuable to someone – and the person who creates it has a shot at being appreciated and rewarded for it. If I were talking to “struggling musicians” I would say:

First, be special. Make something of such high quality that anyone would care. And that’s not as easy as it sounds. Just because you can use a sequencer and play an instrument doesn’t make you an artist. You have to create something that is special – unique and capable of moving others in a meaningful way. Once you are truly special, truly great at what you do, you may have a chance at finding an audience willing to reward you for your specialness. More than likely you will not, because special – by definition – belongs to the very few. But if you do, then someone somewhere might recognize that and show up to help you to take your creativity out to a wider audience. CONTINUE READING

Major labels and indies alike are swarming around Fairfax, Virginia pop act
The Downtown Fiction. Touring in February through March. Performing at The Vibe Lounge w/ VersaEmerge Feb. 4th in Rockville Centre, New York and will perform for majors on February 5th. Solid myspace plays.

• Our favorite track ‘Is Anybody Out There‘.

• For more information contact Greg Federspiel.

• It looks like Universal is officially getting nervous over Amy Winehouse. Take note that her album ‘Back To Black’ paid for a lot of salaries, it went 5x platinum in the UK and double platinum in the United States. Brian Rose the commercial director for Universal Records recently confronted Winehouse over the future of her music career. The fact is, the label is losing momentum with one of its biggest artists and there is no plans for new music.

• Speaking of Universal, apparently there were hushed layoffs. A reader told Silicon Alley Insider: Major layoffs at Universal Music Group on Friday. People from every department were axed (there were a few departments spared, it seems, though). From what I can tell, most of the major imprints were hit (IDJ, Universal Records). It seems that they are trying hard to keep the layoffs out of the press.

• Listen up musicians – some claim the rock n roll legend Buddy Holly changed the music industry – creatively and legally. During that time (1958) music was exciting and Holly experimented with musical styles creating his own sound. “But what made him really remarkable was that a young musician in, say Liverpool, England, could sit on the edge of his bed with his guitar, listen to Buddy Holly’s recordings and figure out what he was doing.” Also, artists before Holly rarely produced their own records and usually would turn their business over to recording professionals. Holly insisted that he produce his own music and had a shrewd understanding that the more legal control he had, the more artistic freedom he would get.

• Twitter is about to raise new VC funding with a $250 million valuation? Techcrunch says so.

• A tiny self-governing island called Isle of Man located in the Irish Sea has a new idea for the music industry. It may be worth evaluating since they brought us the Bee Gees. “Under a proposal announced this month, the 80,000 people who live on the Isle of Man would be able to download unlimited amounts of music – perhaps even from notorious peer-to-peer pirate sites. To make this possible, broadband subscribers would have to pay a nominal fee of as little as £1, or $1.37, a month to their Internet service providers.” The money collected by the Internet providers would be sent to a special agency that would distribute the proceeds to the copyright owners, including the record labels and music publishers. What do you think?

McCarley’s favorite artists include Fiona Apple, Patty Griffin and Greg Laswell. “I just love how true and raw their lyrics are,” she explains.

Listening to records by these musicians is more than enjoyable for McCarley—it’s inspiring. “I get one line into one of their songs and I have to stop and write my own,” she says. McCarley singles out her favorites’ unique phrasing, the way they’ve taught her to concentrate not only on her words but on her delivery. “Their lyrics are that much more powerful because of the way they sing them.”

We believe Erin McCarley and her first single ‘Pony‘ that comes off her debut album “Love, Save The Empty” could follow in the same path as Sara Bareilles and Colbie Caillat, becoming a cross over smash.

Genre Hoppin’: Set to release his major label debut “Troubadour” on February 24th, Somalian born rapper K’naan has an all star cast helping on the album with appearances from Mos Def, Damian Marley, Maroon 5, and on his latest single “If Rap Gets Jealous”, which features Kirk Hammett of Metallica. K’naan has stated that his “main objective is good art,” and if his single w/ Hammett is any indication of his upcoming album, America and the rest of the world may have a rap artist with some real messages dethrone Kanye and Lil’ Wayne as the voice of this generation.

Unsigned New York rockers Vaeda have been hard at work on new tracks. Progressing from the work on their 2006 album, “State of Nature”, this trio has coined their own excellent power ballad with “Breathe” and a strong rocker with “Vultures”. Look for an EP or album to come out from these guys in the coming months.

Soulful singer/songwriter Jared Lee has just signed a publishing deal with Chrysalis Music Group (Outkast, Gnarls Barkley, Kylie Minogue) and is busy making some new music at the moment. Check out “Hold You Down” which would feel at home on any Top 40 station.

Aussies: An Australian band worth a listen is Birds of Tokyo which features singer of successful Australian hard rock band Karnivool.
19 Year old singer, and Australian Idol runner-up Jessica Mauboy is topping the Australian iTunes charts with her single, “Burn” which has the dance/pop feel of many of the top digital sellers here in the states.

Quick Picks:

Green River Ordinance – “Come On” – A Capitol signing that soccer moms and Matchbox Twenty fans could fall for.

Tom Gabel – “Random Hearts” – Against Me! front man with a knack for infectious hooks.

The Veer Union – “Over Me” - Universal has another rock band with more power ballads…Oh, and they’re Canadian.

Hockey – “Too Fake” – just signed to Capitol.

Dead Confederate – “The Rat”

Soundcheck is written by Dallas Osborn who currently attends San Francisco State University and works on the Live 105 (KITS) Action Team.