Music Industry Veteran Cites Spotify as Potential Industry Threat

By Dillon Koenig

MURFREESBORO, Tenn.-- Music industry veteran Michael Knox talked about the challenges music makers face during a speech at Middle Tennessee State University on Nov. 11, saying Spotify is “killing the recording industry.”

            Knox, who graduated from MTSU in 1991, said he wasn’t sure which career field to pursue. He graduated with an uncertain career path and limited resources. Knox eventually founded his own company, Hit Pluggers, providing song plug-ins software that provides effects for recordings. Warner/Chapel Music later offered him a job, and within six months he was named the vice-president of the company. Knox, who has been a music publisher for 25 years, now works for Peer Music. He has placed 13 songs with Jason Aldean that hit the top of the charts.

During Tuesday’s speech, Knox talked about his experiences and personal observations about the recording industry to an audience of approximately 100 people.

No path is the right way,” Knox told the crowd. “It’s whatever works for you.”

Knox refers to this on his website when he writes, "I don't do things in a traditional way. I want to be the guy who may do the unexpected because it taps into the heart of the creative process.”

            A controversial question was asked about artists deciding to use or not to use Spotify for song distribution. At first, Knox seemed hesitant to answer. After a long pause, he said he believes that Spotify is “killing the recording industry” because it only gives 0.008 of a cent in royalties each time a song is played. Knox said collaboration between the songwriter and publisher are essential to creating the best product possible.

           During the question and answer phase of the event, one attendee asked how Knox approaches potential clients.

“You have to have complete faith in what they’re doing,” Knox said. “They also have to have complete faith in you.”

            “The question and answer session was very informative, providing helpful insights about the music industry,” said MTSU Recording Industry student Marissa Dant. “I really enjoyed the event and hope we can do something like it again.”

For more information about Know you can visit his website at www.michaelknoxmusic.com.

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Murfreesboro’s House Shows Spotlight Local Bands

By  Daniel Baumli

          MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Murfreesboro, Tenn., is home to Middle Tennessee State University, whose prominent Recording Industry Department and close proximity to Nashville has sparked a lively house show scene in the college town.

            MTSU has a nationally recognized recording industry program with state-of-the-art equipment available for students.  The program is broken up into three different areas of focus: Audio Production, Music Business, and Commercial Songwriting.  Because of this program, MTSU has become a beacon for young people wanting to work in the music industry, especially in Nashville.

            The idea for house shows in Murfreesboro was no doubt inspired by the house show scene in Nashville, but the two scenes are fairly different from each other.  Nashville’s house show scene was developed by high school students who wanted to play shows but did not meet the age requirements of Nashville’s nightclub venues.  Murfreesboro’s scene began as a way to promote bands in Murfreesboro while throwing some partying into the mix.

            Promotion for the shows is almost exclusively on Facebook.  To spread the word, hosts of the shows and band members send out Facebook event invites to their Facebook friends, who then share the event page with their friends.  Many of the houses have nicknames such as The Kitchen on Minerva Drive, Avalon on Ewing Boulevard, and Eisenhouser on Twin Oaks Drive that are provided rather than the physical address, although some hosts do list the addresses.  Each house enforces its own rules in an effort to keep the shows from being shut down by police.

The Acorn People playing a house
 show at Forman's Basement

            “I usually post a public event page at first that has the address on it,” said Quinten Thornton, drummer for the band The Acorn People and host of many popular house shows at his home on Minerva Drive.  “Then once the event is just a few weeks away, I will make a private page that is invite only and invite all of my friends.  The public page can potentially inform police ahead of time about the party, and the police in Murfreesboro are usually willing to work with us.  The private page does a good job of keeping out people who are just looking for a rowdy party.”

            Andrew Pigue, the front-man of Murfreesboro’s four-piece drone band Mothyards, offered his perspective on what it’s like to play house shows. 

Mothyards playing a house
show at UTC-06

     “Well, we’ve played two shows now,” Pigue said when asked about his first experience in the house show scene.  “Our first show was a Halloween house show at UTC-06 off of Highland Drive.  It was great. The atmosphere was perfect for our sound, and people really seemed to embrace our sound.  If you’re making any music in Murfreesboro and you want people to experience your music live, then a house show is a good place to start.”

            There are many different bands with varying styles of music being played at these shows.  Some of the bands that frequently play house shows are The Acorn People, Young Wolves, Oh Grandpa, The Water Fight, Sheep Shifter, Tomato Face and Chasing Lights.

            The people who generally attend these shows are there for the music and the social interaction.  There is no age restriction for the shows, though due to the party nature, children are not permitted at most shows.  The shows are especially popular to students and Murfreesboro residents who like rock, punk, or even experimental drone music. 

            For more information about the house show scene, there is a Facebook group page called the "Murfreesboro House Show Alliance".  Simply type "Murfreesboro House Show Alliance" into Facebook’s search bar and request to join the page.

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