I watch a lot of television. I see a lot of movies. I listen to a lot of music.
Access to that content in a place-shifted and time-shifted world has only increased the amount I spend with media.
I subscribe to Netflix, Hulu, and Spotify. I rent stuff off of iTunes. Use Amazon Instant Video's Prime Access. I use tons of "TV Everywhere" apps from HBOGO to Showtime Anytime. I rarely buy (though looks like I'll be buying Thom Yorke stuff for a while), but then again, I believe we will live in a future of access not ownership.
Most of these products deliver their content via streaming
Of course, streaming requires that you have a really fast mobile connection or wi-fi. And whether you believe it or not, we don't live in a completely wi-fi world yet. Data connections, while getting better, can be shotty depending on where you are: Try making a phone call or getting a data connection reliably on where I spend weekends, it will make you grind your molars. Oh, poor me, I know. #firstworldproblems.
That said, I love my tv, movies and music and want them when I want them.
My music service Spotify has a content sync functionality that deals with this issue. I choose the songs, playlists or albums I want synced offline, and when I'm taking my morning walk (where I think a lot and make mental lists of those that wronged me), the tracks don't cut out because of AT&T: "The nation’s fastest 4G LTE network. All backed by our 100% dedication to quality and service."
Simple. Easy. Totally useful.
I travel a lot. I am on a plane constantly. Gogo Inflight internet is great for e-mail, not awesome for web and non-existent for streaming media. It is getting better, but I have to download before I board to watch up in the air. Just one use case.
I want the ability to sync the movies or tv I want to watch within Netflix or Hulu (or any service) for mobile usage when I don't have good coverage or none at all. I would even pay extra if I had to. And don't give me content protection excuses. It's relatively simple.
When speaking to my friends at these services the answers are:
Not worth it, mobile connections and wi-fi will get better before we can get rights
Users have't asked for it
Just another set of rights we need to get and it can be cost-prohibitive
And content guys?
They can't stand rental
Want us to buy more
Haven't totally accepted the access economy as they speak of revenues past
Downloading is dying, "streaming won", and yet we are in a no man's land of not always being connected (at least for bandwidth hogging media).
"In a world" (say it in a movie trailer voice) where I have to watch live TV, use a DVR, multiple VOD services and my Slingbox to get all the video I want: if I could have just one functionality it would be offline syncing of selected video content.
So, Netlfix, Hulu, HBO, Amazon, Showtime and others, whaddya say?
If I could watch television 24 hours a day, I'd give it serious thought. TV is on a creative streak that I've never seen in my lifetime. Breaking Bad, Boardwalk Empire, Justified, Homeland, Suits, Sons of Anarchy, Revenge, Eastbound & Down and on and on. There's a surplus of the deep & heavy to the fun & entertaining (Diners, Drive-ins and Dives is a national treasure). Channels that years ago were licensing also-rans like AMC, USA, FX and others are now putting out huge amounts of awesomeness.
I just happened to come across two early contenders for this season. Both from same network, ABC. For all the talk about cable channels (and many deserve the praise all the way up and down the guide), the network that brought us LOST has two promising new series debuting this fall and winter. LAST RESORT and RED WIDOW. A friend at ABC (who knows I'm a TV fiend) graciously hooked me up with the pilots, both of which I just finished.
500 feet beneath the ocean's surface, the U.S. ballistic missile submarine Colorado receives their orders. Over a radio channel, designed only to be used if their homeland has been wiped out, they're told to fire nuclear weapons at Pakistan.
Captain Marcus Chaplin (Andre Braugher) demands confirmation of the orders only to be unceremoniously relieved of duty by the White House. XO Sam Kendal (Scott Speedman) finds himself suddenly in charge of the submarine and facing the same difficult decision. When he also refuses to fire without confirmation of the orders, the Colorado is targeted, fired upon, and hit. The submarine and its crew find themselves crippled on the ocean floor, declared rogue enemies of their own country. Now, with nowhere left to turn, Chaplin and Kendal take the sub on the run and bring the men and women of the Colorado to an exotic island. Here they will find refuge, romance and a chance at a new life, even as they try to clear their names and get home.
Loved it. Andre Braugher is a rock star in the first episode. Hoping for big things from this one. A little war, conspiracy, cover-up and more.
When Marta Walraven's (Radha Mitchell) husband is brutally murdered, her first instinct is to protect her three young children. Her husband's business partners - Irwin Petrova (Wil Traval), Marta's scheming and untrustworthy brother, and Mike Tomlin (Lee Tergesen) -- were involved in an illegal drug business deal with rival gangsters, and Marta's husband paid the ultimate price. She already knows the violent world of organized crime; her father, Andrei Petrova (Rade Sherbedzija), and loyal bodyguard Luther (Luke Goss) are gangsters too. She and her sister Kat (Jaime Ray Newman) had always wished for a safer life without bloodshed and fear. For a while Marta lived happily as a stay at home housewife in San Marta's cooperation, FBI Agent James Ramos (Mido Hamada) now promises justice.
Marta discovers a tenacity she never knew she had, and takes on the gangsters and the FBI to unveil the truth about her husband's death. As she digs into this dark underworld, she'll test her own strength, relying on her resourcefulness, determination and family ties like never before. To get out of this mob, she needs to beat the bad guys at their own deadly game.
Based on the Dutch series Penoza...
I'll watch anything about the mob at least once. "Mob" and "Mafia" are my saved Tivo keyword searches. Dug it, great set-up. Radha Mitchell is going to turn into a shrewd bad-ass, I can feel it.
Now, I can never tell why a show makes it or not. Plenty of awesome shows don't make it past the first season. But these play to my tastes and I'm rooting for them.
Stack Revenge and Scandal with these two and ABC is the big net to watch.
If you read this blog or follow me on Twitter you know I'm a big Jay-Z fan. His talent, music, swagger, outlook on life and art and most of all his story. Jay grew up in the Marcy Projects in Brooklyn, New York. A former drug dealer, he hustled his way to global stardom via hard work and genius level talent for lyrics and flow.
In 2008, Jay-Z was set to headline The Glastonbury Festival in the U.K. This is one of the biggest rock festivals the world has to offer each year. I say rock because no Hip Hop artist had ever headlined it.
Immediately, there was controversy. Ticket sales were rumored to have started off slowly and fingers pointed to Jay-Z. Noel Gallagher of Oasis was quoted as saying:
"I'm sorry, but Jay-Z? No chance. Glastonbury has a tradition of guitar music and even when they throw the odd curve ball in on a Sunday night you go 'Kylie Minogue?' I don't know about it. But I'm not having hip hop at Glastonbury. It's wrong."
The press stirred it up. Everyone weighed in. Should Jay-Z bow out? Should he play? Does Hip Hop belong at Glastonbury?
At the time Jay-Z was already a star in the United States and beginning to be global, but not yet. Glastonbury has audiences from all over the world. The crowd fly flags representing just about every country you can think of.
Was it too risky for him to try and fail?
Entrepreneurs and artists create and risk. That's what they do. And with creation comes success or failure. Sometimes they deliver and sometimes not.
There was no way Jay-Z was bowing out. In fact, I doubt he was worried about failing. There is no more confident artist out there. His skills are undeniable and he's grown into one of the best live performers around. Especially since he added a live band.
"I'm like fuck critics, you can kiss my whole asshole. If you don't like my lyrics, you can press fast forward" - Jay-Z, 99 Problems
So on June 27, 2008 Jay-Z told critics to kiss his ass. In front of 150,000 fans he was about to take the stage. But first, he played this video intro for the crowd:
And then he took the stage. In pure clever and "giving it right back" Hip Hop tradition he opened with his rendtion of OASIS' "Wonderwall" where the lyrics "I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now" took on a whole new "f*ck you" sort of meaning.
"You not feelin' me? Fine, it cost you nothing. Pay me no mind." - Jay-Z, Heart Of The City
The crowd went nuts. "Jay-Z. Jay-Z. Jay-Z". Nodding his head in agreement like a conquering Emperor.
And just as quickly as the video ended Jay-Z demands into the mic: "I just got one thing to say" and blasts into "99 Problems". That song, which ironically enough, was produced by Rick Rubin who has worked with some of the best rock bands around like The Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Cult. Not to mention Jay-Z's idols The Beastie Boys. To add insult to injury, half way through the song, his band includes the guitar riff from AC/DC's "Back in Black". As you'll see below before and after this song, Jay won over the crowd. An amazing moment for a musician facing that kind of public adversity. My friend, DJ Neil Armstrong, was the touring DJ at this show and he said it was a pretty incredible moment. He felt the crowd turn and the energy for the rest of the night was insane. Watch the performance below.
And that night, Jay-Z became a global superstar. The British press, notorious for take downs, was also impressed. The Guardian wrote here: "Glastonbury headliner turns tables on Noel Gallagher after Oasis frontman had lambasted choice of US rapper as top act".
"I'm not looking at you dudes, I'm looking past you" - Jay-Z, Heart of The City
And he did.
Jay-Z's recent commercial with Budweiser also expresses how he looks at art. All art is more similar than not in where it comes from. To him "everything is a remix". "We're all trading off each other's culture" he narrates. This spot is exactly what he was saying at Glastonbury.
My last two jobs were fun and tough.
At Sling Media the entire media ecosystem wanted to kill us. We thought we were right, they were wrong but we didn't hate them, we wanted to win them over or just move past them. But without changing our mission. It was a kiss and slap philososphy. We did it our way.
At MySpace we faced internal and external challenges and a brand and product that was on the outs. Everyone had an opinion. The death watch was on. We still believed we could turn it around. We tried, we created, we risked. But we failed. That's ok. That's how it is sometimes. But you can't sit back and not try. There's no fun in jumping off a bench. Even the creative and right lose.
At both companies I constantly re-told the story of Jay-Z at Glastonbury. Where he looked haters in the eye and slayed them with his product: his music. He won.
Jay-Z risked, confronted, delivered and grew. He's a model for entrepreneurs and artists everywhere and my favorite story.
"I'm not a businessman, I'm a business, man." - Jay-Z, Diamonds From Sierra Leone
-JH
p.s. I encourage you to search YouTube and news sites for the coverage and video of Jay-Z at Glastonbury. There are interviews, full performances and pundit coverage. And read his book DECODED. It's awesome.
Some deranged individual walked into a Colorado movie theater showing The Dark Knight Rises and murdered and wounded innocent people. Press reports have the death toll at 13 and over 70 injured. The tragedy is unspeakable and all of us are grief stricken for the victims and their loved ones. We're also scratching our heads at another event that defies all that's right in the world.
After the shock, what happens in these events is sadly inevitable. Leaders step up and politicize it. False reports of political associations. Discussions mount on whether Hollywood instigates this kind of violence. Who knew about this maniac and when? News reports that frighten us.
Though I do hope that this brings up yet another conversation on assault weapons. Do you really need an assault rifle to hunt with?
What happened to crazy?
Hear me now.
Sometimes crazy is just crazy. Evil is just evil.
As one of my favorite societal truthtellers Chris Rock once said:
"Everybody wants to know what the kids was listening to. What kind of music was they listening to? Or what kind of movies was they watching? Who gives a fuck what they was watching? Whatever happened to crazy?"
This guy wired his apartment to blow and it would have taken out his entire neighborhood. There is no explanation but crazy. Those people exist in the world. They are not the majority. They are few and there's no shot we're going to change the way we live because of crazies.
Here were hundreds of people staying up late to see the most anticipated movie of the summer. To have fun, to experience wonder. To see something they likely followed since childhood. A superhero re-made by the finest Hollywood has to offer. Christopher Nolan is pure and simple, a genius. One of the greatest filmmakers of our lifetime. Christian Bale, since he was a child prodigy, an amazing acting talent.
And now, some nut tried to stop all that.
Well, don't let him.
I ask of you, get up, rise, go see "The Dark Knight Rises" this weekend. I've been trying for two weeks to get tickets on Fandango and every show, every theater is sold out. Not a Batman fan? Not your thing? Then see any movie.
Me and Movies
2012 has not been my year. On a personal front, I've been figuratively "punched in the face" a few times with health issues plaguing me and loved ones. One bad thing happening after another. I wouldn't walk under any scaffolding with me right now. Sometimes you just hit a bad streak.
Going to the movies has always brought me great joy. I can have the worst day and yet when I walk into a theater and those lights go down and the picture starts, for few hours I drift off into another world. Completely displacing any bad thoughts and problems with fantasy, emotion, fun and laughter.
Movies have often healed me.
MySpace, Saving Private Ryan, Goodfellas and Avatar
A few years ago I was President and Chief Product Officer of MySpace. I joined at a time of complete turmoil. The business, product and audience were plummeting. Someone asked me what it was like during that period and I could only answer in movie terms. It was like the opening scene of "Saving Private Ryan" mashed up with "Groundhog Day". Every single day.
Weeks into my job I got a call from Jim Gianopulos, Co-Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Fox Filmed Entertainment, which like MySpace at the time, is owned by News Corp. He invited me over to the studio lot for lunch. For 90 minutes I raddled off questions about movies at an alarming rate and Jim rolled with it. Specifically, I couldn't shut up about Avatar. It was still 7 months away from being released but I had heard so much about it and wanted to know more.
Later that day I got a call from his office: "Jim has set up a screening of Avatar for you tomorrow, bring whomever you like."
Wow! With all that was going at MySpace I was thrilled. I took as many of the staff as I could and we made our way over to the studio.
I still remember what it was like. We walked down a dark stairway and hall into the basement of one of the buildngs which eventually led to a small, private screening room. The walk reminded me of the one in Goodfellas when Henry Hill takes his date, Karen, through the back entrance of the Copacabana.
As we piled into our seats Jon Landau, the producer of the movie, welcomes us and begins to run through 45 minutes of footage. I remember the first 3D scene of the fictional planet "Pandora". I just yelled out loud, "No F*cking Way". Jon showed us other scenes with raw special effects and tons of other cool stuff. For a fan, it was an unforgettable experience. And for those 45 minutes and much of the rest of the day. I forgot about the stresses.
On that day, a movie healed me.
My Eye Sight and Prometheus
Recently, I had a 3 month bout with double vision brought on by diabetes complications. I'm all right now. But for those 90 days I could barely see. That meant almost no movies or television, two of my greatest passions. But on June 8, 2012 I woke up and it was almost all gone. I could see again. What did I do? What was my first instinct? I called up one of my closest friends and movie-going buddies and went to the opening of Prometheus. I loved that movie. What it said. The questions it asked. The world it created. How it looked. Amazing.
On that day, a movie healed me.
Mom, Me and Ted
When I returned home late that night I got the worst news of my life. My mother called and told me she had lung cancer. I was in shock. From elation to sadness within minutes. Weeks later I'm with her in Los Angeles as she undergoes treatment. Anyone that has gone through this knows you have good days and bad days. Not just the patient, but the family. On one of those bad days I needed a break. I went down to Santa Monica's 3rd Street Promenade with two friends and saw Ted. For 106 minutes, I forgot the sadness. I laughed so hard I missed a ton of the lines and had to see it a second time. After that, I felt great for hours and begged my mom to see it, which she did and loved.
On that day, a movie healed me.
And my mother, with all she's going through, still pushes herself to see around two movies per week. Clearly, that's where I got it from.
Take Back Your Weekend
Warner Bros is in a tough position. They have pulled ads, press events and no public box office comments for the time being. It's a tough call for a studio that's grieving for the victims and in a no-win situation. Especially in this environment of finger pointing. But The Dark Night Rises is still in theaters as are many other wonderful films. Thousands of creative people worked to bring you this magic. Don't miss it or any movie you want to see.
A monster was on the prowl and tried to take happiness from us. That's not going to happen.
Movies deliver a sense of wonder. Go have some fun, forget about your problems. Honor those innocent souls that wanted nothing more but to fall into an entertaining fantasy world for a few hours.
If only for today, let the movies heal you.
You Have My Persmission To Republish Without Edit - @JasonHirschhorn
If you follow me on Twitter or read my daily newsletter, Media ReDEFined, then you know I quote his lyrics all the time. He's one of just a few artists I call my favorites. I've been listening for close to 20 years. Even before his now classic "Reasonable Doubt" came out, If you were a hip-hop fan in New York City, you heard about Jay-Z. He was guesting on tracks like "Can I Get Open" with Original Flavor and showing up in clubs.
While I was building my first company in the late 90s and pulling all-nighters, it was Jay-Z tracks on Hot97 that pulled me through the night. When you went out, you heard his songs bumpin' from cars. No artist has epitomized the sound and feel of New York City in the last decade or so more than Jay-Z (and Biggie of course).
And now, all this time later, Jay-Z is an international star with a deep catalog and more recognizable songs than just about any modern day artist. He's a pop culture icon that has broken down every wall critics, media and commerce try to surround him and hip-hop with.
Tonight, close to two decades after his start, he played Carnegie Hall in A Benefit for United Way of New York City and The Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation. A great moment for him at the continuing heights of his career. The crowd was pure New York and one only Jay-Z could pull together: Hipsters, young kids, sneakers, 70 year-old couples, tuxedos, yarmulkes, baseball hats, chains, hedge funders, hoodies, mommies, daughters, Liza Minelli, CC Sabathia and more. Every age, race, color and creed. It was like Ali at Madison Square Garden. An event.
In recent years, his live show has reached another level. Jay-Z has learned how to master the stage and rock the house with live musicians. This time decked out in a tuxedo, a bottle of champagne in hand (he swore it was tea) and a full band and orchestra behind him. Carnegie Hall was on fire with what sounded like 50,000 fans. Alicia Keys joined him. So did Nas.
At the end of the show he came back out for an "Encore" that turned Carnegie Hall into a NYC club from the 90s. It could have been The Tunnel or Red Zone. But now he was clad in a black baseball hat, black t-shirt, jeans and one big diamond chain. He ascended into the balcony with the DJ backing him from the stage and swept through tons of old school hits with every single fan singing every lyric.
A night that could only happen in New York. Yes, Jay-Z is the "Brooklyn Boy". He's a lot of things to a lot of people: Rapper, artist, entrepreneur, author, son, husband, father, friend, star. Jigga. HOVA, Jay-Z. He's also a symbol of New York around the world and tonight he showed us again why he's the undisupted King of the City.
I watched a lot of movies when I was kid. Still do. My tastes tended to be slightly darker. This will be a regular feature. Enjoy my friends...
Over The Edge (1979)
Families move to a new development in the suburbs of Denver called New Granada. But city planners are late in building recreational resources for the kids. What happens? Drugs, sex, vandalism, Van Halen, Cheap Trick, death, anarchy and juvi. It was Matt Dillon's first time on screen and apparently Kurt Cobain's favorite movie.
The Parallax View (1974)
Warren Beatty stars as a journalist trying to expose a dark, shadow organization that recruits political assassins (and patsies). Born out of the deserved and obvious paranoia following the assassinations of the Kennedys, MLK and others. I love a good conspiracy movie. Beatty is great here.
Bugsy Malone (1976)
I love gangster movies. But give me one where the gangsters are kids dressed up in suits, carrying whipped cream-filled machine guns, starring Jodi Foster and Scott Baio, with music by Paul Williams and directed by Alan Parker. Done. Awesome. Big part of my days spent indoors.
The Warriors (1979)
"Warriors, come out and playee-yay." As Jay-Z would say, "What more can I say?" Gangs in NY try to unify and then all hell breaks loose when their leader gets one in the coconut. The Warriors, a small gang, are wrongfully accussed and fight all night to get to safe ground. Favorite parts? The narrating DJ throughout the movie. We only see her mouth and mic. And of course the colorful uniforms of each gang. The names and dress remind me of the gangs of the five points in Scorcese's "Gangs of New York". Starring lots of unknowns and a few actors that tried to kill Eddie Murphy in 48 Hours.
The In-Laws (1979)
For me, hands-down, one of the funniest movies ever made. Peter Falk as a wackadoo CIA agent who enlists a dentist (and soon to be in-law) Alan Arkin into an intricate plot to get a Latin dictator. Pure genius every minute. And it doesn't hurt that there is a "Mr. Hirschhorn" character. One of my all time favorite movies.
Logan's Run (1976)
Fun, slightly cheesy 70's sci-fi. Hot future people of the 23rd century live in a world of pure pleasure. Only problem is you have to die young. Those that don't want to, well, they "run". Logan is a policeman who chases those runners. Until he becomes one himself. Good grilled cheese. Can watch this 100 times.
The Long Good Friday (1980)
Bob Hoskins stars as London's prime gangster. But forces are out to get him and things are not going his way. He has 24 hours to fix it. Love the accents, Helen Mirren as his girlfriend and the cameo by a young Pierce Brosnan at the end.
Executive Action (1973)
Way before Olive Stone's "JFK" this film guessed at the why and how of the JFK assassination. Starring Burt Lancaster and a bunch of old recognizable codgers as the conspirators. Another of the great paranoid 70's conspiracy movies. My Dad loved this one.
The Little Girl Who Lives Down The Lane (1976)
Jodi Foster was so prolific an actress in the 70's it's really hard to compare to anyone else these days. Especially at her young age. This is a freaky little film about a little girl living alone in a New England town. Where are her parents? Well, lots of weird, disturbed and curious neighbors want to know. Just saw this again on the MGM HD channel.
Thief (1981)
The 80's had lots of style. Good and bad. A lot of the good came from director, Michael Mann. This film stars James Caan as a top notch thief taking down scores and buying watches, houses, cars and clothes. Until the local mob wants a piece of him. Great vibe. If you liked the recent film with Ryan Gosling, DRIVE, notice how much of that vibe comes from this film. Can't forget that Jim Belushi is in a good supporting role either!
Ah, YouTube. Treasure in every corner, especially live music performances. Here are a few I dig. This will be a regular feature...
The Killers: Read My Mind
When The Killers hit the right groove, their songs just flow. A little Springsteen with a dash of U2 but totally Killer-unique.
Betchadupa and Eddie Vedder: History Never Repeats
Crowded House are one of my favorite bands ever. I think Neil Finn is an extraordinary songwriter. Before that he led Splitz Enz who are also great. Turns out Neil's son Liam is a huge Pearl Jam fan and they were able to get Eddie Vedder down under to play with both Neil and later (seen here) with Liam's band Betchadupa. They cover Splitz Enz's "History Never Repeats".
AC/DC: Highway to Hell
Who doesn't love AC/DC? I think Back in Black was the first album I ever bought on my own. This video is so great because it gives you a sense of how wonderful it is to be a rock star. Look at how insane this crowd in Buenos Aires is. They literally sing the guitar parts. I'm not sure how the stage was left standing. We're talking earthquake movements by this audience.
U2: Out Of Control
Yes, I'm sure you know by now but U2 are probably my favorite band ever. I've seen every tour since The Unforgettable Fire. I love them for many reasons. Their music. The fact they stayed together and are close friends. And most of all... their live shows can be epic. I prefer them in an arena above all else. But this show was special. Beautifully shot by director Hamish Hamilton at Slate Castle in Ireland. They perform their first single "Out of Control" as if it's the night years ago when they first played it live. This time though they are infinitely better musicians rocking a loving hometown crowd and Bono get's some storytelling in of course. Another great example of an audience lifting a show to new heights.
I spent a lot of 2011 traveling around the world and watching good TV. When I say TV I mean video created for television, watchable on any screen. It was a good year. Whether live, DVR, via Slingbox, HBO GO, Netflix or iTunes/iPad on a couch, plane or whatever I spent real time watching everything below. Here are all my likes and season pass choices in alphabetical order. Those notated with "*" were at such a level of excellence IMHO that my jaw often dropped wipe open. But all relatively pretty great for different reasons. We're in a golden age of television my friends, soak it in and watch. Thank you to the creators!
NOTE: I probably spend the equivalent of at least 1/3 of my yearly cable bill total on buying catch up show on iTunes.
At 39 years old, I'm still a pop culture kid. I love media, entertainment and technology. I can't sit still when I discuss them. It's not only a hobby; it's been my job for 15 years. That love is rooted in my admiration for the creativity and art that propels all forms of the industry. Music, television, movies, video, games and apps: all of it and more. I tend to explain things or compare them in those terms.
My favorite movie is Goodfellas and one of my favorite lines is when Ray Liotta, as Henry Hill, says, "As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster."
Well, "I always wanted to be a rock star!" I suspect that singing your song in front of thousands of fans that sing it back to you is the ultimate rush.
As fate would have it, I didn't follow through on that one (and a lot of other things, see: astronaut). But since an early age I've been a rabid music fan. As someone once said, "Without music, life is a journey through a desert".
On a daily basis I think I've heard the greatest song ever and yet without fail some other artist comes along with a tune to knock it off the pedestal. When I hear it for the first time I get those chills induced by its simplicity, complexity or perfection. A feeling you've heard it before (because it's so great) even though you hadn't.
This is the story of how I got the chills about 10 months ago and wanted everybody else to get them too.
I was president at MySpace at the time and we were planning the launch of our music product in the UK. The marketing team was working with a few bands on the branding campaign. They filmed some video segments about what songs moved them when they were coming up. One handpicked by the music team stood out: Florence + The Machine, an English artist that was new to me but established in the U.K.
The lead singer, Florence Welch, has a voice that few possess. A very human gift that seems supernatural. One of the songs that moved her was from her youth: En Vogue's "Don't Let Go". The minute I heard her voice, I got those chills. I played it about 50 times that day. Over and over like a mental patient. So many times in fact, I thought my co-president, Mike Jones (we shared an office), was going to strangle me. I was drowning out the sounds of his favorite artist at the time, Girl Talk.
A few weeks later I was sitting at home watching Sundance Channel and I dozed off. I was awoken by a voice that just so happened to be Florence + The Machine.
I was up until about 3 AM that night, replaying each song on my DVR, continually amazed by how eclectic the music was (there is actually a harp on almost every song) and how exciting she was to watch.
Florence + The Machine are not easily categorized. I hear Kate Bush and Mary J. Blige. I hear dance, house, rock, gospel, r&b amongst other influences and yet they are unique.
And Florence herself? By now, I've watched many interviews with her and she's so sweet and polite. But then when sings... WOW! Look out! Her voice seems to lift her off the floor. It's a powerful weapon, one that overtakes her during her performances. What many artists call "the zone". It's awesome to witness.
After watching her on the rough cuts from the MySpace campaign and then on television, I went to YouTube for every live performance and music video I could find and ultimately fired up iTunes to download her album. I tweeted links and shared videos on Facebook. Just another typical daisy-chained media experience of today's fan.
From that moment on, every conversation I had, business or otherwise, included "You have to hear this new (at least to me) artist I love."
The first person I mentioned this to was president of MySpace Music, Courtney Holt. Of course, he knew them (He should, he runs a friggin' music company). His team was an early supporter of the band. And as luck would have it he was on his way to see them perform at Coachella over the weekend. On Monday, he walked into my office and said something to the effect: "J, from the second stage tent, they stole the festival. Best performance of the weekend."
At this point, I'm rooting for them. They are my home team now. The mission is to help them break in America.
I've been known to obsess about ideas and the only cure is to fulfill a vision. It's like the character Kyle Reese says of The Terminator: "Listen, and understand. That terminator is out there. It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead." Of course, "dead" in this case meant something more mischievous and positive.
Fast forward a few weeks later when Courtney and I were having dinner at BOA Steakhouse in Los Angeles with an old friend, Van Toffler. Van is President of MTV Networks Music Group. I've known him for about 10 years, from when I was Chief Digital Officer of MTV Networks and we've remained pals ever since. He is a smart, fun, loyal and down-to-earth guy. More importantly, he has a child like passion for music (and movies). Bring up Gov't Mule or Warren Haynes and kiss at least an hour goodbye while he froths at the mouth.
The two of them talked me into a shot of Patron, which I almost never do. Not that I have a problem expressing myself without a shot, but with one, it was on. I was going in for the kill and wasn't subtle about it. The conversation went something like this:
Me: "You know what I would do if I was president of MTV?" (Courtney starts to crack up knowing my "smooth tendencies".)
Van: "What that's Beavis?" (His nickname for me as he rolled his eyes having heard this from me at least twice a month for years.)
Me: "I would book a relatively unknown (in the U.S.) band to perform on the VMAs. One without a hit yet."
Van: "I assume you have a band in mind, genius?" (Sarcastically, of course)
Me: "Florence + The Machine"
He knew whom the band was and MTV was playing their video a bit. I spent the next few minutes like a preacher spewing the gospel. I swear I heard Courtney continually saying "go tell it" before he detailed his Coachella experience. Van then calmly sent himself an email about it via his Blackberry. That was it for the night.
But this was a mission and I wasn't about to leave it there. I'm not going to lie, for the next few months I tortured Van Toffler. I mean that in the best sense of the word "torture". I called. I emailed. I sent notes. I told other people to call, email and send notes. All in all, well over 50 times. I would end conversations that had nothing to do with it: "What's up with Florence, are we good?" Florence, Florence. Florence.
It reminded me of another of my favorite movies, Wall Street. I was Bud Fox trying to bag the elephant in Van's Gordon Gekko. I can't find the clip from the movie. Some damn DMCA notice probably forced it down... But Gekko says of Fox: "This is the kid, calls me 59 days in a row, wants to be a player. There ought to be a picture of you in the dictionary under persistence kid". For the record, Charlie Sheen and Michael Douglas unfortunately do not resemble either of us.
In May, Van called with some promising news. "I'm going to London in July to see Florence play live. If we dig it, she's on the show." The ball was rolling. He invited me to join him along with MTV's head of music and talent, Amy Doyle, and producer Jesse Ignjatovic but I had plans I couldn't get out of easily. This moron (me) now clearly regrets that decision.
The show was set for July 15th in London, her hometown. The band had a sell-out headlining gig at the Somerset HouseSummer Series. A venue that is not only breathtaking but as the show's promoter, Raye Cosbert (who also happens to be Amy Winehouse's manager), told Van: "...is older than your country."
Van promised that he would email me throughout the show with updates:
Update 1: "At her show now, miss ya, u should be here"
Update 2: "A few new songs early. Noel Gallagher next to us."
Update 3: "Done. When she dances and sings her ass off, it's magical."
The next day I emailed him to say that the song "Dog Days are Over" would be a great one for her to perform on the VMAs. It just so happened it was now being featured in promos for the new USA Network show, Covert Affairs, as well as the movie Eat Pray Love.
He was already ahead of me: "Yes it is, we're booking her today to do that song thanks to you."
About a month ago, Van was in Los Angeles at Soho House meeting with the band's manager, Maired Nash, to discuss the show. Out of the corner of his eye he sees Courtney walking over. He introduces them. Courtney then stands there and stares at Van with a big grin. They both explain how their friend was a huge fan and obsessed with getting the band on the show and how it had all led up to this. He called me later that week and jokingly said: "Beavis, truth be told, had our buddy not been there, they wouldn't know who the hell you are or what you did." Of course, I know that's not true. One of Van's many great traits is that he's always been one to give credit where credit is due.
Does it matter that the manager or band knew what I did? I'll admit it, yes it does. I'm a fan no different than any other. It made me feel pretty great.
I want to be very clear that at the end of the day, Florence + The Machine were booked on the VMAs for no other reason beyond their talent and MTV's belief in them. The VMAs have a history of featuring bands that have not broken yet. For example, they did just that last year with the first U.S. television performance by Muse. Today, there are more ways to expose fans to new music than ever before, and even so, MTV is still a kingmaker.
I'm proud (and really excited) to have played a small part in helping to get an artist I was passionate about on a show that a lot of people watch.
Up until now, their debut album, Lungs, has sold about 115,000 copies in the U.S. Her video "Dog Days Are Over" was nominated for four awards, including video of the year.
She recently said: "For this song to be recognized at such an iconic event is a total dream... Dog Days symbolizes apocalyptic euphoria, chaotic freedom and running really, really fast with your eyes closed. I hope to somehow encapsulate those things in my performance."
The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 12, at 9 p.m. That night, Florence + The Machine will crush it. They will undoubtedly leave the artists and fans attending, as well as those watching, with those chills. It's an important night for the band and they will break in America. When that is done: mission accomplished.
And that is what Goodfellas, music, chills, social media, DVR, tequila, torture, Wall Street, persistence, The Terminator, and the MTV Video Music Awards have to do with me and Florence + The Machine.