• 48 Posts
  • 72 Comments
Joined 1 year ago
Cake day: August 5th, 2023
  • jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.worldtoVideos@lemmy.world•The Playlistification of Music | Venus Theory
    3·
    6 months ago

    @NotJustBikes 9 months ago

    I’m am not, and have never been a professional musician, but I was in the music scene in the 90s and was in a few bands, so I spent a lot of time with people who were trying to “make it”.

    In those pre-internet days, the only way you were going to get anywhere as a musician was by getting signed to a label. Obviously everyone wanted the big labels that would have the most marking dollars, but there were smaller “indie” labels, too. It was very time consuming and expensive to record a demo tape, and the quality was pretty bad. A lot of your promotional work was about playing live shows. Then try to sell a handful of tapes while you were there to cover your costs.

    Independently creating music was basically impossible. We booked studio time in the middle of the night with a college student who was studying audio engineering to record our demo. Our guitarist’s dad funded it, but most people didn’t have that luxury. Ultimately though, the end product (CD) sounded pretty bad.

    Ultimately, everybody was trying to write a “radio-friendly” song that would get picked up by a label. But even if you did get signed, the deal you got was terrible. You weren’t making any money until your 3rd album, and I knew people who had signed with a label, but still made almost all of their money by selling T-shirts at live shows.

    Ultimately, getting noticed as a musician has always been difficult. Before, the gatekeepers were the record labels and radio stations. Now it’s the record labels and streaming services.

    I would argue though that the situation is way better today than it ever has been. You can record an effectively perfect-quality album on your home computer at relatively low cost. There are way more marketing opportunities with the Internet, like forums, YouTube, and Bandcamp. That does mean that a lot of people are competing with you, but at least you could conceivably have a music career now without ever signing a garbage deal with a record label, so I consider that a win.

  • jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.worldtoVideos@lemmy.world•Why Israel Exists - uncivilized
    3·
    6 months ago

    Short Summary

    1. The video discusses the historical background of Israel’s existence, including the partition of Palestine and Jewish immigration to the region.
    2. It highlights the geopolitical complexities surrounding Israel’s unconditional support by the West, particularly the United States.
    3. The narrative delves into the origins of political Zionism in the late 19th century, emphasizing the European context and imperialist motivations behind the movement.
    4. The British role in facilitating the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine, as outlined in the Balfour Declaration, is also examined.
    5. The video underscores the intertwined interests of British imperialism and Zionist objectives, leading to the transformation of Palestine through mass Jewish immigration and capital influx.
    6. It discusses the historical context of the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis, focusing on the period from 1918 to 1947.
    7. The impact of British colonialism, Palestinian resistance against British and Zionist forces, and the eventual establishment of the state of Israel are highlighted.
    8. The video touches on Palestinian resistance movements, the partition of Palestine, and the violent clashes that ensued, leading to significant casualties and displacement of Palestinians.
    9. It also mentions the role of Western powers, particularly the United States, in supporting Israel strategically in the region.
    10. The video suggests that a new world order is being defined as Western hegemony declines, calling for global political participation to shape a more just and equitable future.

    The Balfour Declaration was a public statement issued by the British Government in 1917 during the First World War announcing its support for the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine, then an Ottoman region with a small minority Jewish population.

  • jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.worldtoVideos@lemmy.world•Robin D. G. Kelley: Working-Class Democracy and the Question of Palestine
    2·
    6 months ago

    edit: fixed format error

    Summary

    1. In the “Robin D.G. Kelley: Working-Class Democracy and the Question of Palestine” YouTube video, historian and journalist Robin D.G. Kelley pays tribute to the late historian and activist Bob Fitch, discussing the importance of working-class democracy and solidarity in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Kelley highlights the historical connections between the struggles of black Americans and Palestinians, drawing on Fitch’s critique of the labor left’s focus on union democracy at the expense of working-class democracy. The speaker also discusses the role of labor unions in Palestine during the Israeli occupation, criticizing the exploitation of Palestinian workers and the suppression of labor democracy. Kelley emphasizes the need for international solidarity and nonviolent tactics like boycotts and general strikes to challenge Israel’s settler colonialism. The video also touches on the historical context of Israel’s founding and its impact on Palestinians, as well as the role of organized labor in Palestine before and after the Nakba.

    Short Summary

    1. Karen Miller welcomes the audience to the 13th annual Robert Fitch Memorial lecture, live-streamed by Boston Review.
    2. Karen introduces the speaker, Robin G. Kelly, and mentions previous speakers of the lecture series.
    3. Doug Henwood will introduce Robin G. Kelly, providing background information about Doug and his work.
    4. Doug talks about his friendship with Bob Fitch and reflects on Bob’s work, including his analysis of New York City in his book “The Assassination of New York.”
    5. Doug describes Bob as warm and generous, expressing his feelings of missing him as a friend and thinker.
    6. The video transcript discusses the analysis of Eric Adams, the cop and austerity mayor of New York City, criticized for shady company dealings despite his love for law enforcement.
    7. The speaker points out the absence of a crime wave in the city contrary to what figures like Donald Trump and Adams suggest.
    8. The speaker highlights the history of solidarity between Palestinians and Black Americans, critiquing the labor left’s focus on union democracy over working-class democracy.
    9. Robin G. Kelly emphasizes the importance of thinking with Bob Fitch and addressing the situation in Palestine through a labor or working-class lens.
    10. The transcript delves into the exploitation of Palestinian labor by Israel, particularly focusing on the period between 1970 and 1994, highlighting challenges faced by Palestinian workers in terms of wages, working conditions, and lack of services.
  • jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.worldtoVideos@lemmy.world•How Trump is Following Hitler's Playbook | Robert Reich
    34·
    6 months ago

    Short Summary

    1. Discusses how Trump or someone like him could potentially turn America into a fascist state in five steps.
    2. The first step involves using threats of violence to gain power, as seen with Trump’s attempts to intimidate voters and election officials in 2020.
    3. The second step is to consolidate power by turning every arm of government into a tool of the party, similar to Hitler’s actions in purging non-Nazis from the civil service.
    4. The third step is to establish a police state, with Trump planning to deploy troops for immigration raids and crackdowns on crime.
    5. The fourth step is to jail the opposition, with Trump openly threatening to prosecute his opponents and remake the Justice Department for personal vendettas.
    6. The final step is to undermine the free press, as a fascist regime needs to control the flow of information, which Trump has been attacking and threatening to punish news outlets.
    7. The video emphasizes the importance of recognizing the threat of fascism and taking action to prevent it from taking hold.