Music Sound, Musical Talent

Sound familiar? The world of commerce is filled with a myriad of products and companies in similar predicaments. A great idea is only that, unless it is executed well in the marketplace-but few ever are.

In fact, they frequently fail to leave the space of their inventors’ brains. Just because a product may be technologically better than an existing one doesn’t mean it will automatically squash its competitors. The same holds true for the role of talent in the formula for creating music megastars.

Stephen Swid, founder of Spin magazine and chairman of SESAC, Inc., explains, “Sure, the core of what you produce has to be at an acceptable level, let’s say at least a seven in terms of music sound and quality. But, after that, it’s what happens in the areas of image (design, visuals, marketing) and delivery (performance experience) that makes one band a phenomenon and the other a flop.” He adds, “In competitive arenas, which the music business definitely is, not everyone that is successful can be the best, but each has to be good enough to deserve a spot on the field. If everyone were the best, then there would only be one brand of everything-from toothpaste to rock star-and that would make for a boring world.” It takes more than quality for a product or a company to succeed in the marketplace, just as it requires more than musical talent for a band to reach megastar status. Some call it passion; some call it fire in thebelly enthusiasm. Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones describes it as a force that just takes over. At the opening for a collection of his paintings held at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he explained his passion for art-in this instance painting rather than music. “When I’m really grabbed by it, there’s nothing I can do. I just have to drop everything.