Younger Guard

Howie Klein, former President of Reprise, responds to Doug Morris's interview in Wired here As a former A&R person, had I continually missed on opportunities on artists that touched the commercial masses I would have lost my job (fired by someone like Howie, although I never worked for him). By his own admission, he failed to execute on what could have been a industry saving "catalyst" due to corporate "experts"? As more and more of these guys get out the first thing you always hear is that it was someone else's fault (except for all those records that touched so many people, that was solely due to them).

Old Guard

I used to work for Doug Morris at Atlantic Records. In fact it was Doug who gave me my first A&R job for which I am indebted to him for. But as much as I admire Doug as a record man, this current article in Wired here really makes him look as though his time has passed. I think much of the same can be said of the others who hold court over the record labels as well. As the business of selling cds continues to diminish and their inabilities to adapt and adopt new technologies, the audience for their paradigm has moved on. The question is, have they also left the music behind as well?