Recent Endevours

So it's like 22:10 and I find myself still in the office. Not that I'm complaining, in some sadistic manner I kinda like it this way as unlike the normal work schedule, I get up around 9 (ten-ish..) and then have breakfast, shower, brush my teeth and reply to early morning/overseas emails on the blackberry before heading to edgware rd tube station and jumping on the tube to get to work nr moorgate. It isn't too much of trek, only about 25 minutes door to door and it's been wonderful for my reading ethics.

So yeah, I work/banter with other manager between around 12-6 then everyone else leaves and that's when I start the real work. I find that if you email later at night then you get responses early in the morning before everyone really digs into their day's work.

Highlights of this week including Sone Aluko, laughing at Chelsea losing out on Robinho, American Gangster, an American folk artist called AA Bondy and my Cullen Skink. Yep, that is right. I made Cullen Skink - and I'll tell you what; My very culinary intelligent flatmates stated that it might have been the best soup they ever tasted (and I don't even think they were lying!). Take that Subway! One will now endevour to cook for himself as much as possible.

This weekend I'll probably fire on with some work and watch a bunch of movies, I'll probably end up heading to the Rob Roy (Scottish/Dons supporters pub) to watch the Scotland game and then hopefully (I'm unsure of times..), they'll show the Andy Murray v. Nadal match. If not, BBC 606 it will be.

I'll tell you what though, I'm glad there isn't a transfer window every week, I was up nearly all night glued to the Berbatov saga.

Recently read books have all been business/work related I'm afraid. Here goes...

• The Tipping Point - Malcolm Gladwell
• The Future of Music; Manifesto for the digital music revolution
• The Rules of Management - Richard Templar
• How to Start an Independant Record Label
• The Music Managers Bible

The Future of Music was an especially enlightening and interesting read. It basically maps out how they (David Kusek and Gerd Leonhard) see things panning out over the next 3 years in the music business. It's quite coincidental, but these guys work as prinicipals at Berkelee School of Music in Boston, probably the main music college and the States and they actually lecture Kelly, an ex girlfriend of mines (See previous post - aspiring rock star/transatlantic blah blah blah), and I'm actually quite jealous as those dudes are switched on.

They basically say that they see music become an entity that surrounds you like say Water/Electricity/Phones/Internet and that although you will have the option to still buy CD's, you'll be able to access music wirelessly and digitally through any medium that is connected to the internet i.e. pay £10 a month and your phone/itunes/ipod/especially built hifi systems will have access to a database of millions of artists/songs/albums that you can stream, and then for a little more, for the sake of argument say £2; you can buy the record.

Personally, I think it's about right, although for this to happen there has to be a major change in copyright law and also a big standown from major labels. It'll happen though, because majors are losing money hand over fist and nobody's buying CD's anymore. Happy days I think.

I also think that Radio 1 and music publications will continue to become more and more irrelevant as people continue to become empowered by web sites such as myspace and the thousands of music blogs out there. Already, some independantly written music blogs are getting more hits in a day than people buy the NME in a week. I think it's brilliant because although technologically music will be more advanced as ever, it's just an up to date version of tape swapping or making mixtapes and the band's that will become the most successful are the ones that ultimately write the best songs and connect with the people to the most personal level. Gone are the days of HUGE marketing budgets and back handers to radio stations dictating what people buy and like.

Anyways, hope that makes sense; I think I actually wrote that more for myself than anyone else - hope it wasn't too boring.

Looks like the family are heading down in October which will be great times. Heading to Cornwall for Astro Firs next weekend, then going to Prague of all places for a show on 2nd October; My first overseas 'business' trip since Seatronics days (and not a bilge/haul in site!)

If you have a minute, take a look at Kris from Edgar Prais doing an acoustic number for online TV

Take Care,

JA x