Ultimately, to insist that rock criticism be political is first to insist that the humans who make and enjoy music are embroiled in politics whether they like it or not - and whether they know it or not.
Robert ChristgauRead
One thing is that I wasn't getting booked that well, and they had control over who got the awards, they had control over who sold. And they really did not want Willie or me, either one, to have a hit record. They wanted the money, but they didn't want us to be the ones.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote addresses the struggles faced by artists in gaining recognition and control over their careers.
Waylon Jennings reflects on the challenges he and Willie Nelson faced in the music industry, highlighting the power dynamics that exist where decision-makers often prioritize profit over the artistic contributions of musicians. This quote speaks to the difficulties of achieving success in an industry that can be manipulative and exclusionary, particularly when it comes to recognition and rewards such as awards and hit records.
Themes
MusicIndustryAwardsControlSuccess
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in discussions about the power dynamics in the music industry during a panel talk.
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