3.23.14 How are hits made? Maybe you don't want to know!

From the article Q3 posted on page one:

Eriksen said, “A lot of writers want to be artists. Most of them can sing, and a lot of them can sing really well. But, to be an artist, that’s another story. To be able to perform, to be the person everyone looks at when you walk into the room, with all the publicity and touring, and then to be able to get that sound on the record—that’s not easy. You can be a great singer, but when you hear the record it’s missing something.”

What is that? I asked.

Eriksen thought for a while. “It’s a fat sound,” he said, “and there’s a sparkle around the edges of the words.”

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Nothing to add.

Just read the thread and here is my take on this IG.

1. The man who bootstrapped his GNT so that he did not risk his own money, who does paid appearance when he is touring and doing on-off concerts, who uses Instagram regularly because he has a deal with them, who had the best management, lawyers, accountants and financial advisers in the entertainment business is NOT spend $2 million of his own money to run a writing camp with Max Martin. Remember this is Adam, the man who reworked things from his closet for Lifeball.

2. I am 99.99999999999% sure that Adam is talking about taking risks, "Go for Broke" if not "Going Broke". It means "to wager everything". Money is not everything to Adam, his art, his music, his self is everything.

3. I disagree that if Adam does not have a bit Top 40 hit this time, he is done. He is only 32. Top 40 hits are allusive and hard to come by but often happen to older male artists. Sometimes people "Get Lucky", strike "Titanium" or see "BLurred Lines". But this album needs to sell and make an impact.

4. MAX MARTIN has never worked with an indie artist. There is NO chance he is working for weeks with an indie artist now. Max makes his money when a song gets massive radio airplay and gets lots of sales. A bit hit is literally worth millions of dollars to him. He only works with an artist when he has a guarantee that 1. he gets a single, and 2. that single will be promoted, and 3. the single will have a big label behind it -- ie Sony or UMG global distribution. Not possible! Just not.

5. If Adam was not signed, he would be working in LA and working with people who would work without upfront money. He is a smart business man. Max Martin does not do that. He gets a guarantee.

Finally -- Max Martin is the most successful person in pop music. He is not always successful but he wrote 17 #1 hits for multiple artists. He is rich enough to do whatever he wants, to work with whoever he wants, and he wants to work with Adam. For the bit I know about Max Martin, it is not because he loves Adam, it is because 1. Adam must have someone powerful behind him and UMG, and 2. He believe Adam can be a superstar.

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And seriously guys, Adam goes and visits Sauli and we have them secretly back together. Forget it. They had coffee in LA too. And were at some of the same parties. They are friends.

I tend to agree. I also think some fans have romanticized the Adam-Brad and the Adam-Sauli relationships. Some of these fantasies, and some of the fanfics are haircurlingly weird.

I am often surprised at the stuff fans post online for Adam to see. The Adam-Tommy fanfics are the absolute bottom for me. Must be weird for Adam to read. And he has commented on it at least once.

So, if fans want to speculate about Adam and Sauli, OK by me. The only time it bothers me is when people post and leave out the speculation part. The "I think...", or "I bet...." or "I hope....". And change it to "I know....". That is just not sensible. So unless Adam shares something or call you up personally to discuss, just keep in the part that acknowledges that it is speculation.

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But fans have to be fans -- each in our own ways. I prefer to focus on the music and career aspects, and Adam public persona. I am probably the only Adam mavin who does not recognize his old swimming pool or know when Sauli and Adam last were photographed together. But, I do not exactly how many units were sold of all his releases, and when he covered specific songs, and I do know a bit about music.