Steve Albini On The Music Industry

[@synthmalicious7541]

It’s like they locked him up in a basement and forced him to give this interview

[@briansmith9455]

"THE CAMERA IS OFF, PUT YOUR PANTS BACK.ON, ALBINI!!" 😆🤣😆

[@elevateaudioengineering4892]

Is the the green room at Metro??

[@eeyorehaferbock7870]

You think THEY locked HIM in that basement forced HIM to talk? 😁

[@WritingOnGames]

This video has influenced my approach to music, art and creativity more than perhaps anything else I've ever encountered. Rest easy Steve.

[@buddhull]

Have you read The Problem With Music or his letter to Nirvana? If not, Albini penned them in the 90s and both are easily available to read for free online while offering similar insight, just in longer form. Steve lived as he preached and he’ll be missed.

[@HT0o0]

Love the channel! As a game dev he's also influenced so much of how I approach my craft within the confines of a greed fuelled industry

[@Mraquanetchris]

​@@buddhull He definitely starts referencing Nirvana and other points in the interview.

[@trahtybarahty]

"We don`t have to use music as a tool to generate money" Steve Albini

[@dkizxpt-su3ze]

How else is a musician meant to generate money for themselves?

[@caprise-music6722]

@@dkizxpt-su3ze he’s not talking about the musicians/bands. He’s talking about the corpo f***s

[@californiadaze]

@@dkizxpt-su3ze Well, if I'm understanding Steve correctly, the whole idea of musicians needing to generate money for themselves doesn't necessarily need to be tied to the art they're making. In fact, earning money elsewhere is a way to stay true to your artistic values and integrity, because the decisions you make to earn money to live and be comfortable, won't have any bearing on your art. He says: “[…] we’ll just carry on working at our day jobs for a while and make money and pay rent. we don't have to use music as a tool to generate money. i think that's an option that's open to everyone. i think everyone could treat music that way. in fact, earning money elsewhere is a way to stay true to your artistic values and integrity. its in a way, a heuristic presumption to think that you can be purely a musician and that the rest of the world will pay you for the privilege hearing your music. i think that's, a little bit naive in some cases and grossly overstating your importance in other cases. in any case, it makes it harder for you to do things that you’re comfortable and happy with if you have to use your art as a way of generating your income... then your inexorably linking your lifestyle and your personal comfort with the decisions you make for your art.” “[...] very, very few people should expect to do it professionally. very few people should expect to do it as a career. and most of the tension, within any artistic endeavor comes from the mistaken presumption that anyone who wants to, can be a professional artist.”

[@jl9205]

7:48 "If it's a passion first and foremost, you will enjoy it and it will be valid."

[@californiadaze]

@@jl9205 So many great nuggets of wisdom

[@LSD123.]

No wonder Geffen Records and the music industry in general tried to ruin Steve Albini's career.... I think he's a legend.

[@pumas222]

@bytesurfer8651well he’s off spotify

[@pumas222]

@bytesurfer8651 i want you

[@jlouis4407]

@bytesurfer8651He was blacklisted by major labels when he did In Utero, it affected his work for a few years

[@matthewensign9683]

4:00-4:30 Albini defines the fine line between selling out and maintaining artistic integrity.

[@Alianger]

If you're comfortable, you're not selling out

[@alexandermoreau374]

R.I.P. you legend, your legacy will never be forgotten 🖤

[@tonywatson9765]

His legacy of looking at images of children being sexually abused.

[@danielryan8319]

@@tonywatson9765say what?

[@tonywatson9765]

@@danielryan8319google steve albini pure fanzine or look up his 1987 tour diary.

[@OmaeWaMoShindeiRYU]

@@danielryan8319 he was a pedo

[@Xythantiops]

Yep... And being a total COVID CUCK/Fascist. Those tweets lambasting anti vaxxers don't seem so smartarse this week.

[@conors4430]

There is a shitload of wisdom in this. almost everything he said is what changed our band experience from a good one to a bad one, and what changed a love to a chore.

[@diment0857]

The man had a sharp mind and integrity, only Frank Zappa could speak with such presence of mind about the industry. RIP Steve Albini

[@aburaiqun6742]

that makes no sense. might wanna loosen the chinstrap on your helmet

[@diment0857]

@@aburaiqun6742 oh yeah? Which part exactly of the "an artist who says "it's a hubristic presumption that you can be purely a musician and the rest of the world will pay you for the privilege of hearing your music (4:40)" shares the same iconoclastic views and work ethic with an artist who names his albums "We're Only In It For The Money" don't you understand, maybe you want me to draw it for you?

[@stevenhenry5267]

Exactly

[@stevenhenry5267]

He had a lot of experience dealing with various aspects at various levels of the business.

[@swampshack1018]

@@aburaiqun6742imagine not understanding his comment and then being an ass about it. He’s here to pay respects to Steve too, stop being a dick

[@sodvar5047]

One of the wisest people in music. I'm not a musician but I saw this video ten years ago, and I like to think it helped me make smarter decisions than I'd have made otherwise. It still resonates strongly.

[@josephhopeless829]

Steve Albini keeps it realer than anyone else I know of. All DIY, refuses to take royalties for the records he *engineers*, says fuck the "big" record companies/contracts/yes men...Nothing but respect man, we should all try and stick to our morals/ethics/whatever the fuck, always.

[@oliverhecker]

Steve Albini is the kind of guy who puts periods at the end of his sentences!

[@mick5137]

And he's the kind of guy who uses obliged instead of "obligated."

[@TheMentalblockrock]

You're saying Steve Albini is the kind of guy who has periods???

[@MasterWilczu]

@@TheMentalblockrock His guitars kinda bleed doe

[@TheMentalblockrock]

@@MasterWilczu Well he wanted Elizabeth Warren for EL Prezzidente so it would not surprise me if he was a guy who is happy to "have periods".!

[@lonesomelenny7606]

Steve has an easy listening voice and very insightful approach to any subject. Way too young to have passed on. RIP.

[@phnigra111]

One of my favorite Steve Albini interviews to come back and listen to every so often.. Such a big loss to music and just an interesting human being in general. RIP 🥀🔥

[@WonsPhreely]

I'd like to have a drink with Steve Albini, he is a wise man!

[@matteframe]

he doesn't drink... lole

[@yeahyuh6580]

He's a healthy guy

[@davethehostage]

I'm always curious as to what people think their subject would get out of this hypothetical "drink". What would you two talk about beyond you vocalizing your admiration for him or probing him for details about his work? Not (just) trying to be an ass; genuinely curious about how you think this conversation would go.

[@buddhull]

davethehostage *glug glug glug* . . . * braaaaap* “Steve! Steve? NIR-VANA!!! What was did it to Kurt is to when it even do happen to things?”

[@stickymeat88]

I mean, it was probably a lot different in the fuckin 80s and 70s. I'm sure with rent control/cost of living at that time, it was easier to make a living off of even being an "artist" or even a debutant. He is right though, making expression into a paying job would basically contrive it, albeit to a certain extent.

[@entitledfreedom]

It hurts to know he's gone, rest in peace legend

[@HugeGene]

Words of wisdom, for sure. The most important thing about creating Art or Music is to bring beauty into this world. It must be the essential reason for doing your Art. If it brings money, fine.. just don't let that be a motivating factor.

[@supak108]

I agree with Albini on not having the hubristic entitlement that you are going to make a living from your art but when one is deeply passionate about anything artistic, whether it be music, literature, film, or whatever, it is very difficult to separate artistic passion with realistic outlook. Maybe it gets easier with age. That's my two cents youtube.

[@GregLopesArt]

Steve will have my respect forever, a lot of insightful remarks and a true lesson here! But on your comment. You know, been doing art my whole life. Be it with a guitar, ink or improvising words like a mad poet. The only moment I cared about money, was at 27 when my grandma died, my mom got sick, and I finally entered the college. Still, can't imagine my life without art, just look at my channel. Money? Well, I wish I could pay a five stars suite hotel in Chicago, one night, me and the girl I love if she cared. And pay the health insurance plan monthly not for me, but for my parents and her (yeah, poor dreamer here). I try to be realistic. But every artist carries the weight of a billion possibilities every time he wakes up in the morning. The reality is too bland, sometimes. I keep fighting, maybe someday...

[@supak108]

Greg Lopes The weight of a billion possibilities is a great way to put it. The burden acts as the salvation

[@GetOffMyLawnRecords]

That's a healthy outlook. We had a good conversation on our podcast.

[@stargazer4146]

@@GregLopesArt ❤️❤️ what about now?

[@GregLopesArt]

Star Gazer Hey. Well things didn’t change that much :) Still thinking about the health insurance. Lol. It’s very important. About that girl I mentioned before, I wish her happiness. As always doing my “art” or whatever it may be... still can’t imagine my life without it. Life always finds a way of forcing you to be realistic, though. But as I said, there’s always possibilities. Maybe one of them will make it possible for me to change things for the better. Thanks for asking 👍

[@neonvandal8770]

This guy talks pure sense - How many genius artists in the last 80 years have been fucked over because they didnt know what the word "industry" means- Resource(Artist) goes in one end, and gets spat out once the machine has used all its energy -Your signed to the industry to keep the machinery of the industry going -not your career .

[@lincoln7184]

Steve cares not whether anyone approves of him. That's a rare gift and the secret to his success I think.

[@jlouis4407]

That’s how anybody who is worth a 💩 thinks

[@drhall343]

I feel like Albini could be a character in the movie Slacker.

[@jaybone23]

Remember...Taylor Swift's parents were rich. She didn't get huge virtually overnight cuz she's particularly talented. She does write her own material, which differs from many other pop artists, but her material is also seemingly all the same shit.

[@leighfoulkes7297]

Her work is super shallow on top of that and as well as personal attacks on former lovers (for not being perfect humans, probably).

[@DS-ff6ze]

why do ppl feel the need to bash artists to promote their own. can't ppl just listen to music without all this identity politics.

[@LSD123.]

@@leighfoulkes7297 It was people like her who killed music.

[@specialsnowflake9097]

Max Martin writes for her

[@asentientroomba8054]

@@LSD123. oh fuck off with that nonsense. Nothing has “killed music”. It’s still very alive and she’s no worse than popular acts from decades past.

[@Saved_Soul95]

This video was uploaded on my 15th birthday 🎂 May 9th 2010 RIP 🪦 Steve Albini

[@mfadillahs]

"Keep our heads above water"

[@Tijuanagenius]

S P I D E R L A N D

[@kenneth12355]

Big Black is a great band. 

[@artrogue4150]

Big Black was the sound track of my 80s. rest in peace Steve.

[@landofthesilverpath5823]

This isn't just good advice for musicians. It's great advice for life for an artist of any medium. "If it's a passion first and foremost, you will enjoy it and it will be valid. And if you expect it to be your job as well, eventualy I think you will come to resent it.. in the way most people resent their job." People do jobs so they can have a life, including creativity, in their free time. The only drawback is that when art is your job, you have nearly unlimited time to perfect your craft. However, the tragedy is that professional artists very often do work they do not find fulfilling, but they must do for commercial reasons. And then, on their own time, they are too taxed to do the art they truly want to do. Very few professional artists get to do exactly what they want as their profession, whithout restraint or expectation.

[@brandonharris9160]

I cried so hard when I found out the news. Steve Albini cared so much about doing things authentically and being realistic. Truly one in a billion in work ethic, knowledge, and precision in work. Rest in peace brother. Thanks so much for the amazing music productions. Nobody will ever care like you did

[@wesleywild-s9x]

Google him a bit you might change your mind 🤮

[@antigen4]

fantastic life advice for any endeavour. Thank you so much for this... it's easily 'ported' to other areas of life...

[@patrickthompson9022]

dang, thank you Steve Albini. Great thoughts.

[@user-ob9zo9cr4c]

I could listen him/it for hours

[@bryandraughn9830]

Very sound advice. Making music is a wonderful thing. Making a living making music is hell on earth. There are exceptions once in a great while, but how does one go about being an exception?

[@andreapetricca5043]

Sei stato la colonna sonora della mia gioventù, le emozioni che mi hai fatto provare sono state uniche ed irripetibili, mi hai mostrato tutto lo schifo della vita e hai aumentato il mio disprezzo per il prossimo, e di questo non potrò che ringraziarti. Speravo solo che fossi immortale ... Grazie di tutto ...

[@unwovendreams]

Fucking genius. I’m beyond humbled to have found out about him. .

[@NoSuchThing99]

...and also, the expectations come from us seeing so many non-talented people being praised and showered with money and fame, that makes people who know they have talent expect just as much if not more.

[@eyesintheskies]

True the house always wins! R.I.P(retty sure heaven is an analogue domain!)

[@kenderson3117]

5:00 is something a lot of people need to hear, but also I slightly don't agree. Becoming a professional in art is like tricking the world into believing that you are important enough, and if you successfully do it then you are important enough.

[@JamesDeWeaver]

Well said.

[@juvedoo99]

The issue is when you begin to lack the self awareness to realize you’re not really that important. Staying grounded is essential for being artistically genuine .

[@dbass4973]

rest in peace legend

[@meedily]

He's pretty insightful. I was surprised, however, that he stated that many artists overvalue their importance by thinking the world will simply pay them for their service of music. After working in studios for awhile, you begin to resent the megalomaniacs known as musicians. Not all of them, of course, but enough...

[@DehumanizingSounds]

And I believe it was Scott Litt, REM's main producer while on Warner records, that was brought in by the company to remix All Apologies and Heart Shaped Box, coincidentally, the album's biggest singles. Also to that other guy who made the initial comment, the band was relatively pressured to this process that created the rift between Cobain and Albini. Sad since Cobain was a big fan of Albini to even ask him oversee the recording process. Then that shit happens... I stand by Albini 100%

[@Punk93Metal]

Nothing but love and respect for Albini.

[@francescocavallo666]

this is a precious lecture

[@dnon75]

Wow this guy HATES the music industry, rightfully so!

[@LSD123.]

Who doesn't?

[@AnalogOpher]

"..wiggled in front of me like a severed head..." Ok, this dude is a genius.

[@henryspencer9849]

Watching this video again today, I really feel that the world isn't as good without him...

[@peteradams8151]

that is some pro-level lighting lol

[@troygaspard6732]

DIY was the motto of the punk generation, which Steve came out of.

[@fergalohanlonmusic]

Lots of musicians need to hear this!!

[@neilefc877]

He'd be a great guest speaker at colleges

[@GetOffMyLawnRecords]

He was a tremendous interview on our podcast.

[@neilefc877]

Thanks Ill give it a listen

[@ImNotGregGraffin]

He does do college appearances, normally on the topic of sound engineering

[@michaelaurand]

@Jojos25 Are you serious? Kurt was obviously joking, did you not see Dave and Krist laugh? I have NEVER heard of a producer being paid a flat rate of $2 million to produce one album. Steve Albini was a moderately-known indie producer in 1993, there's no way in Hell a record label would give, or even loan, that kind of money to him. Albini told Charles Cross in Cobain's bio "Heavier Than Heaven" that his producer fee was $100,000 to record "In Utero" with no mechanical royalties. So THAT's it.

[@soundofdinca]

lots of gems here

[@shedontanks]

Does anyone know what size underpants Steve Albini wears? There's a special offer on at Debenhams, buy one 3 pack get another one half price and I was thinking of buying some for him.

[@householdrecordings]

What? Hahahaha

[@bonmot7850]

Steve doesn't trust corporate underwear, he makes his own.

[@GetOffMyLawnRecords]

email him and ask.

[@patriciagullickson9591]

Idon'twanttochangemynameOK ??????

[@marcuswellby1]

Just buy some with plenty of "shellac "

[@latitudepost]

I always enjoy listening to Albini's input on stuff like this. He was a real maverick. However, one thing that I think that often gets overlooked when viewing commercial success within the music industry is how random a lot of it can seem to be. Hence the never ending discussions about why this band should have made it and why that band didn't deserve their success etc. The truth is that it is a shit business. But if you are a real musician and really live and breathe it then none of this should bother you.

[@__________________________MARK]

what a goddamned legend.

[@cranklabexplosion-labcentr8245]

"Those who speak the truth will be hated."

[@colbyshea5915]

He’s right and this is why he ended up changing his mind about the digital format. Anything to decrease the hold that greedy interfering music labels have over musicians is a good thing and gives more autonomy to the creators of the music

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

RIP, Steve.

[@oozingpussbrain1130]

I keep this attitude we play free gigs & don't even stay together all the time. We just play when we feel like it. At times we suck and sound ok but always get loaded and have fun with friends.

[@frankbonarrigo6086]

He was a journalism major in college and it shows

[@hypgnosis3159]

I don't agree with everything Steve says, (mostly sampling and related stuff) but he had many good points and spoke many truths... RIP Steve

[@carlcrompton542]

excellent sound advice from someone who knows thanks

[@alanatwood1243]

My best friend toured Europe for 2 weeks. His net paycheck? $270.00.Twelve shows; $270.00.

[@BenDover-qi3qm]

he left some weed on the table

[@28g34ajbsd]

@johngoff There's like maybe a 100 acts in the States that can make a living out of it, provided the Pitchfork geekdom hails them. Otherwise they never pass the $1000-per-gig-mark. Not everyone turns out to be Wolf Parade or My Morning Jacket. Most peeps can scrape by if on intensive tour 3 months a year in Europe, but only if they don't get sick. Steve Wynn's wife had to go $4000 in debt only to provide him with dental (you know, maintain his instrument?) So yeah, it's pretty rough.

[@AndrewWells]

Love the skiing analogy!!

[@aidanlarcombe]

8:40 all of the "song of the summer" tiktok musicians need to listen to this

[@aburaiqun6742]

requiescat in pace

[@8waysanta]

Albini's dada worked at NASA!

[@CemetarysNeighbor]

wise words

[@mytorment]

I never liked the Albini sound tbh but he was the most refreshingly intelligent/ analytic person, would have loved to met him

[@NovaFeedback1979]

@Justeatmytoast All and good, but Steve is personal friends with Kim Deal and the Breeders. On his website he started a thread about his then girlfriend (now wife) Heather playing marching cymbals on stage with The Breeders. This post is dated from June of 08. Kim Deal doesn't personally hate Albini.

[@theageofdistraction]

RIP

[@MoonshineH]

So based.

[@tickedoffnow]

the industry is really a shark-tank

[@jlouis4407]

They are slaves to the man, they may be lucky enough to be high paid slaves for a while, but still slaves

[@yoseanantoniotorres8597]

Genius!

[@holygroove2]

Wisdom from an older time.

[@NovaFeedback1979]

@Justeatmytoast His recording studio has a website with a message board that he posts on all the time. The guy isn't sexist at all. Check out the site and you will get an even better impression of the guy.

[@causticgrip8329]

Wherever this was filmed, I hope Albini got his pack of coffee and cigarettes for it.

[@minedarea]

Steve Albini is cool. Smoking is cool.

[@JamesDeWeaver]

Sheer genius!

[@gsboss]

nobody cites anything, everyone thinks they are right [youtube comments]

[@kix7711therealone]

I never went to the store (I'm much to young). I think I first heard about the label when I got the Pailhead 12".

[@thepriceofreality]

brilliant! :)

[@19eightyforeisnow]

Hes basically explaing punk rock diy culture...rip...

[@kalmantzvi1]

Autodidact personified!

[@azaz...]

that was interesting from start to finish

[@HanrahanJoel21]

this guy' knows his shit

[@gonzalooteroseyfarth7200]

Capo de los capos

[@iotarask77]

Wondering about Steve‘s influence on Kurt Cobain in regards to getting out of being a part of the music industry. In particular in late 93 Kurt wanted to get out badly (this is confirmed in his death letter), everyone can see he had no passion doing the In Utero shows in Europe, it was just required to fulfill the contract. And Kurt‘s greedy wife wanted him to sign more deals and do e.g. Lolapalooza which he finally refused. And suddenly he turns up dead after he started to say no. The leeches make an intervention about his drug abuse, but wasn‘t it more about getting him back in line to continue the job that makes them rich?

[@user-ob9zo9cr4c]

rip

[@NovaFeedback1979]

@zbs28 Steve's accomplishments as a musician and as a recording engineer have been far from mediocre. The bands he works/has worked with are far from mediocre. He is just against the commercialization of music in the corporate world and the notion that music is defined in terms of 'careerism'.

[@gnomefuel]

there’s also folks who make art not to generate income or overstate their importance but who are misread as having ambitions to. i never wanted to be a career artist of capitalism yet because i paint i am held to those standards and it’s silly.

[@jlouis4407]

No nonsense Steve

[@mattsheezy5469]

If you listen to the cadence in which Steve spoke, he sounds a lot like Cobain.

[@MoonshineH]

Yooo you're right

[@madfokkers]

He is Harry Potter - MAGIC!!!

[@Soundeagle3456]

grow up, his mind and lifestyle matter more then his quirky glasses

[@huseyin0topaloglu]

I wish I were half the human he is.

[@phillipdrummond]

Pure game

[@teddybears4life240]

EVERYTHING HE JUST FUCKING SAID IS WHY KURT BLEW HIS BRAINS OUT...CORPORATIONS KILLED THAT MAN. IM FUCKING SOOOOOOOO SAD RIGHT NOW. 😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥

[@lollipola]

Steve Albini is cool. He's even cooler since he quit smoking.

[@JamesNaked]

Yeah....Yeah ....Agents and Managers.....Say What?

[@j4mbs]

Not everyone that 'gets paid for their art', but people who expect it to be their job. Two different things. If you play music, or maybe paint, sculpt, write, etc. occasionally or very often, and you receive money for it, that's one thing. If you NEED to produce x amount of paintings, sculptures, words, or songs to be able to sustain yourself, then invariably you will come to feel some kind of disappointment or resentment towards your job. Just like every human being does at one time or another.