Can Music Survive the Music Industry?

Texas Enterprise Speaker Series Gary Powell


Big Ideas from the University of Texas? You bet! Special Projects Marketing Manager Gayle Hight, at the Red McCombs School of Business, has invited me to speak at the Texas Enterprise Speaker Series. Having attended one of these presentations, I can report that they might be described as an extended TedTalk across a wide range of topics offering extraordinary insights with practical solutions from outstanding communicators. I am happy and honored to be included in this bunch of exceptional people. Please join us on September, 5, 2013.

EVENT DESCRIPTION
“The business of music has been failing ever since some prehistoric herdsman improvised a song to his favorite yak. Unfortunately, he did this without the protection of representation or intellectual property law. Long before Spotify, the downward trend had begun. Burdened with the unwieldy underpinnings of avarice and corruption, the makers of music have suffered. From the court of King Frederick II of Prussia to present-day corporate strategies, the music, this natural vessel for humanity’s understanding of itself, has also suffered. Why? We now curry favor by offering the promise of celebrity in trade for legal control and ownership of intellectual property. The musicians are left fallow, land plowed but not planted, and not just causing, but demanding their property be anything but intellectual. The story of this business model now has an upside: the liberation of talent by supporting musical aspiration with effective yet seldom-implemented business strategies. ~ Gary Powell

THE ISSUES

  • How can artists find the balance of income versus artistic freedom?
  • What business and artistic strategies can contribute to musicians developing and adopting informed decisions in creating a sustainable life-style?
  • Despite the egregious nature of this profession, why does it endure?
  • THE TAKEAWAY

  • How digital technological advancements effect both music and profits.
  • How to identify young people who seem to have all the talent and determination to pursue music as a prudent career choice.
  • How to determine which educational construct will support a music student’s breadth of talent.
  • How to support performing musicians and recording artists individually and systemically, regardless of celebrity.
  • How music effects the world’s cultural expansion and developmental losses.
  • FOR QUESTIONS contact Gayle Hight gayle.hight@mccombs.utexas.edu or 512-475-6423
    FOR RESERVATIONS visit Texas Enterprise online.

    Gary Powell Awarded 2008 Austin Toastmasters

    “Achievement in Communications”

    gary powell austin toastmasters award
    On June 24th, the Austin Toastmasters Club presented Gary Powell with their respected “2008 Communication Achievement Award.” The club’s 28th annual banquet was held at the Austin Country Club. Kristi Curry, owner of Survivorship Now, presented the award and introduced Gary Powell.

    No one is quite sure how Mr. Powell was nominated for this award – much less how he won it. Club president, Scotty Burch, suspected foul-play. Others, however, because of the uncommonly beautiful club members, men and women alike, were simply suspicious of illegal Botox being smuggled from Mexico through Mr. Powell’s studio. We will continue to monitor how many Toastmasters’ music careers soon start to blossom. Regardless of the accusations, Gary Powell has the trophy displayed in a place of honor in his Austin recording studio.

    Mr. Powell’s parents, longtime Austinites Max & Jessie Powell, who now reside in Huntsville, Texas were present at the event along with Gary’s life-partner and Austin psychotherapist Amy Person and her parents, Ralph & Peggy Person of Temple, Texas. This was a most gracious evening for Gary Powell, who would like to thank Scotty Burch, Kristi Curry and all the club members who gave him such a graceful reception. Mr. Powell’s speech is best described here by club member and presenter, Kristi Curry.

    Our keynote speaker took us on a tour through the internal spaces of a producer, musician and someone who has a heightened awareness of changing the world with music. He told us how seamy the music business can be, and how this music industry is a barometer of the health of our culture … like canaries in a coal mine. Gary then took us on a tour of what it’s like to compose music. As he played on a baby grand piano, he walked us through the process. He added humor, drama, random thoughts and a little peek into the “other side” of a symphony production. Finally, he brought it all together with how he writes music with the most personal themes. He sang, “In My Palm,” – the lyrics describe what we all could only have wished for from our parents at our birth.” – Kristi Curry

    Past Honorees

    2008, Gary PowellComposer/Producer
    2007, Ronnie EarleTravis County District Attorney
    2006, Sarah Weddington – Attorney, Leadership Philosopher
    2005, Judy MaggioAnchor, CBS-42 K-EYE News
    2004, Kinky FriedmanHumorist, Performer, Mystery Writer
    2003, Liz CarpenterAuthor; Lecturer
    2002, Admiral Bobby InmanVenture Capitalist, Austinite of the Year
    2001, Kirk WatsonMayor, Austin Texas
    2000, Chuck MeyerMinister; Author
    1999, John KelsoHumor Columnist; Author
    1998, Marion WinikAuthor; Lecturer
    1997, Willie KocurekCommunity Leader
    1996, Toody ByrdHumorist; Lecturer
    1995, Lloyd DoggettU.S. Representative
    1994, Cactus PryorHumorist
    1993, Brigid SheaDirector, Save Our Springs
    1992, Nick BarbaroPublisher, The Austin Chronicle
    1991, Molly IvinsSyndicated Columnist
    1990, Ben SargentPolitical Cartoonist
    1989, Wally Pryor – Sports Broadcaster (“Voice of the Longhorns”)
    1988, Gonzalo BarrientosTexas State Senator
    1987, Jodie ConradtU.T. Women’s Basketball Coach
    1986, Barbara JordanLBJ Centennial Chair on National Policy, UT Austin
    1985, Jim HightowerAgricultural Commissioner, State of Texas
    1984, Ann RichardsTreasurer, State of Texas
    1983, Ron Mullen – Mayor, Austin Texas
    1982, Neil SpelceTV News Anchor

    Mr. Powell has agreed to terms with his estate and airs to make the video, which was recorded during his speech at the Austin Toastmasters Club, available for release to the public 25 susan baughman, gary powell, max & jessie powell, helena escalanteyears after his death.

    Pictured at left and from left to right are: Susan Baughman, Max Powell, Gary Powell, Jessie Powell, Helena Escalante.

    gary powell austin toastmasters award
    On June 24th, the Austin Toastmasters Club presented Gary Powell with their respected “2008 Communication Achievement Award.” The club’s 28th annual banquet was held at the Austin Country Club. Kristi Curry, owner of Survivorship Now, presented the award and introduced Gary Powell.

    No one is quite sure how Mr. Powell was nominated for this award – much less how he won it. Club president, Scotty Burch, suspected foul-play. Others, however, because of the uncommonly beautiful club members, men and women alike, were simply suspicious of illegal Botox being smuggled from Mexico through Mr. Powell’s studio. We will continue to monitor how many Toastmasters’ music careers soon start to blossom. Regardless of the accusations, Gary Powell has the trophy displayed in a place of honor in his Austin recording studio.

    Mr. Powell’s parents, longtime Austinites Max & Jessie Powell, who now reside in Huntsville, Texas were present at the event along with Gary’s life-partner and Austin psychotherapist Amy Person and her parents, Ralph & Peggy Person of Temple, Texas. This was a most gracious evening for Gary Powell, who would like to thank Scotty Burch, Kristi Curry and all the club members who gave him such a graceful reception. Mr. Powell’s speech is best described here by club member and presenter, Kristi Curry.

    Our keynote speaker took us on a tour through the internal spaces of a producer, musician and someone who has a heightened awareness of changing the world with music. He told us how seamy the music business can be, and how this music industry is a barometer of the health of our culture … like canaries in a coal mine. Gary then took us on a tour of what it’s like to compose music. As he played on a baby grand piano, he walked us through the process. He added humor, drama, random thoughts and a little peek into the “other side” of a symphony production. Finally, he brought it all together with how he writes music with the most personal themes. He sang, “In My Palm,” – the lyrics describe what we all could only have wished for from our parents at our birth.” – Kristi Curry

    Past Honorees

    2008, Gary PowellComposer/Producer
    2007, Ronnie EarleTravis County District Attorney
    2006, Sarah Weddington – Attorney, Leadership Philosopher
    2005, Judy MaggioAnchor, CBS-42 K-EYE News
    2004, Kinky FriedmanHumorist, Performer, Mystery Writer
    2003, Liz CarpenterAuthor; Lecturer
    2002, Admiral Bobby InmanVenture Capitalist, Austinite of the Year
    2001, Kirk WatsonMayor, Austin Texas
    2000, Chuck MeyerMinister; Author
    1999, John KelsoHumor Columnist; Author
    1998, Marion WinikAuthor; Lecturer
    1997, Willie KocurekCommunity Leader
    1996, Toody ByrdHumorist; Lecturer
    1995, Lloyd DoggettU.S. Representative
    1994, Cactus PryorHumorist
    1993, Brigid SheaDirector, Save Our Springs
    1992, Nick BarbaroPublisher, The Austin Chronicle
    1991, Molly IvinsSyndicated Columnist
    1990, Ben SargentPolitical Cartoonist
    1989, Wally Pryor – Sports Broadcaster (“Voice of the Longhorns”)
    1988, Gonzalo BarrientosTexas State Senator
    1987, Jodie ConradtU.T. Women’s Basketball Coach
    1986, Barbara JordanLBJ Centennial Chair on National Policy, UT Austin
    1985, Jim HightowerAgricultural Commissioner, State of Texas
    1984, Ann RichardsTreasurer, State of Texas
    1983, Ron Mullen – Mayor, Austin Texas
    1982, Neil SpelceTV News Anchor

    Mr. Powell has agreed to terms with his estate and airs to make the video, which was recorded during his speech at the Austin Toastmasters Club, available for release to the public 25 susan baughman, gary powell, max & jessie powell, helena escalanteyears after his death.

    Pictured at left and from left to right are: Susan Baughman, Max Powell, Gary Powell, Jessie Powell, Helena Escalante.

    Austin Rotary Club Speech

    Speech Delivered by Gary Powell

    Gary Powell SpeakingI learned to sing in Huntsville, Texas…..in prison…..the women’s prison. It was my first teaching job at the Wyndham School District inside the Goree Unit, the former women’s prison within the Texas Department of Corrections. Little did I know that a boy from Highland Park, Dallas, would learn so much in that place. I owe much to those women, who gently introduced me to a world I didn’t know existed.

    SING: “The Spirit of Rosa”

    One terrible gift of maturity is no longer seeing our reflection in the popular culture where we actually do “live”. The chasm between these two places has compelled me to engage bigger ideas in order to stretch my capacity for understanding and hopefully not just finding, but creating a reflection of my liking.

    All this leads us to examine our “brand”, its purpose and its scope. The “Gary Powell” brand has proven to be dependable, competent and largely compliant. It has only surrendered upon the threat of extinction. What happens next to each of our “brands” seemed to be the topic for the day. It will be interesting to watch what happens next to the “Gary Powell” brand as thirty years of experience become emboldened to a purpose of its own choosing.

    The hidden compromises with which we all live put terrible stress on both us and our culture.

    If our popular music can be equated with the “canary in the coal mine” as the barometer of our culture’s health …… then the bird is dead. Our unspoken assessments of a failed system don’t bring the bird back to life. The bird is still dead. Speak up like Galileo did at his trial before the Catholic Tribunal and you may find yourself exiled or executed. That’s the message we learn. Be seen and not heard. In 1992 the Catholic Church formally admitted that Galileo’s views on the solar system were correct. I don’t have quite that much time. NOW is the time and place where I intend to practice respectful non-compliance with systems which fail the test of reason, with governments which purposely seek to silence the voice of truth and with corporations which strategically swallow whole the magnificent individual.

    SING: “The Boys in Red”

    Every Tuesday, these Rotarians stand up and recite “The Four Way Test”.

      1. Is it the TRUTH?
      2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
      3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
      4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

    This is my lyrical version of the parental “Four Way Test”. The lyric was inspired by a photograph I saw of parents holding a tiny infant in the palm of their hands. The lyric is what we all could only have wished for from our parents at our birth.

    SING: “In My Palm”
    Gary Powell at Piano

    IN MY PALM

    Music and Lyric by Gary Powell
    11/12/02

    Verse 1
    Is there more that I can do
    Is there more that I could say
    Is there more that I might be
    To hold you in a way

    That might show you how to love
    That might show you how to see
    That might show you who you really are
    And who you’ll come to be?

    Bridge 1
    So for now I’ll hold you here with me
    Close and safe where you might learn
    How to walk the path ahead
    And how to love the path you’re on

    Verse 2
    And when you are far away
    From the peace, the care, the calm
    Please remember just how safe you felt
    When your world was in my palm.

    (Copyright 2002 Jesmax Music, BMI)

    Institutionalization insipidly happens to all of us. It is nothing less than an effort to collectivize the human spirit all the while silently limiting our potential. It is the hijacking of the most resolute and powerful thing we humans have, our individual aptitude…..now conscripted into the service of the common good. However, with our integrity so compromised, the good is less than common and the common is far less than good.

    Here, at the Austin Rotary Club, they do far better than that. Thank you Rotarians for your service to our community and for the good work which each of you has individually chosen. Your gracious reception allowed me to step away from my own comfort zones and take some risks today. My hope is that you found some reflection of yourselves in my words, songs and life experience. This was indeed a good day and one I will always remember!

    Austin Rotary Club

    Special thanks to songwriter Ande Rasmussen for the invitation to speak and gracious introduction, Gaines Bagby for the great memory of singing “I Can’t Find the Street Where I Live”, Ben Franklin and St. David’s staff for working out the Headliners Club DVD playback, Tom Granger, chairman of the Headliners Club for permission to share the club’s music video, Austin Rotary Club president Pete Meeker for his support and friendship and to my father’s longtime professional associate and friend Don Ray George for the big bear hug!

    This event was videotaped by my long time associate and friend Larry Seyer and my studio assistant, the talented young filmmaker Taylor Seyer.

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