Tom Scholz Quotes

It's always the music first for me. But if the music isn't selling, there isn't gonna be no business. So you gotta make sure music is always the first priority.

I think it's a reflection of the music business in general, which to me seems very fragmented.

The truth is an artist like me who doesn't get the type of promotion that we see more commercial artists receive, and especially in this climate of the music business, you have to be creative about how you promote yourself.

To remain relevant though, I think making great records is the key.

Look at music for what it's worth around the world and not just America. In other countries, people are still buying CDs and going to record stores. But in America, it's all about digital. The game is breaking down. But, look at me, you need to know how to play the game the right way.

Independent artists and labels have always been the trend setters in music and the music business.

People in the music business say don't make too many records because they'll compete against one another.

The whole format of entertainment that I did seems to be fading away. The music business of today is completely different when you see the videos and the music.

I think some people record songs and make records a certain way to cater to radio. If you're born to make commercial music that's cool. But if you're born to not make commercial records, maybe you're meant to cater to another market.

You got to understand: when you go into a record company and give them a something that doesn't sound like what's on the radio, it's hard to sell it.

Back in the '90s, if you did mail order in music, you could make a good living doing it if you could hustle.

You know how it is with drawers and labels in the music business. They don't want anything to be complicated. They just want it simple, as simple as possible.

Commercial music, for the most part, is popular music and you always have to keep that in mind.

The record business has always mystified me. Sometimes there are reasons why things sell or don't sell that can't be understood by mere mortals.

I have very much enjoyed being in the music business in different roles through five different decades.

As for the music business itself, the key things have not changed that much. It operates like any business and money still keeps things moving.

In a sense, the music business and I haven't always been the best of bedfellows. Artists often have to fight their corner. Your music goes through these filters of record labels and media, and you're hoping you'll find someone who'll help you get your work into the world.

I don't really like meetings, I like recording and performing music. I need to set myself up for when the time does come that I need better distribution or just a bigger team behind me.

The music industry is saying, This is the format, and if you'll fit into this format, you can be on radio, and if radio will play you, MTV will expose you, and MTV will expose you, we'll sell records.

I know that starting out as a young band, it's really easy to get lost with bands that sound the same or with the plethora of music that's out there.

Recorded music is more a marketing tool than a revenue source.

Music can be so disturbing and frustrating. I mean the business side of it. The actual making music part is fun, but the business side of it is just so out of control, has nothing to do with anything.

Half the battle is selling music, not singing it. It's the image, not what you sing.

I enjoy touring. I enjoy recording the music, I enjoy dreaming it and I enjoy performing it. I also definitely enjoy selling it, because I like to eat.

Being a recording artist, selling music, selling concerts out, having a reality show, starting film; it's great, it's beautiful.