Skip Happens Podcast - Every Boot Has a Story!

From Leftovers To Labels: Music, Money, And Media

• Skip Clark

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Speaker:

Here we go. I got the beat. Hello, are you guys? Welcome to another edition of this. And uh, of course, my name is Kip Clark sitting next to me on the other camera. You got Miss Ray, everybody. Here we are. It's uh another week. This is something we try to do every week. No, this is something new. Ms. Ray came on board a couple of weeks ago. And normally when you see me come on, for example, last night, I talked to uh a country artist, huge, big time Graylon James last night. If you haven't seen it, uh, check it out. He's a fantastic songwriter. I know that's stuff the only is getting there. He's a fantastic songwriter, and uh, he's had a couple of big hits on the radio. But uh, on nights like this, if it's happening, we're talking about it. And we got some great stuff. Uh, as you know, uh, there's a little bit of age difference here, which makes it even better because there's things that she'll talk about, and I'll go, I have no idea what the hell she's talking about. And then there's things I'll mention, and she'll look at me and go, What? For example, let me give you an example, all right, uh, before we get into everything. So today, today, Miss Ray was working at her desk and and I walked around the corner going to get one of my 15 cups.

Speaker 1:

This is a true story before you continue. I want everybody to know this is a true story.

Speaker:

All right. So I I walk past, hey, hey, Regan, how are you? You know, and all that. And I go to get one of my 15 cups of coffee. And uh then I come back and I said, you know, um, you know, that they're not making the penny anymore. The penny is pretty much a thing of the past, even though they're still, you know, in circulation. But uh then I said, uh, well, you know, um I was reading also today that uh checks are going away. Checks. And Miss Ray's comment was the cereal checks, the cereal is going away.

Speaker 1:

I mean, I snapped my neck. I was like, the cereal, like like the cereal is being taken away. And he's like, No, Reagan, like no, no, like the check, a check, and you're going, what are you talking about?

Speaker:

Yeah, I said, checks, we write out checks to pay bills, and uh yeah, so that's a true story. It really happened. Hilarious, you know, and I get in that argument with my wife all the time about I'm like, you know, you're not gonna be writing checks pretty soon. Everything should, you know, and I haven't written a check in probably 10 years, to be honest with you.

Speaker 1:

Never written a check. I received checks, never written a check. I don't even have a checkbook.

Speaker:

And what do you do when you receive a check? Um do you do the audit?

Speaker 1:

I was actually is this the correct way to do it? I go to the bank and I like fill out the little paper. I feel like because I don't know. I don't trust, I'm one of those people that doesn't trust the the system. So I'm like, it takes three days for that to get processed. I'm just gonna take 10 minutes at max, go to the bank, deposit my check, take care of business.

Speaker:

You know now I I don't I don't know what financial institution you use, and nobody needs to know that. But I know with mine, I go to the app, I sign the back of the check, put my account number, go to the app, deposit check, take a picture of it, both the front and back, put the amount in, it's gone. And at midnight, it's on my account. It gets approved that quick. That's so it's pretty cool. Yeah, then I might have to try it because we Reagan, this is completely the opposite of Ms. of what we were just talking about. Um, because using an app should be what, yeah, exactly. Yeah, but that's okay. There's nothing wrong with that, all kidding aside. So, and that's what we're about. I mean, we love doing that, so but it's funny stuff. We have these conversations all the time, and we decide to come on there and just talk about things like that. So, and because hopefully you can relate as well if you're watching this, because yeah. So do you have any pennies?

Speaker 1:

Do I have any pennies? Well, um, I don't at the moment, actually, because if you go to Price Chopper, you can if you like, I don't know if you can still do that. Well, when you could, yeah, it was like I gave all my pennies to to my sister because she she's 11. So I'm like she can have them.

Speaker:

It's Abby, right?

Speaker 1:

Yes, shout out to Abby, by the way. Abby, yes, um Abeline, yes, um, such a cute name. I love that name. Every time I listen to uh choose in Texas, you're gonna love this. Every time I listen to Choose in Texas by Abby, I just like Abilene, so it's like music to my ears.

Speaker:

But she did she take the pennies to price chopper, she sure did. And can I ask? I'm I mean, how much did she get in the way? Because they doubled everything.

Speaker 1:

I don't know how much she got. I don't even, I don't know. But that was a couple of weeks ago, but I know she collected, she went around the house. Smart girl, yes, very smart.

Speaker:

Because they did, you know, I love that was a great marketing thing for a marketing uh thing that Price Chopper did was you know, bring your pennies in and we'll double it. If you brought in a hundred, uh, let's say a hundred dollars worth of pennies, which would be a whole mess of pennies, um, you'd get a $200 gift card. You know what I mean? So that was pretty cool.

Speaker 1:

That's really cool.

Speaker:

That is really cool.

Speaker 1:

Price chopper knew what they were doing with that. Yeah, yes.

Speaker:

Yeah, I love that. I love that. So, uh, anyways, um, let me ask you, are you still eating Thanksgiving leftovers?

Speaker 1:

Um no, because you know it's 13 days.

Speaker:

Well, we're we're recording this on a Wednesday, so it's 13 days after Thanksgiving. And if you're still eating those leftovers, you're on your deathbed. You'll you'll get sick. Don't do it. Don't do it.

Speaker 1:

Just hold out. We're two weeks from Christmas.

Speaker:

We we got this, or you'll get some really bad gas. Yes, and you don't want to do that, so that's not good. But uh, I was reading about that today. It says uh you're putting yourself at risk for serious injury or even death or worse. Can you believe that? Well, I don't know. It's who's gonna eat leftovers that that old, anyways. Just thinking about that.

Speaker 1:

How long do you do you let leftovers sit before you're like, nope?

Speaker:

They sit too long. Because you know what it depends.

Speaker 1:

It depends on the food.

Speaker:

That's I don't know what happens in your household. I don't know if your mom and dad do this or or what, but uh you know, you finish dinner and you got leftovers. Like, you know what? I'm gonna save, I'm gonna save this pizza for later. All right, you put it in the fridge, you wrap it up, put it in the fridge. Week later, it's still in the fridge. Week and a half later, it's still there for the most part. I mean, there's times, I mean, depending on what I did the night before, you go and get the cold pizza, but but still, you know, it does sit there. Uh, it's like, all right, no, we're not gonna eat it. It gets thrown out. So yeah, it's crazy, crazy stuff. So, what else is going on? I know we have a lot of conversation about music. Um you have your thing, I have my thing. I mean, which is pretty cool. And you're starting to fall into the country groove a little bit.

Speaker 1:

I am good for you. I am country's kind of growing on me. I think it might be because you know, I'm falling in love with the artists. Yeah, I'm falling in love with the people that are making the music, the the work that's getting put into it. And then it's it's like, how do you not love the art? Because that's whether despite what music you like, music is art, and you have to kind of appreciate what everybody's putting together to create that art.

Speaker:

So that's true. That's true. So you're looking at it from a different perspective than so many other people. Yeah, people just listen to it on the wolf and they they're like, wow, that's a great tune. But you look at it from an artist standpoint, I guess, from what what they're thinking and what they're doing and how creative they're being.

Speaker 1:

Yes, yes. And you mentioned LL Lang. Right. And I think it's very normal and surface level to enjoy music for what it what it sounds like. You know what I mean? Like the vibe it makes you feel. Um, but sometimes I I just really like to deep dive into music and understand like the marketing strategies that go into the song, like the the promoting the song, right, what the artist is really talking about and the relevance to that artist in their life um and their brand, like their image as a whole.

Speaker:

You know what you're saying though, and anybody that's watching this, if you get a chance, go back and watch the podcast that I recorded last night with Grayland, Grayland James, who's a songwriter, and you're talking about you know what goes into a song, and he's he's telling store a story. When I asked him that, he goes, I go, what's it like to be a uh, you know, a songwriter? He goes, We tell stories, but there's stories that I can relate to or you can relate to, and he puts it all together and puts it to music, and it's just amazing. You know, water at a wedding, for example, his song.

Speaker 1:

I was just thinking that.

Speaker:

I was hoping you would mention that song, and he talked about it last night.

Speaker 1:

Can you talk about what that for listener uh people watching that might not know what that song um entails? I think that what you described to me earlier was fun, like yeah.

Speaker:

He um, you know, he the way he put it last night, you have to go back and and watch the podcast, but uh and listen to what he had to say. But it's real life for him. Single guy, he's songwriting, he's um he worked very hard to get where he's at now. Um, but the thing is, and he said it last night that he works too hard at being Grayland James, being a songwriter who didn't have enough time for his life, and therefore his personal life, so to speak, you know, dating and stuff like that wasn't working out too well. And he said he lost a lot of companionship because of the relationships because of that, right? So, anyways, he got invited to this wedding, and it was one of his ex-girlfriends, and uh he said he's standing there and he's watching her and he knows would you go?

Speaker 1:

No, yeah, I don't think I would either. I'd be like, Oh no, hold it, hold it, let me tell you what's going on.

Speaker:

Okay, sorry, no, no, no, but how true, how true? But no, you know, maybe well, you never know. You never know on the relationship side of things. But um, he goes to the wedding, notice that uh she's drinking water. If you listen to the song, there's no bubbles in the water, which means there's nothing carbonated, no mixed alcohol or anything like that. Um, and he it's just the way she was acting, and uh she acted like she really didn't want to be there. That's in the song, and then possibility of her being pregnant, uh and her being from a small town. Uh what is everybody gonna think because of that? Um, that's what the song is is about. It's a true story, it's a true story. And he said that he was um not that I don't want I want you to watch the podcast, it's really good, but he said that um the record label that that song's been out, it's been available for quite a while. It was on social media long before Wait Till You Have Kids, which was his second hit, um, or his first first hit, I'm sorry, and then now Water at a Wedding, second hit. But um the label he wanted to put that one out first, Water at a Wedding. The label said, No, we want you to put uh Wait Till You Have Kids. So they made the decision, and that's what he did. And uh now that went through the, you know, now they're off of that and they're on with water at a wedding. So, which I think should have been the first thing. But here again, it's somebody else telling him what to do, and that gets to something like we were gonna talk about.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker:

Um, being an artist, being your creativity, and you know what you want to do. I mean, how do you handle somebody else telling you as an independent artist? You pretty much pretty much run your own show, but from a labels perspective, one of the major labels, they're gonna look at it like, well, we want you to do it this way. You know, it's like working for a big corporation, you have to certain guidelines, certain rules, I guess, and you do what you're told.

Speaker 1:

Right.

unknown:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

That makes me wonder then why some artists do sign with record labels if they know that they're gonna be limited in their art. Um do you know what I mean? I think that that's interesting because there's a lot of artists that do go through record labels. There is, and there is I know from firsthand experience through our work that we we see the direct support that comes from record labels for these artists. You know what I mean? They're there to make sure that um these artists feel um good. Yeah, I mean, they have everything that they need, they're facilitating all of these encounters and interactions, making sure that their artist is safe. Um, and I'm sure that they're also helping influence branding a little bit as well.

Speaker:

Yeah, the the big labels, they have their own marketing, they got their own uh AR people that are gonna go out and represent the artist. They put the artist through um, you know, like how to handle an interview and how you know you got to change your looks. I mean, I um I interviewed Nate Smith a while ago on the podcast before he was anybody, and he looks completely different now. His hair is different, everything about him is different, and that's because when he signed with a label, of course, you know, they kind of change you a little bit. And the same thing with Carrie Underwood. Now, going back when Carrie Underwood was on American Idol, when she won American Idol, um, I went to New York for the CMAs that year. We broadcast live at the radio station I was at, and Carrie Underwood happened to be hanging out with her mom. And here's this young woman, the ponytails, and just you know, went over and said hello and very like shy and and all that. She had just won Idol. But now look at her. It's like, holy crap.

Speaker 1:

You know, I mean, I know it's been a lot of years, but uh, I mean, she there was a lot of um marketing and bringing that went into her, but yeah, exactly musically, but she also she did acting as well, which I think is super interesting when you take into consideration the entertainment industry. There are a lot of artists that actually broaden their horizons in other arts like acting.

Speaker:

Look at Reba. There you go. Yeah, I mean, you know, for years being uh just an awesome country singer artist. Um now she, you know, her TV shows and all that, it's just phenomenal, you know.

Speaker 1:

And I'll it all goes into her brand as an artist, yeah.

Speaker:

And Reba's the reason I got in the country, so I even had a dog named Reba.

Speaker 1:

So cool.

Speaker:

And I told her that once, and then I felt about this big, and I said, Don't bother opening the door, I'll go under it when I leave. Yeah, God honest truth. It was at the state fair. It's like I was so scared. I was so scared, I was so starstruck, but uh yeah, but that's true though. A lot of these artists, you know, they're going into acting as well. So you know, and they're cool, they're real, they're real people. Yeah, I like that.

Speaker 1:

Kind of going back on the Grayland James and releasing music that stays very true to his heart. Um I think it's interesting. I wonder if there's ever artists that regret music that they release. I recently read an article, not that this artist regretted her her music, but um Kelsey Ballerini kind of touched on that she felt like her lat latest album um was a little bit harsh towards her ex. Like some of the way that she expressed her music or her feelings um was a little harsh. And I thought that that was really interesting.

Speaker:

This was her saying this, yeah.

Speaker 1:

This was um, yeah, interesting. This was um an article that I read. Um, so I I think it's interesting to kind of take into consideration in the grand scheme of things with artists. Like, does this happen more commonly than than we know? Or has there have you ever had an interview where you've had an artist that be like, you know, I I came out with this song, and years later I don't really relate to that, or you know, I don't connect with that.

Speaker:

Of all the artists that I've had a chance to sit down and have a conversation with, I I don't recall one person, you know, saying anything like that. I'll ask the question, you know, is there a song out there that you wish you had sung? That's a good question, or you had written, and I get great answers with that, but I've never heard the what you're saying. But that's interesting, yeah. Because Kelsey, you know, Kelsey, um, she's also been through a lot in her life.

Speaker 1:

Yes.

Speaker:

So um, you know, a couple of rough relationships and um and all that, but um, yeah, I I didn't hear that, but wow, yeah, yeah. That's interesting. I have to look that up.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and then she's she's just one artist in the in the whole grand, you know what I mean? In the whole big picture, yeah, the grand scheme of things. So it makes me wonder if this is something that we see more often, especially maybe now, yeah. When yes, right. And when you also take into consideration what you mentioned earlier with artists kind of needing like Grayland James pushing out a song, um, a different song than he originally wanted to. Um I just I think that that's interesting.

Speaker:

That's very interesting. I now you got me really like the gears are turning, and I'm thinking, but uh, and it it kind of gives me some prep for my next podcast with another artist, which I'll put that online here in a little bit. But uh yeah, that's pretty good. Wow. Yeah, that's very interesting. It's just amazing.

Speaker 1:

Just some food for thought. Yeah, just some food for thought.

Speaker:

Uh exactly.

Speaker 1:

Um, and then on the aside from that, we um talked about like coaching and PRing and stuff along those lines. Um, was there have you ever done like a two interviews of the same artist and you can like distinctly tell that there was PR coaching? You don't have to say the artist, but like you like know that this artist went from the first interview to the second interview, like they have changed the way that they say things.

Speaker:

Yes, you can't I have I have, and if you go back and look at some of the earlier podcasts that I've done, I've been doing this quite a few years. Skip happens, but uh, if you go back and look at some of the artists early on, uh in the beginning, the very beginning, I had a lot of really new independent artists, and you could tell um that they weren't prepared. You you know, it was like, all right, because if I, as somebody that's interviewing an artist, if I need to reach in and pull something out, then you know, it's pretty obvious when I'm doing that. That means they're not giving me the information that they should be giving me.

Speaker 1:

Right.

Speaker:

You know, that they're not giving me uh, I ask a question and then there's a pause, and then I I have to ask it in a different way, maybe to get a different type of answer. But uh that um I'm sure response time's a factor too.

Speaker 1:

In the first interview, it took them about three to five seconds to respond. While the second time you're like, oh my, you can come up with a response one to three seconds.

Speaker:

That's and that's part of you know, whether you're going with an independent promotion uh team firm or you're with the major labels, they have that department. You go through um where you sit down and you talk about PR and all that. So this is how you're gonna handle your interviews, um, so on and so forth. So yeah.

Speaker 1:

So some artists go through, so they they so-called are independent, right? Or they're kind of on their own, and then they go through this coaching process with a record label. What is um have you ever heard of an industry plant? Have you ever heard of industry plant?

Speaker:

No.

Speaker 1:

You have you ever heard of that phrase?

Speaker:

Uh no, it could be a one of my okay.

Speaker 1:

So I um I've heard of an industry plant, and I kind of did some research and this there's nothing that's confirmed about this. I want to make that disclaimer real quick before we continue, but it's basically these artists that um are seen to have these this major label backing. You know what I mean? They're having an extreme label support to push them to be more famous quicker versus other artists, and they're kind of thrown into the industry randomly. I know from um Ice Spice was. An artist that was um possibly seen as a as an industry plant. Get it. I think now maybe shabuzy could be seen as an industry plant. That's I saw that on the these are uh ice fate, these are things that I've seen on the internet that they people were saying um ice spice was kind of one that I I came up with. Again, these are not confirmed. No, no, no. I get what you're saying there. Artists that kind of came out of left field, they became very popular very, very quickly. They knew what they were doing when it came down to branding and promotions, and it just I don't they should they kind of sweep you off your feet.

Speaker:

I'm sure there's some there, but uh, I think a lot of the artists, I know from my side of things, doing the countryside, a lot of that uh, you know, social media really makes them big really quick. Uh, you may not have heard of them, but yet look at the uh the streams they have, and the now all of a sudden they got all these followers, and now all of a sudden they're on a big tour, and uh that's you know the social media side of things. But you're talking about an industry plant.

Speaker 1:

I'm talking, yes, like the the record labels are strategically picking artists right. Hang on because you're in for the ride.

Speaker:

Yes, yeah, but uh geez, I don't know. I don't even know what to say to that. I I don't know, to be honest with you. You're giving me the eye.

Speaker 1:

I'm just I just interesting. I think uh I like the way you think about it, yeah. Um, and how these artists get to be who they are, and how how some artists make it and other artists don't. Um and like you mentioned with um digital technology at our fingertips. Now that's scary. It it is at it is scary.

Speaker:

Yeah, we were messing around with it.

Speaker 1:

The accessibility to to reach audiences at your fingertips. Like artists can connect with fans like never before.

Speaker:

Um, yeah, but is it the real artist? That is it, are they being honest? Are they uh, you know, you and I both know we just had this uh somewhat of a conversation about this at the uh radio station here recently about uh people going online at what is it, Suno? Yes, and uh you put your whatever you want the lyrics to be, and uh tell whether you want a country hip hop or whatever, and uh it so last week we mentioned the um AI artist that got signed.

Speaker 1:

I did some research because I wanted to make sure that we were correct. And the artist's name is I believe it's Zanaya, so it's x-a-n-i-a monet. Okay, and she signed with Hallwood for a little over three million dollars. And this um Zanaya Monet is a AI artist that is created through another woman, and she did an interview with CBS that I watched, and she showed how she uses programs like Suno, which is music AI, and we checked that out. Um, where you basically go into the program, you type in the style of music that you want. For example, we were um we we've been brainstorming jingles or ways to like come up with an intro for our podcast. So we're like, what can we what can we possibly come up with off rip in this AI? And funny enough, we just typed in like a few words, give me a country styled jingle with hosts, Ray and Skip, and it came up with a whole bunch of different options that all kind of it was a whole song, yeah.

Speaker:

Yes, it was a three and a half minute song, yes, and you know, but then I sat back and I was thinking about it, I go that could be kind of cool. But then, but then Miss Ray goes, hold the phone, hold the phone, skip, and 100% correct in this. Why would we even do that when who I am and what I do for a living promote country artist? And if anybody's gonna do an opening for the Skip Happens podcast for you and I, um, it's gonna be a real artist. We're not gonna do that. Why would we even think about that? Now, the whole idea was kind of cool. I mean, when you hear it, but then again, there's the flip side that, for example, I'll go back to Graylin. Here's a guy that works so hard writing these songs and putting the music to it, and you know, touching the hearts of so many.

Speaker 1:

And writing a song about a real life experience that a real human had.

Speaker:

He could write that song, he could take water at a wedding and put it into Suno, and somebody else would sing it, and it wow. I think it's important.

Speaker 1:

I agree. I think it's important for us to acknowledge that this technology exists out there, that this is a major threat to artists, a major threat. 100%. And I think it could even be a threat to, dare I say, personalities like you and I. Well, there has been we didn't look into that possibility.

Speaker:

I can tell you could you I could tell you that uh they had one radio station had an AI on air jock. Uh that's all I did. And and some people didn't care, but other people that, you know, it's this is my livelihood, this is what I do. No, no, and we're not that's not gonna fly. That's not gonna fly. So yeah, but it has happened now. Uh you know, and I mention AI, do I or do I know not go to you and say, hey, why didn't you put that in chat GPT or whatever? And so I guess what I'm saying to kind of shift the gears here a little bit, I'm not totally against AI. I am not. I am against it when it comes to taking money out of people's pockets and not being the real deal. And we need to be real radio, real jocks, real artist. That's what we need to do, and that's what we will continue to do with the wolf. I can tell you that much. Um, but then on the other hand, when it comes to uh writing a letter, you just, you know, we all have the brain farts, we all have that going on. You want to write a letter, you know what? Put your points in there, see what it comes up with. You can still make it your own. That's where it can help you. But the other, absolutely not. It's crazy. That's my opinion. I mean, maybe I'm old school, but uh that's I am old school. But yeah, yeah. Real, oh yeah, real YouTube. Yeah, we're real. Uh, it's my buddy Chuck. He's on. So uh, no, we are not every night. Uh Ray, Miss Ray and myself will do this once a week, Chuck. Um, but the other deal with skip happens with the artists, I try to do, I try to do that once a week, or whenever there's an artist available and they reach out and want to go on. I'm not gonna say no. So that's how all that works. Unless, unless it's on a Thursday, like tomorrow night, we can't do it. We have a party.

Speaker 1:

Yes, that's why we're doing it today. Yeah, yes.

Speaker:

Her first go ahead, you tell everybody.

Speaker 1:

I'm going to my first company party tomorrow. Yes. Yes. I'm so excited. It's gonna be so much fun. I wasn't able to make it last year, but this year I'm going.

Speaker:

And who are you bringing?

Speaker 1:

I'm gonna bring my mom.

Speaker:

Uh-oh.

Speaker 1:

Which is not uh does that make you nervous? No, no, I'm not nervous. No, I'm not nervous to have my mom come with me. I think some people would be nervous, but I love my mom a lot. I know that's a good thing. No, I know you do. I'm saying, and if you didn't, I'd go, what's wrong with you? Yes, I I love my mom very, very much.

Speaker:

So and your dad.

Speaker 1:

Yes, and my dad, but poor Frank is sitting out there going.

Speaker:

She left me out of this conversation. What the hell's going on? Yeah, yes, I know, but no, exactly. Exactly. No, the reason I say that because I haven't met your mom and dad yet. And I so look forward to saying hello, and uh, you know, and I I tease you all day and say, oh boy, this is gonna be it. We'll never see Reagan again. Mom and dad are gonna say, You're not going back to that place. You know why? Because we work in an environment that is very loose, so to speak. You know, we say what we feel, but we do a good job of it.

Speaker 1:

I think anybody that works, um we're not corporate, we're not corporate, is yes, that's what I was trying to get at. Is anybody that doesn't work in corporate, um, but still works in a business like that, and you're with people that you are very close with, like the whole building feels like a family in a way. Like everybody, I don't know.

Speaker:

Nope, it's so true. It's so true. It's so funny. I mean, I've been there since uh 2007. I came from Clear Channel, and which is now iHeart. Uh, I did the morning show on the oldies channel 92.1 years ago when it was WSCN. Now WSCN is our sister station, the dinosaur. And I mean, it's like, don't even try to figure it out because it's it's like because you're just gonna get confused, yeah, totally confused, but times have changed, so yeah, it's not crazy stuff.

Speaker 1:

Um, I kind of want to touch more on the the digital aspect of things. So um I want to talk about video. We um often have music dealing with audio, just audio, but I think that there's a lot of visuals that help aid music and can help aid artists, um as like using concert films, okay, uh you making film soundtracks. I think that musicals even aid music in a way.

Speaker:

Yeah, I know I know the thing I Chuck is watching this and he's big video guy. So this is interesting, and and he can chime in if he'd like. But uh yeah, so you're talking about how video kind of goes together with right, how does it aid the music and all that? Like you're talking about like a music video, like when we see the music video, yes.

Speaker 1:

And I think that that yes, like video killed the radio star, like MTV.

Speaker:

I know you you know that song was long before you. I'm sorry. Well, maybe not.

Speaker 1:

I I know the song, I actually learned about it.

Speaker:

That was the first thing they played on MTV. I know that you do it.

Speaker 1:

You learned that in school.

Speaker:

Cool, which I yes, I remember that day though. That's the thing. Yeah, that was amazing.

Speaker 1:

I wish we still had MTV. Now they just play ridiculousness, no hate, no hate to MTV. No, but it was fun. I wish I wish that they would bring that back. I wish that there was a forum aside from YouTube where you could just watch music videos. I think that that would be really awesome.

Speaker:

See, that's MTV in its heyday, was all the videos and the countdowns and everything. You saw the artists and the the uh um VJs, not the DJs, but the video jocks, they were so awesome. And uh then CMT came along, and that was great because now you're seeing all the country artists, and it was all back-to-back videos, and you're hearing uh the new video once it came out, you know.

Speaker 1:

Um which I'm sure helped aid and brand those artists on a whole nother level, on a whole nother level. Because aside from that, artists were branding themselves through CDs, through but you don't see yourself on a CD, so to speak. Like when the video's the image of them is like that's how we see the artist or create like brand an image and and likeness.

Speaker:

But now with the video, when it's attached, when the music's attached to a video, you see the artist, you you feel the excitement of if it's a concert, you feel that and say, Wow, this guy puts on a great show, or this this is excellent. So that's where video does assist in the the way music uh being put out. But uh oh yeah, but the uh OG DJs were so cool, he says.

Speaker 1:

Do you think that music could be just as successful today without me without visuals? Like well, or do you think that that's something crucial in kind of standing out or getting yourself to I think it's a big plus, yeah.

Speaker:

But when I hear what people are doing, um, you know, they're listening to Pandora, Spotify, and all that that does not have the video attached. You're listening to the music. Um now you you see a little bit, if you go to TikTok, you'll see a little bit of the artist doing whatever, you know. But yeah, I don't know.

Speaker 1:

And there's also a little bit of uh collaboration here, you know. You have the music industry creating the music, and then you have like the film or the television industry that is well, they gotta work together, right?

Speaker:

They gotta work, they collaborate. Yes, you know, Nina Blackwood, uh interesting relationship Chucky's talking about. Nina Blackwood. You remember? Did you not? No, I didn't think so. It's like the checks, all right. Um, Martha Quinn. Um, Martha Quinn, if I'm not mistaken, went to SU. So that was really cool. And I actually Martha Quinn, I was working, uh, she was one of the VJs back in the day. Um, I was working at a radio station, and she actually came in and hung out for a little bit and we talked. It was really cool, you know. It was so cool, so cool. Most people, Nina Blackwood, she had such a like a real dog deep voice, and she does she does stuff now on Sirius, and it you know, it'd be like, Yeah, just Nina Blackwell, and uh you know, it's like you're who but yeah, she was a heavy smoker, that's why. So you know that happens.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, speaking of music and film TV industry. Did you see the um the most recent Netflix? Oh, the P Diddy P Diddy thing.

Speaker:

Oh my god, no, but I've I have not seen it. But uh, I don't know if you're watching this, if you have seen it, but uh uh Miss Ray was telling me about this. I have not seen it, it's on Netflix. I do want to watch it, but it goes pretty deep, right?

Speaker 1:

I mean it does, it does.

Speaker:

See, I remember P. Diddy from back in the day, and I thought, wow, this guy's the coolest thing going. But uh, you know, then he had bad boy records, right?

Speaker 1:

Yes, yes, it was a bad boy. He was and watching the um wow, watching the the f the show series, um, it was really interesting to to see how he branded.

Speaker:

You're gonna ruin it for me, aren't you?

Speaker 1:

Yeah, how he like branded the branded bad boy, and then how over time there was these, I guess, so-called conspiracy or like actual events that occurred where he was doing things that were not good, and then it all comes to a head now, you know. And I think seeing that documentary, it really questions the music industry. And I hate to say that, but it it does. It's one of those things where did you see the um yeah, HBO Max? I I believe it was last year, came out with a show about Dan Snyder. Do you know who Dan Snyder is?

Speaker:

How do I know that?

Speaker 1:

So um Dan Snyder was the like head producer of Nickelodeon. So he he um he produced shows like iCarly, Victorious, okay, Sam and Cat. That's how I know it. Yes. Um I believe Zoe 101. He created a lot of foundational shows on Nickelodeon, and he was not a good guy. And that's what that limited series talked about. And it really put things into perspective, I believe, for all of us about the the um like child film industry and like television industry and how we treat children in those settings. And I think that whether this P. Diddy documentary intentionally meant to do that or or not, it really puts things into perspective about the entire music industry.

Speaker:

So we need to watch that.

Speaker 1:

Yes, if you have I've seen it, I am shook. It is wild. Well, I also want to put things into perspective that I I like heard of P. Diddy. I didn't really know P P Diddy in his prime so sadly. Which I did, yes, like I was too young to really understand what what he was doing, and then I heard really it all came to a head for me with the Cassie trial, where I was like, oh my gosh, this this big producer, he's he's done what? And there was a video, and it was just it was not good. And then to watch that documentary, I was like, this really um, first of all, is very shocking and horrible, but it it really puts things into perspective about whether it means to or not about the industry as a whole, very similarly to that Dan Snyder um show.

Speaker:

But I I don't know, it it does put it put it into perspective the industry as a whole, but it shouldn't because I don't know, I don't think it's like that everywhere.

Speaker 1:

I completely agree. Okay, right so but it's gonna give that impression just because yeah, or it's gonna make people look at things a little differently. Um yeah, because there were a lot of factors that P. Diddy was involved in, you know what I mean? Like you have uh drugs is one thing, and then uh sex addiction is another. You know what I mean? Like those are two, in my opinion, separate things, although they go together.

Speaker:

Like he has somebody killed. So that so I don't want to spoil the show.

Speaker 1:

No, no, no, because somebody didn't directly say that P P Diddy killed anybody, but it it does insinuate that he may have been involved in Tupac and Biggie's yes, Biggie's small murder.

Speaker:

Yes, yes, and we were talking about that, or somebody was talking about that in the hallway the other day at the radio station.

Speaker 1:

Yes, yes, yeah, the radio station, yes. He was talking about it. He was like, You guys gotta watch it, it's so amazing. And I was like, I've already watched it, Sam. Tell them, tell them, like it is crazy, they need to watch it. Um, okay, because it's it's very Netflix, right?

Speaker:

I just well, I know what I'll be doing this week.

Speaker 1:

That 50 Cent got to produce some of it, so you have this artist that's very acclaimed, skilled, seasoned, so so well. Um share his his insight and his story.

Speaker:

I mean, I yeah, so it's very captive, uh, captivating. Yes, you're not gonna walk away from it. You're you're you're gonna watch it. You have to put it on pause to use the bathroom or to get some popcorn, then come back.

Speaker 1:

Hopefully, you have ads on Netflix because you're gonna be glued through all four.

Speaker:

I don't pay the higher amount, I have the lower amount.

Speaker 1:

That's your bathroom break time.

Speaker:

Oh, definitely gonna have to check that out. So, yeah, I remember you were talking about it. Sam was talking about it. Um, I heard that it and it's like I hadn't seen it yet.

Speaker 1:

So yeah, but I will. It was it was very interesting. And it was interesting to see how he created Bad Boy Entertainment. Um, aside from all of the very negative things of involved with him. Like it's very interesting to see what moves he made to brand his company.

Speaker:

Interesting. Wow. Where to get 'em.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker:

Just saying. Kind of weird stuff going on there. Yes. Really weird. Yes. Ah, yeah. Right. I gotta watch that. Now you gotta be really excited.

Speaker 1:

Um I wonder if like history ever repeats with artists. Like the Big E and Tupac battle. That that was, and they did talk about that kind of being predetermined by Diddy, but we see things um reoccurring. Like there was, I believe, within the last few years, Kendrick Lamar and um Drake had like a rat battle. That's right. And then people create analogies or compare artists, um, like Laney Wilson or Dolly Parton saying that that they're similar. What do you have to say about this or your thoughts? Kind of also taking into consideration branding, working with labels.

Speaker:

I think I know I can speak on the country side of things that uh you're talking about Laney and you're talking about Dolly. Uh it's all going back to those days.

Speaker 1:

Um like Jesse Murph kind of yes, yes, exactly.

Speaker:

And um, it's definitely going back, like everything, in my opinion, goes in a 20-year cycle. So let's go 20 years ago. I mean, Dolly was big, all that was happening. It uh and Laney's kind of doing her own thing in in her footsteps, so to speak. Uh Zach Topp is doing uh stuff like Alan Jackson did. Um that that that's what's happening. Yes, it's happening again, and it's coming back, even with a younger audience such as yourself. Uh, they're digging it. It's it's like, and they play the you know, they'll play stuff like that at the concerts, and uh it's like everybody gets into it, you know, and especially some of the older stuff. Even if somebody does a shania, I mean it's all coming back.

Speaker 1:

Have you uh do you know Sierra Farrell? Or Pharrell Farrell?

Speaker:

Well, I know a Pharrell.

Speaker 1:

Is it Sierra Pharrell?

Speaker:

I don't know.

Speaker 1:

No, well, she uh she's like a folk singer and she sings um like renditions of very older songs, and okay, I I see her on TikTok all the time, and I am like obsessed with her because her voice sounds like so raspy, so interesting. And I thought originally that she was singing original songs, but like I said, she's she's singing these songs that are her singing older.

Speaker:

You know who's doing that now? Who's gonna put it out? Michael Bublet is dropping an album with all the old uh country classics.

Speaker 1:

No way, yeah.

Speaker:

Oh, yeah. They haven't given me uh an actual release date, uh, but it is coming. He's in Nashville recording. He has um, I know for a fact he's working with Dan Huff. Dan Huff is one of the biggest country producers you'll know, ever get to know. Uh, great guy. He's working on Michael Bublet, is working with him in Nashville to get this album done and to get it out, and it's nothing but old classic country.

Speaker 1:

That's so cool. In the voice of Michael Bublé, in the voice of Michael Bublet.

Speaker:

Who would have thought though?

Speaker 1:

These are people like I would not have thought that Michael actually would do a country album. I well, I know surprised by that. Um, he's a he's a you know I didn't know he was a country fan like that.

Speaker:

So I don't know either.

Speaker 1:

I'm excited to hear this.

Speaker:

He's saying that uh he was brought up on country. They all say that. I don't know if it's true or not. I'll be honest with you. I don't know if they're just you know saying that, but uh almost you know, Beyonce says she was brought up on country. Um, you're talking Neo said uh just recently, I think we talked about this last week, that you know, oh yeah, he loves country. That's you know, this and that, and uh you know, and you look at some of these artists, you would never picture them doing country, but it's really good. Shabozy. Yeah, look at shabbozy. Yeah, post Malone. Post Malone, yeah.

Speaker 1:

I I think when Post Malone came out, I can't think of what the album's called, but I can I can see it. It's got like an orange undertone. Congratulations on it.

Speaker:

Come on, did you go to the post Malone concert?

Speaker 1:

I did, I I did the amp. I did, but I didn't see Post Malone. I worked that at all.

Speaker:

Oh, you worked that that's right. That's right.

Speaker 1:

Wow, that was a very hot and popping show. It was very bad. Yeah, it was it was it was packed, and normally when when it gets packed like that, I actually try to get out of there so I don't blame him later. I don't blame him. Um yeah, yeah.

Speaker:

So exactly. Have you seen uh we're talking about artists here a little bit? Have you seen Jelly Roll lately? Do you realize he went hit his weight loss, his journey? I have seen um at his peak, he was 550 pounds. He has lost well over 200 and he shaved his beard off. And I saw a video of him online with his wife Bunny. And uh, first of all, you'd go, how do they ever yeah, you know what I mean? So um no, what are you thinking? Never mind. Um, no, it is, but uh, it showed him just he was um with a bow and arrow shooting at a target and he got a bullseye. You'd never know it was jelly roll except for the tats, you know. He's got a lot of tattoos on his face, and you know, he went through a rough time in his life, but uh now it's like, are you kidding me, dude? It's amazing.

Speaker 1:

I I did see that. That is amazing.

Speaker:

So if you haven't seen him, look him up online, take a look and see if you can find a picture and check out his uh weight loss journey. It's amazing. It's amazing.

Speaker 1:

A lot of artists, well, a good handful of artists are are going through some good weight loss journeys. Um, Lizzo on the on the flip side of things, um has recently actually posted a picture in retaliation to a comment that fans made calling her fat.

Speaker:

And she I would just tell them it's too bad.

Speaker 1:

This is the way that's what she what she did, she took a picture of herself in a bikini and she posted and she's like people made a comment about how like people make comments about whether I gain weight, whether I lose weight, whether I put this on my body, whether they do that, whether I do that. And she was like, I think it's just time for people to stop making commentary on people's bodies and weights. Um but I I think with that comp that in mind, um, sometimes we see artists taking it a little extreme, you know, and fans expressing concern for artists. Wicked. Wicked recently came out for and you know, there's a lot of talk and such along the lines about those.

Speaker:

Um I haven't seen it. Don't laugh at me, but I have not seen it.

Speaker 1:

The four good one. Did you see the first one?

Speaker:

I have not.

Speaker 1:

Have you ever seen Wicked?

Speaker:

Have not.

Speaker 1:

Okay. Okay, I haven't seen the play. I saw the first film. Well, the play is. I love Ariana Grande. You know, I saw her, I was one of those kids that grew up with her on Victorious. Like, which funny enough, my mom. I remember this. My mom mentioned when she was on Victorious, she, you know, Victorious is doing her thing, Jade's doing her thing, Kat uh, who played Ariana Grande, um, who was played by Ariana Grande. Um, my mom was like, This girl is gonna be somebody someday.

Speaker:

Look at her now.

Speaker 1:

And look at her now. Look at her now.

Speaker:

Yeah, absolutely.

Speaker 1:

She is a big somebody today.

Speaker:

I know I said that to somebody the other day. I said, I've never seen it. They're like, What are you nuts? You've never seen it. I said, No, never seen it. Yeah. Of course, you know, I mean, I've been, you know, my life is like crazy.

Speaker 1:

So yeah, you're very busy. Well, I'm starting to slow down. Yeah.

Speaker:

Well, now here I am doing this. Um, but no, this it's all it's all good. It's all good. I just want to, you know, back off on the skip clark a little bit and just start enjoying life.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker:

You know what I mean? So, yeah. Speaking of that, I got the holidays coming up. Yeah, uh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You got a Christmas list.

Speaker 1:

Two weeks.

Speaker:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

I I still gotta finish my Christmas list up.

Speaker:

You know, all I want is socks. All I want, all I want is so if you guys want to send me some socks, I they need, you know, socks are probably the most important piece of clothing, in my opinion. I because if you're not if you're not comfortable in your shoes, and the socks play a big part in that, you're gonna have a miserable day. It's gonna suck. All right, it's really gonna suck. So, and and I can't wear socks with holes in them. Of course, my socks get holes in them, plus we have a a yellow lab that likes to chew on them. So we get the holes in the socks, and I cannot stand it when my toe sticks through a hole in the sock, and I can feel it on the inside of my shoe.

Speaker 1:

It's a pet peeve.

Speaker:

I hate it. I hate it.

Speaker 1:

It is the worst, and this sock is so uncomfortable.

Speaker:

No matter what I do with this one sock that's got a hole right where my big toe was, no matter what I do, it ends up back in my drawer attached to its mate. I could throw it out, it's gonna come back. I don't know. I have a feeling I know. Let me put it that way. Is it Rossi? Is it well? No, I think I think it's like, you know, the laundry gets done, it's like, oh, well, here's a sock, throw it in the laundry, and then nobody looks at it. Well, you know, what Rossi, our yellow lab. I mean, yeah.

Speaker 1:

He he is when I came in today.

Speaker:

Oh, yeah, how was he? Because I was down here.

Speaker 1:

He I was greeted, he was so good. He came up, he said hi, and then he ran downstairs and he took a pillow off the couch and came upstairs. And your wife was like, get that out of your mouth, get that out of your mouth. And he ran the other way, and he ran the other way, of course, and then he came back and he just like shook his head with the pillow in his mouth.

Speaker:

He wants you to play, that's what it's about. And you know, that's a lay.

Speaker 1:

Now that's a lay I was talking to her.

Speaker:

Oh, that could have been part of it because you're like taking his attack's time away from mom.

Speaker 1:

Yes, exactly.

Speaker:

Yeah, so anyway, anyways, on my Christmas list, I mean the best selling is socks, so that's all. I don't know. You know what? I'm gonna get another list together. I will get a list together, me too, and I'll have it next week. Yes, so you know, make sure you come back and see us next week and uh we'll have our Christmas list. Yeah, it's gonna be interesting. I really want to know what's on your list. So, yeah, you'll have to piece something. I'll tell you what's on my list. You might go, Well, you nuts. That's not gonna happen. But really, no, think about it. I'll bet you your list will be so different than my list because of my age and your age and our interests, your interest, and I mean, we have a lot in common, which we're doing this, and I love it, absolutely love it that you've come on board with Skip Happens and we're having some fun. This is what you went to school for, and we're gonna make it work. Uh, we'll get you on the air at the radio station and then take good care of you. It's gonna be so, so very cool. It's a great opportunity that a lot of people really don't get, uh, but proud to be able to do it. But um, my list will be like completely opposite of your list. Because what do you get a guy that's my age? What do you get a guy that you know? Think about this. If you're thinking about Christmas, your mom and dad, what do you get them? You know, here these are people, these are people that probably struggle with that. They have everything they want. Yeah, you know, they have the beautiful family, a beautiful home, you know, but and they've got their everybody has their toys, so to speak.

Speaker 1:

I got my computers, I've you know, but uh yeah, and I'll I'll be honest, gift giving is like not my love language. I'm like not a material. I just I'm not a very materialistic person. I I really enjoy like the the small interactions between do you know what I mean? Like spending time with my family is the gift for me, yeah.

Speaker:

You know, and I tell my my girls that my three daughters, and they'll say, Dad, what do you want? I I'll I'll tell them whether it's Angela, Nicole, or Carly or even Zach, you know, it's like I just want to hug, and then I love it. Yeah, you know, that's that's all that's you know, being a dad.

Speaker 1:

That's yeah, you know, that's how I'm gonna be able to do that's the best thing.

Speaker:

That's the best thing.

Speaker 1:

I relate to that. I just want to be able to do that.

Speaker:

Now my wife will ask what do I want? And I'll say, Yeah, you know, I kind of give her a long list. No, it's just just kidding.

Speaker 1:

Well, first I need the snodch.

Speaker:

That's so cool. So, anyways, uh, yeah, pretty cool stuff. Uh, great conversation, by the way. Great conversation. I love this. I love this. So we're having a lot of fun. Uh, skip happens. Uh go on YouTube, subscribe, uh, you know, and we're gonna try to do this. What we we made a promise to each other that we're gonna do this every week. If you're not consistent, it's not gonna work. It's like with anything else in life. If it's not consistent, it's not gonna work.

unknown:

I'm right.

Speaker 1:

We are gonna make this work.

Speaker:

We are gonna do this, and I cannot wait to meet your mom at the party.

Speaker 1:

Yes, so next week, stay tuned for how that goes. Oh, yeah. So uh because we will do that. Are you dressing up for this? I yes, I did buy like a cute little outfit. I just want it. Well, first of all, I didn't have anything that was like red or green that was like nicer. I didn't, those just aren't my colors. Okay, no, I get it. So I was like, I need to go get something, and I can't I found this just little top and bottom that like matches, and I was like, that's so cute.

Speaker:

I got my wranglers in a nice button down.

Speaker 1:

But is it red or green? Is it festive?

Speaker:

Are jeans festive?

Speaker 1:

Jeans are your shirt festive?

Speaker:

My jeans are blue.

Speaker 1:

But what color is your shirt? Because if it's not one of those colors, it just it won't match the vibe.

Speaker:

Reagan, listen.

Speaker 1:

Whatever's in the stand out like a sore thumb.

Speaker:

No, it won't. I'll have a nice black button down with a nice blazer.

Speaker 1:

That's a good question for the audience. Are you one of those people that that dresses when you like dresses with the group, goes with the group, or are you like, screw that? I'm gonna wear what I want.

Speaker:

Wear a holiday tie. Yes, I have a holiday tie, it has a cent on it, but you know what? This is not that type of party. This is a party where we're all well, everybody looks nice and it's good to get together, but it's not like we're all formal, it's not like we're all wearing, you know.

Speaker 1:

Miss Becky's shown me this dress. Oh my god, Miss Becky. Yes, her dress was kind of fancy, and I was like, You want to know what? I need to step up my game. I cannot show up that's a woman thing, and that might be a woman thing, but I kind of got competitive. I was like, Oh, Becky, you're not gonna be the only one that's that's looking adorable tonight. Like, I want to look good and have a cute outfit, and I know that the other ladies are gonna look great, so I'm like, I just want to look good. I'm gonna be able to do that. Tia's gonna look great.

Speaker:

I know Tia's always styling, she's the tallest woman that I know. Go ahead, you tell her.

Speaker 1:

I was just gonna say today she wore like a blue flannel with black. I don't even she her outfit looks so good, but it literally all matched, even down to her eyes and like her eyelashes, like the mascara, like it all the same blue. It was so aesthetically pleasing. I was like, Tia, you you look like you're from a uh LL Bean catalog, like girl, like I'm not kidding.

Speaker:

I walk through the door and it's like, what the hell are you wearing? I you know what didn't you look in the mirror before you left the house? No, I'm in the house.

Speaker 1:

So still, so still.

Speaker:

Yeah, no, absolutely. It's a good bunch. It's a good bunch, and we'll have a good time. It's our you know, radio station get together.

Speaker 1:

So you messing around with Tia just goes to show we're like a family. We tease 100%.

Speaker:

That's what it's about. Miss Ray, everybody. Yeah, there she is. Wait a minute. We got this, Miss Ray.

Speaker 1:

Yes, thank you, audience in the studio.

Speaker:

You know, we're gonna do that. We're gonna go out live somewhere, and then if somebody goes here, skip cricket. Oh, no, that's all good. Well, thank you for watching, everybody. I know you like the beat.

Speaker 1:

I do, I like the techno beat.

Speaker:

Hopefully, you enjoyed the conversation. Uh, what can we do better? Let's know. We'd love to hear from you. Uh, just let us know. You can reach out uh if you go to well, it's skipclarkfrod at gmail.com. And of course, I'll respond or I'll send it over to Miss Ray and she'll respond. So it's all good. Thanks for being here, everybody. We do appreciate you. This has been another edition of Skip Happens, and we hope to see you right back here next week. What do you think, everybody?

Speaker 1:

Happy? Yes, two weeks left. We're almost to Christmas, everyone.

Speaker:

Chuck DeMauri, good night.

Speaker 1:

Good night, everyone.

Speaker:

Yes, now if I can find the end stream button. I know it's like a whole new thing here. See, so we go across. There we go. All right, good night, everybody. See ya.

Head Shot

Skip Clark

Host