“Oh, you weren’t going to illegally download music online, well let me show you how to get any song you want 24/7, and at any time you want to hear it, for the cost of almost nothing… nevermind what the artist gets paid; they should just be grateful you get to hear them.”

The Plus Side is supposed to be that “Something is better than nothing“… but is it really? Sure, the internet has helped opened the door for indie artists when it comes to exposure. It really has let the indies get heard much easier, but that being said, there’s no money in it. I’m not talking from the viewpoint of some greedy songwriter who wants a private jet, what I mean is… I just don’t see a way to make a living in music, unless you’re playing sold out shows and selling merchandise at concerts. Sure, organizations like ASCAP are fighting to help writers, but I have yet to see a change in my wallet, other than a decrease in income.

Sure, we probably all want fame and fortune with mega-hits that everyone loves, but most of us write out of our own musical therapy and to express ourselves. I don’t think any writer thinks during their songwriting process: “Oh, this song is going to buy me a new swimming pool….this chorus will finally get that Tesla I wanted!” I’m fairly certain the majority of us do it out of creativity, and we hope that others connect to it. We put our souls into what we do, and if we’re good at it (or even just mediocre), and people like it, it seems fair that we should be compensated fairly. We’re not.

I used to make a little money on CD sales, and I even did OK when iTunes/Amazon was selling 99 cent downloads, but since streaming services went into full swing, Music Income basically stopped. Royalties from songs placed in TV shows still do dandy, but streaming? It’s been discouraging…it’s enough to make you take up Architectural Photography [inside joke].

At first I thought that it was because I was an indie artist without the well-oiled machine of a major label behind me, but when I started reading that the “big-wigs” were dealing with the same struggle, there was a little comfort in knowing the little guys weren’t the only people being screwed. I mean, the industry has always been stacked in favor of the record companies, but back then they were at least nice enough to give the artist a Reach-Around.

In 2014 I saw Bette Midler’s tweet:

Hell…even a random Google search brings up this story in the New Yorker from 2016. If you don’t feel like reading, here’s a highlight showing some math:

And just recently, fellow Michigander Brian Vander Ark (lead singer/writer for The Verve Pipe) updated his Facebook with this:

So the point of this blog entry? I just hope for some sort of change; I really don’t know what the answer is though. If not for me, for the future of songwriters. The way the system is now, it’s just going to breed a bunch a lousy music while talented writers walk away from the industry.

For me… I think I get somewhere around $00.004 a stream with my own music (it varies with each different service). The other day I got a notice that I was finally going to get another check again for $100! Let’s just say it’s been a while since I received a check from CD Baby (because no one actually buys CDs any more). I get ASCAP checks all the time from TV/Film placements, which are great, but if anyone wants to see a breakdown of a check for $100 for of streaming, it’s below… Keep in mind at how many times a song has to be streamed just to be able to pay for the check that’s mailed to me.

But before you read below, let me just say thank you guys for taking the time to listen to my music and even stream it [I’m not writing this out of ungratefulness]…this is a lot of frickin’ streams for me. Now how on Earth can I spend this $100 bucks?!?!?

Hi Bob,

CD Baby sent you a payment! (oh boy, I’m jumping out of my skin!)

On 11.16.2014 CD Baby sent you check XXXXXX for $108.40. Watch your mail for it! We mailed it to:

The check was to pay you:

$0.01 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Rdio

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$0.01 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through iTunes Match – Americas

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$9.09 for album download of Bob Gentry: Bob Gentry

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NOTE: A $1.50 Payment Fee was deducted from this payment.

When I first met Rod, I admit I had no idea who he was and I certainly had no clue of the mega-fame he earned and lived through. Most people my age and younger probably don’t even know his name, and judging by the lack of tribute by the “stars” of today, I doubt they even know it now. Though I bet some might recognize his songs like “Seasons In the Sun,” “If You Go Away,” and the Oscar nominated “Jean,”…  I was wildly impressed learning that he wrote and performed the song “A Boy Named Charlie Brown” since it was a cartoon I remember watching yearly as a kid. I never read poems but since songwriting is the cousin of poetry, I had great appreciation for it. Little did I know I would become close friends with the best selling American Poet.

In a way, it was good that I didn’t know about all his success when we met because It eliminated me being starstruck. It allowed for more of an equal friendship and working relationship to develop. That being said, Rod cast a huge shadow so it was really impossible to share a single spotlight – that never stopped him from being a generous performer and sharing the stage though.

Eventually I became amazed with his achievements and talent. When walking into Rod’s Beverly Hills mansion it was impossible not to notice… his Gold and Platinum records lined throughout the hallways, awards, Grammy, full vintage recording studio, and some of the most valuable art I’ve ever seen on the walls (Picasso, Andy Warhol, Charles Schulz, etc). Hell, Rod even had Picasso drawings OF Rod by Picasso on his wall. From the eyes of a poor starving artist fresh off the bus from Detroit, seeing all this was surreal. But more than just “neat things” to show, Rod had millions of stories of Old School Hollywood that were priceless to hear [one in particular about David Janssen smoking a lot of weed always amused me – HA!].

I can’t truly describe the honor I felt knowing that McKuen wanted to work with me… but during that time, we were as thick as thieves.

I wrote/recorded many songs with Rod and performed a bunch of concerts. He seemed to feed off of partnership with music though he never required it. I think it was just more fun for him. I’d like to think that I inspired him to get out and perform again (before I came along, he was living the life of a hermit and hiding from the spotlight-other than posting daily blurbs on his website). I know he worked with some monstrously talented people so to be one of his last collaborators, I know I’m a lucky guy.

I learned quite a bit from Rod(including how to make a martini), though looking back, I know I was stubborn and I’m surprised I was able to learn anything at all (young people always think they have all the answers – the curse of youth). And now? I’m left with memories…some good, some bad, some funny, some sad. I guess a little turbulence always makes for more exciting ride though. Perhaps some day I might share more (like how Rod gave me the secret identity of Dwight Michaels while running his mail order for a short time), but right now the only thing that makes sense to share is the loss I feel and my good fortune to be able to call Rod my friend. Like any true artist, his body of work will keep him alive forever.

I should mention the biggest thing Rod taught me… That success is possible. I may not have achieved or produced a sliver of the art that he left on this Earth, but there aren’t many who will. There won’t be another Rod Mckuen folks.

I don’t normally record cover songs, but this one was a bedroom recording made just for fun (Music is supposed to be fun right?)… I snagged Kevin Jellison to track the guitar solo a while back. The song’s been sitting around collecting dust and not too many have heard my silly take on it. Some of you might recognize the song. I’ve always loved it and it makes me feel like I’m a kid again – I still picture Tracey Ullman and Paul McCartney strolling down the isles of a grocery store when I hear it.

I’ve always called my version “They Don’t Know… I did this song”…. Well….. now “they” do.

So Happy Holidays, Happy New Year!

Cheers to 2015!

Happy December 1st, Cyber Monday and the countdown to 2015!

Today, I got my copy of 72 El Segundo Blvd by The Old Shatterhand. I’ve been cranking it. I’m not sure when the album will be available on iTunes, but be sure to check out their Facebook page or join their mailing list to get the updates.

So why the plug? A few reasons… Track #5 (Dime Bag) is a song I wrote many years ago that’s been sitting around unrecorded and collecting musical dust. These guys pulled it out of the grave, recorded it, and put their spin on it and gave it life … I can’t help but love it. Such nostalgia for me to hear! And I admit, it’s pretty frickin’ cool when someone covers your tune and even better when you like the version!

Gary’s the guitar player for the band, an old bandmate (with Detroit Moisture), and good friend..pick up the album when you can. My favorite tracks on the disc are… Girl Next Door, Pull Over, Freda Smiles, Aurora, Dime Bag, and Snow. Wait..that’s the entire disc! But seriously, I dig them all…Pull Over is the one that’s stuck in my head the most. That chorus hooks you and it makes me want to drive 90mph.

Hell no .. I ain’t pulling over! I’m too busy cranking this tune.

Thanks to the gang in the The Older Shatterhand! Can’t wait to check out a live show down the road!

When I lived in Michigan, this used to be my favorite time of year. The beginning of crisp weather, apple cider mills (along with those yummy greasy donuts), the change of the color of the leaves, and of course Halloween! When I moved to LA, it was pretty much just Halloween that came around, but now that I’m in Palm Springs, we actually have a change of weather too. No, it’s not quite the same as a Michigan Fall, but it’s pretty frickin’ nice to have it cooled off here in the desert. And by cooled off, I mean 60’s at night and 90’s in the day This is my 1st year here and I’m told it can get even colder in the winter… of course, LA can get pretty cold too, but after those 110 degree summer days living in the pool, this seems real nice. I’m still really glad I moved here.  Of course, I miss some things about LA, just as I missed things about Detroit… mostly, it’s missing friends and family (wherever they might be).

One very unexpected surprise is, I’m now I bigger fish in the smaller pond when it comes to music stuff. All those years of trying to build up a fan base and web audience in Los Angeles and feeling like I’m lost in the millions of others trying to do the same…well, by moving to Palm Springs, my Reverbnation rank shot to Rank #1. If you click the picture below, it’ll take you to the site, but basically, Reverbnation tabulates the artist’s;

• Song Plays (on Reverbnation site)
• Video Plays (through Reverbnation)
• Total Fans (in your mailing list)
• Reverbnation Fans
• Facebook Likes
• Twitter Followers
• YouTube Subscribers
• Mobile App Users
• Widget Impressions

[If you feel like clicking some of those links above and liking, following, or subscribing, that would be dandy!]

So what does all this mean?

Well, nothing at all. I need to mention that my Rank # if I still lived in LA would be in the thousands(and Globally, I’m just an grain of sand), but for the moment, it’s nice to see that the years of begging friends and family to Like my social media pages have paid off a smidge. So thanks!!! And yes, I know it wasn’t all “begging”… I may have earned some legit fans here and there.

Ok, enough unneeded ego stroking.

Maybe in the next post I’ll be talking about the upcoming concert I’m trying to put together. Yeah, I think I will. Until then, have a fun holiday!

Most of you who know me, or who follow my Facebook or Twitter, you know that I moved from Los Angeles to Palm Springs a few months ago. I figured that I better make it official on my website – as if it wasn’t official enough on other social media right?  And so, I traded an ocean (that I hardly ever saw), for the desert. So far, I have no regrets and it’s been somewhat refreshing. I know the desert isn’t for everyone but I’m really digging it at this point in my life.

One of my favorite songs is A Long December by Counting Crows. It’s really one of those songs that takes on a new meaning after living in LA. I mean, it’s a good song regardless of where you live, but the line “And it’s been so long since I’ve seen the ocean… I guess I should” described 80% of my life in LA.

Hell, I think the only time I really saw the ocean was when people would come visit. The Pacific is hypnotic, I could look at it for hours… unfortunately, living in the thick of Los Angeles (like West Hollywood, or the Valley), you never see the sea… even though it’s really only 5 miles away.  Getting there can be like trying to make it through an America Ninja Warrior course.

While growing up in Michigan, I’d always envision life in California to be stereotypical of what “Hollywood” wanted people to think it is. Beach house, surfing, and basically any Beach Boys tune. There were a few occasions where you could judge the book by the cover, but someone left out the fine print. Los Angeles is sometimes like an erectile pill that has numerous side effects that some narrator tries to sneak in at the end of the commercial:

“Los Angeles may cause dry mouth, constipation, overinflated egos, rockstar wanna-bes, people wanting to be famous just to be famous, a 5 mile drive in traffic that lasts longer than 4 hours, shortness of breath, feeling light-headed, headache, nausea, panic attacks, 200 people all living in a 10,000 square foot area… etc…traffic, traffic, and traffic.”

I loved LA too. I don’t mean to bash it or the people there too much. Mixed in are quite a few brilliant and talented folks, but even those people will tell you that it can get to you. Perhaps that goes for any place. Anyways… for me, I was ready for a change. Also,  you sure get a lot for your money here in Palm Springs [for a very small 2 bed, 1 bath house in an area like Burbank will cost you almost 1 million dollars]. Not that Palm Springs is cheap, but most people have 2nd homes here so it’s a different market…and I admit, the summers are frickin’ hot, but I’ll take that over 12 months of shitty traffic, or 8 months of freezing snow and ice.

So for now, I’m in the desert and enjoying a different pace of life. It’s really beautiful here too. Also, it’s a 2 hour drive back to LA if I need to be back there for work stuff or to visit. Change is Good!

Let’s start simple first… I’m planning on making more music again, and I’m getting my website ready for all that. I’ve even started taking old video files and trying to upscale them and clean then up, as well as searching through old photos for the upcoming photo section(like the one pictured left). Mainly, I needed to bring my site into this decade. Although, I admit that it was hard to take down the last front page that said “Opening for Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band at the Greek Theatre“– I mean, once you get to make noise on stage before a Beatle, everything else seems so hard to top. But as for writing/recording new music or performing again? That is the plan. I’m not sure when, what, or how, but why is the long and complicated answer.

I guess the main Why is because I miss it, but also, not doing it makes me feel like I’ve lost my identity. Over the last few years, I started another business that has nothing to do with music and it’s been very nice being a “grown up” but there is room in my life to do both. And no, I don’t have any delusions of grandeur that it’s going to be more than what it is. I’m just going to make music, make myself happy, and if others enjoy it too, then GREAT.

Stepping away from the song and dance game with the idea of trying to come back has given me a new perspective. I’m not sure if it’s better or worse. In a way, I really wish I still had that unjaded outlook about the business part of music, but I’m going to try to just forget about that and just do what I loved. I’ll do my best not to go over the top on “annoyance promotion” that I see some bands doing these days, but there might be some of that to come down the road. I’ll try to do it sparingly though.

When it comes to Music Business, I’m terrible at it. At every point in my life where there were two choices and I need to pick left or right, and the correct answer was left, I’d always end up going right. It never failed. Everything from hiring/firing the wrong managers, signing/not signing deals, picking the wrong lawyers, hurting friends and bandmates and listening to(and believing) all the bullshit that other people fed me…well.. I’m going to try my best just to only focus on the actual music part… I don’t care about the rest of it. I’ve hurt way to many people along the way and have way too many regrets. I think now, I might be able to try again and know what to avoid… I hope.

Oh… I need to address one last thing. Over the last few years of taking a music break, people would ask and get upset that I wasn’t still making music. Some would get really bothered by it (which was flattering) but some of these folks wondering why I wasn’t putting out new stuff are also the same people that didn’t have an answer when I asked them “Well, did you actually buy my last album?” It’s fine if you’re not a fan of the music, but please don’t egg me on to do more if you’re not willing to drop $0.99 on a download from iTunes. It’s cool to get streams on Spotify(and other places like that) but in order for me to buy 1 can of dog food, I’d need to have 1 song streamed well over 1000 times.

So, if you like what I do, and what you hear, and if you can’t afford to support it by buying, then please share it with someone else who you think might like it. Better yet, share it with some of your music supervisors friends & editors looking for music for their TV and Film projects.–you know you have some of those friends

Ok..now that I’ve declared that I’m ready to make music again, I guess I should stop typing and pick up the dusty guitar. Thanks to those who’ve been supportive through the years, both emotionally and financially. I’m grateful and I hope to keep creating more things that you might enjoy!

I haven’t been writing lately, or updating my status update on Facebook, or Tweeting… Instagram sure is easy to keep up with though. It’s certainly less drama that all other social media. And, if I want to post a million photos of my dog, I don’t feel guilty about it. I still try to read as much of my newsfeed on Facebook as I can, but lately It just seems to be the way to wish people Happy Birthday.

I guess as I get older, I don’t feel the need for as much attention like I did when I was in my approval seeking music making years. Blogging and Facebooking was my way of trying to keep my name out there… and perhaps sell an mp3 on iTunes, or promote a concert. It was mentally EXHAUSTING. Now, I just try to promote my photography business, which really doesn’t require much (other than posting the photos). And in that case, I’m not trying to be liked… When I was trying to be part of the “fame game” I felt a little like a politician.

Hand me another baby to kiss on the head please…

For the time being, no more shaking hands and kissing babies, although I still hold back from letting my guard down by trying to please everyone. I guess what I’m trying to say is, I spent a lot of energy that I never even realized I was doing back in those music years. And though it’s only been a few years since stepped out of the light, it feels like such a long time ago. Perhaps some day I might return to music when I figure out how to love it again.

*None of this means that I still don’t want to be liked… I like attention just as much as the next person… It’s just no longer required in my life and I’m not feeding on it to survive.

So to take things back to Dental Photo above…

I spend a lot of time in the dental chair. This last time, I was being fitted for a night guard. Apparently, I grind my teeth while I sleep. Who knew?  Part of me wonders if this is really the case, if it was just another device to sell me. These night guards are costly too. I think mine was about $500.

When the dentist first mentioned this device, I imagined it being a soft gel-type teeth protector, but after they molded my mouth and it came back a week later, I realized it was a super hard piece of plastic that sort of snaps and locks into your mouth. Everyone in the dental office kept saying things like “Oh, you’re going to love it… I have mine and now I can’t even imagine sleeping without it!” They tell me that it takes a while to get used to.  I’m still trying, but for me, it’s extremely awkward.

Many times, I forget but I’m still going to keep trying to get used to it. Most nights I feel like I’m going to bed as a James Bond villain.

I suppose if it stops me from grinding my teeth or chipping them, then it’s ok.

Living in a place where I pull out my heavy winter coat when the temperature hits 70 degrees, helps mask some of those Christmas triggers, but I think it’s a blessing. And if I really want to be reminded of what it’s like to feel my nostrils freeze, I can always hop on a flight back to Michigan. I guess if I let myself, I could easily let Christmas throw me into a funk, but for now I’ll just try to focus on the good stuff in life.

Now New Years is another story. About halfway through Auld Lang Syne, I’m ready to floss my wrists with barbwire. I CAN’T STAND New Years. I try to focus on “fresh starts” and “resolutions” but if I’m being honest with myself, it just reminds me of time running out, people who are no longer here, feeling old, etc…

When I was a kid, I looked ahead to certain years. 1999 (party over, oops out of time), 2000 (Y2K), 2001 (A Space Odyssey), 2012 (Mayan Ending) …but now I don’t even think about future dates of significance. I dunno…perhaps 2020. And as I type it, I realize that date is only 6 years away. Humph.

Speaking of years… here’s a rehearsal video of a song I wrote about 1993.  Hard to believe 93 was TWENTY years ago.

Video quality isn’t the best but hopefully you like the song.

Have a safe, happy, and healthy holiday! I’ll stay away from the New Years barbwire

I think my favorite Xmas song is “Another Lonely Christmas” by Prince. It’s the tip of the iceberg in manic depression and brings you to the edge of wanting to puncture your chest with an icicle. The song was all over the Detroit radio stations during the late 80’s (when I was growing up), but it seems many people have never heard the tune.  The CliffNotes version of the song is… the guy’s girlfriend dies on Christmas night 7 years ago from pneumonia and now it’s time to get hammered on banana daiquiris until blindness. I’m paraphrasing, of course. But you get the idea. The song is GOLD.

*It’s track 53 if you want to hear a clip of it in iTunes but it’s just a real quickie clip.

Off subject, I’ve been messing with my new toy. The HERO3+ Black Edition. I still have NO IDEA what I’m doing, but I’m having fun. Right now, there’s just going to be a million videos of me and my dog playing frisbee

I’ll try to record more things down the road. I’m not really an adrenaline junkie, so you won’t catch me strapping the camera to my head and jumping out of an airplane. Maybe I’ll shoot some stuff around town though–these little things are convenient…and so far, fun.