In a recent chat on the ‘Talk Louder’ podcast, producer Max Norman shared his thoughts on the changing landscape of the music industry. He said that there was no point in making new records as there was a decrease in interest in studio albums:
“The problem now is people can’t make world-class records because there’s 10,000 records a day coming out or whatever. So nobody’s making world-class records because nobody gives a s**t. Because it doesn’t matter how good the record is. Only f**king two people are gonna listen to it anyway. And they’re both related to you.”
Norman has a rich history in the music industry, having worked on significant projects, including Ozzy Osbourne’s debut album’ Blizzard Of Ozz,’ which he co-produced with the band after initially joining Chris Tsangarides as an engineer.
The Future Is In Live Music, He Says
The producer also collaborated with names like Y&T, Armoured Saint, Lizzy Borden, and Loudness. He completed his latest projects with artists like Ethan Brosh and Mean Streak in 2017.
Despite his doubts about album production, Norman expressed optimism about the future of live music:
“I’m trying to think where the industry is going and where it’s happening. To me, there’s a lot more activity of live stuff. And to me, it shows that there’s a lot of longevity in live performance. Whether it be a cover band, whether it be a tribute band or an original band.”
Noting how cover and tribute bands were on the rise lately, he added:
“Maybe the future, or some of the future of music, is live performance. And I was thinking — maybe I should just put a whole rig together in a little van or truck and just go out and just punch, just kept performances from these clubs. Just go out and get all these and just keep pumping them out. Just f**king live mix them, don’t f**k with them too much, fix the s**t that needs fixing a little bit.”
The producer/engineer concluded by highlighting the importance of authentic live performances in today’s digital age. He suggested that capturing the raw energy of live shows could be a way forward for artists and bands.
