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Quote by Tony Visconti

“Towards the end of the seventies pop was gaining the momentum and respectability was very high with groups like Yes and Queen who were making "classical" rock records. They were also bringing in big bucks. So the eighties became the "bottom line" decade.”

Quote by Tony Visconti

Author

Tony Visconti, born on April 24, 1944, is a renowned record producer with extensive experience in the music production field. He has collaborated with numerous famous artists, including David Bowie and Tina Turner, and is highly regarded for his unique musical taste and production skills. more

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“I kind of liked the method of the seventies where they would throw a little bit of money at a hundred different groups - not millions of dollars per group, but, you know, a few thousand. Throw them in the studio, and if five of those groups came out with a hit record it would be money well spent.”

Ifs Knows Wells Kind Littles Different Would Be Bits Millions Records Five Groups Thousand Little Bit Hundred Method Dollars Studios Seventies Money Well Spent

Author:Tony Visconti

“The eighties turned the whole system upside down. They would sign three groups and give them five or ten million dollars each to make three records. Out of those three records maybe one would be a hit. The economy changed, and that's why the music changed.”

Giving Whole Would Be Three Millions Economy Records Five Groups Changed Ten Dollars Eighty Million Dollars Upside Down

Author:Tony Visconti

“Any respectable artist has really given up on a label because the labels are still kidding themselves that the only way to go is to sign these big names like Lady Gaga and expect to make gazillions.”

Way Stills Bigs Artist Names Given Labels Given Up Respectable Gaga

Author:Tony Visconti

“Every time I meet the CEO of a record label I tell them how they did it in the seventies because they want to know. I tell them, "Sign a hundred people! Throw it against the wall and see which ones stick!" And they frown and say, "Oh, we can't do that!" and they start mumbling about demographics and this and that.”

People Knows Want Records Wall Hundred Sticks Labels Ceo Seventies Demographics Record Labels

Author:Tony Visconti

“The labels are not getting the returns they want from their PR. Plus, for every Taylor Swift there are a hundred thousand nobodies out there who are probably making better music. Self-releasing is the only way to go.”

Way Want Self Return Thousand Hundred Labels Plus

Author:Tony Visconti

“Some people do rely too much on technology. Look, technology is wonderful and I love it. When I was in the UK and I had hit records I would also have a high tax bill at the end of the year, and that would be the time to buy up all the technology - it was write offs.”

People Writing Years Looks Ends Would Be Technology Records Too Much Wonderful Taxes Bills Rely High Taxes

Author:Tony Visconti

“You could make some great sounds with technology. That's what recording is all about. What happens in the studio is very magical, and should be, in my opinion.”

Should Happens Sound Opinion Technology Studios

Author:Tony Visconti

“I like to work with people who have a sense of putting a song over, and can sing in tune, and with passion. With technology you can polish a turd, but there's still no button you can press for passion.”

People Stills Song Passion Technology Presses Tunes Buttons Polish Turds

Author:Tony Visconti

“I think the whole obsession with old gear is completely overblown. You don't need old-fashioned gear to make a great-sounding record. You don't even need [analog] tape.”

Thinking Needs Whole Records Obsession Tape Old Fashioned Gears Analog

Author:Tony Visconti

“You don't necessarily need expensive gear or giant budgets to reach an audience.”

Needs Audience Budgets Giants Expensive Gears

Author:Tony Visconti