You all probably have seen this article but I thought I'd post a paragraph and a link. It makes me sad to read this article because...

I have to agree with it and it makes me feel like myspace is making me feel today:
brick_wall

It also makes me feel sad because if I feel this way, I can imagine how Bo and those close to him feel.........

:(

"I signed it. I'm not a big fan of petitions and I doubt that it will do much to increase his leverage with Clive. It's a bit of a chicken/egg situation. Clive doesn't want to sell Bo's original music unless he believes it will sell. And since he won't sell it, Bo's fans can't rush out and buy it to prove it. But a petition to me is harmless although in my mind very, very sad. This is not where we should be in the music industry."

Full Article

Yeah, it is probably like a catch 22. If Bo wants a petition by the fans out there, though, I'm more than willing to sign one. At least Mr. Davis may take one second and think about it. Probably better stand standing by silently and letting him think that everyone agrees that he is going in the right direction.

Jeannine

Definitely Jeannine....me too. It's totally better to try and remedy the situation than to stand by idly doing nothing. This article weighs heavy on my heart though....

Denise, perhaps it's not just the petition itself, but the reminder (and the nuances via Bo) that this is where he wants to go with his music & he wants support. Petitions and pamphlets aside I felt Bo reaching out. I feel like you - I'd give anything to be able to take his hand and say "we're going to record YOUR songs now" and be able to produce and sell it.

In the scheme of things I find it hard to believe Clive would ever see such a petition... but a better idea over there, if Bo really wants this, might be to have some sort of petition posted on bobice.com by the administration that requires identifying information to at least get into and sign. He could have a more polished-looking work product to try to convince his people at RCA. Or to present to alternative labels if he's out there being approached by other folks... you never know what's really going on.

It's really not so much the petition, it's the thought that Bo might be stuck between a rock and a hard place as far as what he wants career wise. This in combination with the efforts to help him out (at his request) just sadden me because I can feel his pain.....

Most musicians end up in this position some time or other in their careers - just part of the journey.

The thing I LIKE about the petition is moving the energy forward - trying things out, which will make us better prepared for the next thrust. And there will be one - guaranteeeeeeed ....

slysmiley

Kathy, you are so right....

thanks, I needed the voice of reason today.

huggin

Thank you, Kathy. What you said makes so much sense to me.

Jeannine

I understand the sentiment behind the petition and the rush to please Bo because it was his suggestion...BUT, it is my opinion that this wasn't well thought out. I feel that if this is going to possibly be seen (and taken seriously) by Clive Davis then it needs to be more polished and professional and shouldn't appear as if a bunch of smitten fans are tripping over themselves to do Bo's bidding. I have serious misgivings about the wisdom of this petition and the negitive impact it could have for Bo. As fans, our continued and loyal support of Bo and his career will have more of an an impact where RCA is concerned and eventually give him the right to have more control over his what he releases in the future...solid and lasting careers take time to build, messing with the powers that be that are a part of that process may not be in Bo's best interest. I wouldn't be surprised if Bo himself regrets suggesting this...but now the ball is rolling, it's too late to stop it. I'm sure I have stepped on a few toes and ruffeled a few feathers with this post, but this is how I feel about this. I hope it all turns out well.

no feathers ruffled here ponytail...we're all entitled to our individual thoughts and opinions. Thanks for sharing! :)

I quite agree! We want everyone to be able to express their opinions. Thank you for sharing yours.

Jeannine

Ponytail,

I have to agree with you, in that I think sending a petition to Clive Davis is a really BAD idea which is why I didn't sign it.
I don't think this is in the best interest of Bo's career at all & I'm very surprized that Bo even wanted this. My good friends sister worked as Clive Davis assistant for years & he knows exactly what he's doing.

Bo, if you want your original music out there, WHY don't you play any of it in your LIVE SHOWS??? instead of playing old cover's??
I think if Bo plays more original stuff at his concerts, it WILL get out there, & I think Clive will allow more of Bo's music on future CD's. it will happen.

Why do the fans think they know the music business better than Clive Davis?
Just my opinion!! bo_mic

He does play his originals in concert...as well as covers and songs from TRT cd. IMO, it's a good mix.

I agree...it is a good mix of songs with quite a few originals. Something for everybody.

Jeannine

Maybe my statement came out wrong, but from what I know, the original stuff he plays at the shows are the 3 songs from TRT that are his.

I meant to say some of his stuff that we really haven't heard that much, or new original stuff!!!

Sorry, I didn't mean to get you guys pissed.

I'm not pissed at all. There are probably reasons he doesn't play original stuff that we haven't heard yet (copyright...upcoming projects, etc.). But, I do think he's played songs not on the disc before, not at every show, but has played them - Whiskey, SIAS, C&N (those are on dual disc), Ain't Got Money, Only Words, Lonely Boy Blues (even though that one was sadly missing from the Burlington set list <_< ) etc.

Like he said, he tries to feel out the crowd to figure out what the set will be and kinda goes with the flow, and so far, it seems that crowds dig it all. I do think the covers work great for those who may not know his original or TRT songs as well.

I'm sorry you thought anyone was pissed, Topkat - because I'm not at all. Was just replying with my thoughts on the subject. huggin

I signed the petition when I read what Bo had said about it, but I have to honestly say I didn't think much of it, or that it would even get as far (or have as many signatures) as it is right now. Even so, I don't think this petition is going to help or hurt his career, except possibly give fodder to those who consider him less-than-talented (as that Rolling Stone blog suggests). Bo needs his fans to push his career? Hardly. Clive Davis has been in the music business way too long to have ever bothered with Bo if he didn't think it would pay off.

I do think the support for the petition made Bo feel pretty good that something he thought was a good idea was jumped on by so many people so even if that's all it accomplishes, it's a good thing (a good thing).

Just my 2 cents.

Jackie, can I commission you to write all of my posts from now on? You said exactly what I was thinking in such an eloquent way.

I don't know about the rest of you (maybe this is where Jackie should write again!) but I'm kind of sick of this petition. Maybe we should join Keelakat (Linda) and others on promoting UMMB to increase sales. Increased sales = happy Uncle Clive = (hopefully) Bo getting more cred at the bargaining table :)

I think that everyone has to do whatever they feel most comfortable with. Anyone who doesn't want to support the petition shouldn't feel obligated to do so; those who do want to support the petition should equally feel free to do so. The beautiful thing about the threads re: petition is that for the most part they are isolated from other topics (although I've noticed that some people - both for and against said petition - bring the subject up in almost every conversation, post, etc.) If the topic is kept to the petition threads then those who oppose it are NEVER forced to read about it.

Can we have a little "live and let live" on this subject? Because let's face it - it's like many other "hot topics" - we're never going to convince the people with opposing views to see it our way.

And I'm all in favor of supporting TRT and UMMB!

Well, I can't speak for anyone else, but I am perfectly capable of doing both, supporting the petition and promoting UMMB at my local radio station.

That is how I feel. I didn't realize it had to be an "either/or" type of situation.

Jeannine

Sorry, just trying to lighten things up a little bit and I failed. Of course noone is "forced" to read anything. And, Chris (& Jeannine), you are completely correct - of course people are capable of multi-tasking (and supporting both or supporting neither or whatever) if they so desire.

It is just sad to me that this became such a divisive topic. In general, I don't think the solution to divisiveness is building walls (I've talked about this topic before in terms of politics) or limiting discourse. That is just my personal world-view, and I respect that others feel differently.

In any event, I do support Bo and his song-writing. I'd love to hear more of his original music - whether it's on a cd, through his website, or at concerts.

We're all just expressing opinions here. No hard feelings, I still love all you guys & fully support Bo & his career.

We all just want what is best for OUR GUY!! bo_waving