It’s just undeniably true, though, that there are far fewer hungry outsiders today than there were in the past, when you had the British Invasion, the Big Four of grunge, to say nothing of all the early pioneers of jazz, soul, hip hop… In other words, working-class kids who had to try much harder, to be much better, to overcome their disadvantages.
By contrast, outside of hip hop, almost every defining artist of the 21st century, from the Strokes to Taylor Swift, is a trust fund baby, nepo baby, industry baby, or some combination thereof. This can’t be a coincidence!
I find it strange that so many people defend those who have privilege, saying, “All it does is get your foot in the door.” Like, getting your foot in the door isn’t some trivial step? A working-class kid can spend their whole life trying to do just that!
Sam Fender has talked about this. “The music industry is 80 per cent, 90 per cent kids who are privately educated. A kid from where I’m from can’t afford to tour, so there are probably thousands writing songs that are ten times better than mine, poignant lyrics about the country, but they will not be seen because it’s rigged.” (https://www.facebook.com/samfender/posts/timesculture-out-today-/1170223077804808/)
Sure! If you don't need to work a job, then you can focus all your time on your art and, maybe more importantly, networking! I think what I agree with Chris on, though, is it's not the same as nepotism. Swift and Lefty (wow that's a country song right there) aren't nepo babies, they're just rich kids who also have talent. I remember being pissed when I was in my twenties at people who could just fart around in their bushwick lofts playing guitar all day while I was worked as a house painter, hardwood floor installer and construction site manager. But most of them didn't have industry connections, they just had time. Likewise, there were solidly middle class people who had to have 'real jobs' like me, but their parents--though not wealthy--worked in 'the industry' and thus they had better connections than I did, from the jump. This is like Hannah Einbinder. A nepo baby, but not a trust funder.
Interesting timing. I just found out that Gracie Abrams' father is the famous movie director J.J. Abrams. I wondered, too, if it helped having J.J. as her father. In a recent interview, I saw how hard she works and what it takes to be at her level. I applaud her and others who do the work despite their upbringing.
One question - who did you have in mind when you said Jewel was in the group of 90's nepo artists? Her family were performers but I wouldn't say any of them were famous enough to make her a nepo artist.
In the Deadhead scene there was much resentment towards Grahame Lesh, son of the late Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, who placed his son in bands alongside much more experienced and skilled musicians. Over the years he's become much better at guitar and has gained much respect from such musicians, who are happy to be part of his band lineups.
The problem is that we’re using a 17th century word that had appropriate meanings in early, industrial and mature capitalist societies, but doesn’t describe anything useful in our late capitalist society (just as it wouldn’t have described anything useful in pre-capitalist societies). In our current situation, jobs in ANY competitive industry are essentially impossible to earn solely through merit. When I lived in NY I met people all the time who had come from Europe to take internships in America because in their home countries it was impossible to get even an internship at a competitive company without some kind of connection or advantage—and working for an American company was a kind of advantage their privilege can afford. Imagine going to live in London for a year or two to work for free simply in hopes that you MIGHT get a paid job when you came home. And im talking about jobs at banks and manufacturers, not just media. I couldn’t have afforded to do that. Nepotism now isn’t a thing. It’s the natural state of survival. Not to mention of course that show business has always been a family business etc. None of that makes any of this less disheartening for young talent with no access. It does highlight how the American system has gutted its ability to reliable find and produce talent across all fields and industries, outsourced to the fickle results of privilege.
I think Sienna Spiro is on that list too. It's a big step up from you can afford to live an early life gigging to you can hire hit songwriter and production teams. But man, what a gorgeous set of pipes. They didn't rearrange her tracks and bury her in the mix. I feel like an artist's truth eventually comes out.
I understand people resenting what they feel is an easier road if more doors get opened earlier, but I don't think it's very different from a pro athlete raising other pro athletes. Sometimes the lottery hands someone with a wealthy family, sometimes a fabulous set of physical gifts, and sometimes you busk until you're 25. Every neighborhood everywhere has phenomenal artists, athletes, and others. Many just never made it for whatever reason. Good for those who do.
I wouldn't mind stella lefty/gracie abrams & co if they weren't so averse to taking any risks in their music. I remember when Clairo was getting these accusations early on in her career, but she was at least working with a fresh-out-of-vampire weekend Rostam Batmanglij and not copying the notes from other, more popular singers in her same genre like a schoolkid who didn't study for the test. Make something all your own if you want me to take you seriously.
Obviously nepotism isn't necessary for success in the music industry. I'm not even sure it's sufficient. Didn't you write something once before about the children of famous singers and if any had been more successful than their parents? A few have, like Miley Cyrus, but Billy Ray wasn't exactly a superstar. Natalie Cole. Enrique Iglesias. But there have been a lot of flops too.
It’s just undeniably true, though, that there are far fewer hungry outsiders today than there were in the past, when you had the British Invasion, the Big Four of grunge, to say nothing of all the early pioneers of jazz, soul, hip hop… In other words, working-class kids who had to try much harder, to be much better, to overcome their disadvantages.
By contrast, outside of hip hop, almost every defining artist of the 21st century, from the Strokes to Taylor Swift, is a trust fund baby, nepo baby, industry baby, or some combination thereof. This can’t be a coincidence!
I find it strange that so many people defend those who have privilege, saying, “All it does is get your foot in the door.” Like, getting your foot in the door isn’t some trivial step? A working-class kid can spend their whole life trying to do just that!
Sam Fender has talked about this. “The music industry is 80 per cent, 90 per cent kids who are privately educated. A kid from where I’m from can’t afford to tour, so there are probably thousands writing songs that are ten times better than mine, poignant lyrics about the country, but they will not be seen because it’s rigged.” (https://www.facebook.com/samfender/posts/timesculture-out-today-/1170223077804808/)
Sure! If you don't need to work a job, then you can focus all your time on your art and, maybe more importantly, networking! I think what I agree with Chris on, though, is it's not the same as nepotism. Swift and Lefty (wow that's a country song right there) aren't nepo babies, they're just rich kids who also have talent. I remember being pissed when I was in my twenties at people who could just fart around in their bushwick lofts playing guitar all day while I was worked as a house painter, hardwood floor installer and construction site manager. But most of them didn't have industry connections, they just had time. Likewise, there were solidly middle class people who had to have 'real jobs' like me, but their parents--though not wealthy--worked in 'the industry' and thus they had better connections than I did, from the jump. This is like Hannah Einbinder. A nepo baby, but not a trust funder.
Interesting timing. I just found out that Gracie Abrams' father is the famous movie director J.J. Abrams. I wondered, too, if it helped having J.J. as her father. In a recent interview, I saw how hard she works and what it takes to be at her level. I applaud her and others who do the work despite their upbringing.
I’m sure she worked hard. But I’m also sure having JJ Abrams as your father is helpful too
“I am a warrior, so that my son may be a merchant, so that his son may be a poet.”
― John Quincy Adams
Hi Chris, love your writing.
One question - who did you have in mind when you said Jewel was in the group of 90's nepo artists? Her family were performers but I wouldn't say any of them were famous enough to make her a nepo artist.
In the Deadhead scene there was much resentment towards Grahame Lesh, son of the late Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, who placed his son in bands alongside much more experienced and skilled musicians. Over the years he's become much better at guitar and has gained much respect from such musicians, who are happy to be part of his band lineups.
The problem is that we’re using a 17th century word that had appropriate meanings in early, industrial and mature capitalist societies, but doesn’t describe anything useful in our late capitalist society (just as it wouldn’t have described anything useful in pre-capitalist societies). In our current situation, jobs in ANY competitive industry are essentially impossible to earn solely through merit. When I lived in NY I met people all the time who had come from Europe to take internships in America because in their home countries it was impossible to get even an internship at a competitive company without some kind of connection or advantage—and working for an American company was a kind of advantage their privilege can afford. Imagine going to live in London for a year or two to work for free simply in hopes that you MIGHT get a paid job when you came home. And im talking about jobs at banks and manufacturers, not just media. I couldn’t have afforded to do that. Nepotism now isn’t a thing. It’s the natural state of survival. Not to mention of course that show business has always been a family business etc. None of that makes any of this less disheartening for young talent with no access. It does highlight how the American system has gutted its ability to reliable find and produce talent across all fields and industries, outsourced to the fickle results of privilege.
Quick correction: "Unchained Melody" was from 1995; Pete was born in 1945. Pete's younger brother was born in 1956.
I think Sienna Spiro is on that list too. It's a big step up from you can afford to live an early life gigging to you can hire hit songwriter and production teams. But man, what a gorgeous set of pipes. They didn't rearrange her tracks and bury her in the mix. I feel like an artist's truth eventually comes out.
I understand people resenting what they feel is an easier road if more doors get opened earlier, but I don't think it's very different from a pro athlete raising other pro athletes. Sometimes the lottery hands someone with a wealthy family, sometimes a fabulous set of physical gifts, and sometimes you busk until you're 25. Every neighborhood everywhere has phenomenal artists, athletes, and others. Many just never made it for whatever reason. Good for those who do.
I wouldn't mind stella lefty/gracie abrams & co if they weren't so averse to taking any risks in their music. I remember when Clairo was getting these accusations early on in her career, but she was at least working with a fresh-out-of-vampire weekend Rostam Batmanglij and not copying the notes from other, more popular singers in her same genre like a schoolkid who didn't study for the test. Make something all your own if you want me to take you seriously.
Breaking the headline law. Nice.
Obviously nepotism isn't necessary for success in the music industry. I'm not even sure it's sufficient. Didn't you write something once before about the children of famous singers and if any had been more successful than their parents? A few have, like Miley Cyrus, but Billy Ray wasn't exactly a superstar. Natalie Cole. Enrique Iglesias. But there have been a lot of flops too.