Every Wednesday at noon, Ryan Schleicher, Evan Rytlewski, and Matt Wild take to the WMSE airwaves to discuss all things Milwaukee. This half-hour fun-fest is called The Disclaimer, so named because none of the oft-ridiculous views expressed on the show necessarily reflect the views of the hosts’ employers. Milwaukee music, Milwaukee art, Milwaukee events, and D.I.Y. lawn care tips are frequently discussed—and rarely agreed upon. The Disclaimer: Talk radio for the sane.
There was a time, not too long ago, when it seemed like technology had given bands and artists the tools to break free from the corporate constrains of the stodgy old music industry. Have a hit song on Myspace or get written up in a music blog? Hey, you just might “make it,” lack of traditional industry support be damned! That promise quickly faded, however, and it’s back to business as usual in 2015, with one added twist: PR firms—not music journalists or even music labels—seem to be the gatekeepers of what music is and isn’t heard and discussed. Using a Saving Country Music piece entitled “Music Journalism Is Dying At The Hands Of PR Firms” as their guide, Ryan, Evan, and Matt discuss the rise of PR firms in the music biz, the dim prospects for music journalists, and the even dimmer prospects for musicians.
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