Marsha Bartenetti
Interview conducted on December 08, 2022
by Daniel Locke
What is your upbringing?
I was born on the east coat – Rhode Island – and moved to the Bay Area in 1962.
How did you discover music?
I have always loved singing and music. I was in my church choir, and sang whenever I could. I joined my first band when I was in High School, with the prodding of my friends to audition. I sang Tobacco Road – and they hired me.
Describe your music.
I love all kinds of music and will cross any genre for a good lyric. I am an interpreter of lyrics.
You are a smooth, rich & expressive singer, who will “cross any genre for a good lyric” and does so with heart & truth. How did you find your voice?
I found my voice as I found myself. Connecting years of experience with my music choices and integrating them became my “sound.”
What was your first performance like?
Reaching back – I can only say being on stage always feels like home – my first performance – I don’t actually remember what that was.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
I co-wrote with my first husband. He was the main writer and we collaborated on lyrics for some of the tunes.We recorded our songs.
What is the process of writing your music?
He would come up with a melody generally, and we would sit together with notebooks and write what came to mind – What was the music conjuring emotionally? Once we had a theme we liked we honed it from there to follow the structure of the tune.
How was it to work with Bernie Grundman?
Working with Bernie Grundman while he mastered my albums was a gift beyond measure. He is a genius with an ear for sound like I’ve never experienced. His impeccable nuances and fine tuning is thrilling to witness. His history of mastering hits over the years (Including Michael Jackson’s Thriller, The Carpenters, Carole King) speaks volumes and is a Who’s Who of mastering credits -and I feel so fortunate to have worked with him. He is also a delightful human being, as well! And if you’ve had a cup of his coffee..well, you are good to go!
What are you feeling about streaming music?
I find streaming music difficult to track in monetizing the work – It is a very different music business landscape than when I started in this business. Current artists only know this digital and social media way of marketing and finding an audience – so they have figured out how to use it to their advantage.
The symbol # is known as the number sign, hash, pound sign and a sharp sign in music. The symbol has historically been used for a wide range of purposes Since 2007, widespread usage of the symbol to introduce metadata tags on social media platforms has led to such tags being known as “hashtags”, and from that, the symbol itself is sometimes called a hashtag. Are people forgetting that the # is a part of music?
I don’t know – It is a whole different idea and they really don’t interfere with each other.
Digital vs. vinyl?
I started recording on analog tape – and nothing compares with the rich tones and smoothness of analog – although digital has gotten pretty damn good.
Vinyl records are becoming popular again – and I’m glad to see it – although the masters, I believe, are still recorded on digital.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
Give me a Billie Holiday song any day. Good Morning Heartache – A classic. When love continually disappoints and “Heartache” become an old friend.
Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means things like a playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.
Pay to play will always be a thing, although it may come in different forms.
The show Star Trek introduced people to the holodeck: an immersive, realistic 3D holographic projection of a complete environment that you could interact with.
Today holograms are already being used in a variety of way, such as medical systems, education, art, security and defense
Performers like Tupac, Michael Jackson, Roy Orbison, Frank Zappa, Elvis Presley, Amy Winehouse, Buddy Holly, Ronnie James Dio, Marylin Monroe, and Whitney Houston have done it already. The band ABBA just announced that they will be doing a comeback together after nearly 40 years as holograms on their next tour. With ABBA it was with the help of George Lucas .
If the cost was down to the point you could do it also, would you be willing to do Holographic concerts in our living room?
It’s a little trippy – not ready for that yet.
In the past if a musician stopped doing music they found a new career. For example David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants.. If you can’t do music what would you like to be doing?
I would coach singers. (Check out Marsha audio credit which includes Disney)
Tell me about Too Old To Care TV! 60+ ?
Too Old To Care came about as my daughter and my social media person were talking about the freedom of being a certain age – and the risks we are able to take without being concerned with how others perceive what you are doing. That is also to say -whatever it is, it remains ‘harmless to self and harmless to others.”
It is great relief to remove the burden of others’ expectations while remaining true to oneself.
What is your happy place?
Italy. Amalfi Coast.
Red Hot Chili Peppers are about to sell their entire song catalog for $140 Million. In the past year a lot of musicians such as Stevie Nicks ($100 Million) , Bob Dylan (over $400 Million), Taylor Swift, Journey, Def Leppard, K.T. Tunstall, John Legend, ZZ Top and Shakira have sold their catalog rights within the last year. Bob Dylan sold his entire catalog for a reported $300 million. Neil Young sold 50 percent of his worldwide copyright and income interest in his 1,180 song catalogue to Hipnosis Songs Fund limited . Once you get to the age of about 70. Publishing is far more lucrative than the mechanical royalties paid to artists based on sales, airplay and streams. A good example of this is Michael Jackson brought the rights to the Beatles catalog in 1985. And in the late 80’s the Beatles Revolution appeared in a Nike commercial.
The lump sums being offered by publishing firms are more tax friendly concerning estate planning.
On January 19, 2021 Hipgnosis Song Management acquired 80% of Kenny Chesney’s recorded music royalties, covering the country superstar’s discography from his 1994 debut In My Wildest Dreams through 2017’s Live in No Shoes Nation.
Someone who was totally against selling his rights was David Crosby. He did not want to sell his publishing rights. In addition, it was not an easy thing for him to do. However, by making a deal with Irving Azoff’s Iconic Artists Group, it took a big weight off his shoulders. He could pay off his house and cover other bills. Now he does not have to work for a living. It should be noted that David is battling tendinitis in his hands, which hurts his ability to play guitar.
Do you think you would be willing to sell your back catalog if someone like Universal is will to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs?
If I had no one in my family or an agent I trusted to look after my catalog, and I was over 70, I would sell it. They are getting crazy money for them and with it one could live the east of says – either giving it away – or using it for amazing life experiences.
If I didnt sell it – I might form a trust where percentages of royalties would be paid to specific organizations that I would select- that may need financial assistance –
Over half a billion active users around the world share their favorite music on TikTok either with something like a dance challenge and lip-sync videos or creating a funny skit or candid camera moment.
TikTok has become a great platform for music promotion, sharing songs, and finding new listeners. In which it has become a place for music artists to earn revenue when people use their music. In many cases the daily promotion on TikTok has led to huge boosts on other platforms like Spotify, Facebook and YouTube.
TikTok does this with the algorithm that generates a feed of content for each user, which you see as the displaying of #. The more a user engages with content, the smarter TikTok gets at guessing what kind of videos the viewer wants to watch.
Because a song can go viral because of this.
Sony Music and Warner Music Group- , The ByteDance-owned video app revealed that it has struck an “expanded” global licensing agreement with Universal Music Group. Now that TikTok is now fully licensed by all three major record companies, will you start using TikTok more?
Breaking news: TikTok is launching TikTok Radio, a full-time SiriusXM music channel going live this summer.The station will be available in vehicles and as a streaming channel on the SiriusXM App, desktop, and all connected devices.
Some of the on TikTok include Cassyette, YukoEXE, Ashinikko, Palaye Royale, Josh Dun (Twenty One Pilots), Yungblud, Morrissey, Ozzy Osbourne, Joan Jett, Gene Simmons, and Mick Jagger.
The station will be part of a new TikTok collaboration with SiriusXM and its subsidiary,Pandora, to jointly promote emerging talent. Do you think this platform could become a force in the future of streaming music?
With the proper management and influence I’m sure it will.
Anything you would like to say in closing.
I’ve been in the music business since the 60’s and it has changed tremendously – I feel for new artists trying to break in. The internet and streaming has changed the landscape. That said, to those who crack the mystery of breaking through to be recognized and then be nurtured, I applaud you. In so many ways this is a destiny business. How much energy it takes, and the determination to be heard in a global sense, will happen for those who at their core know this is their path. Their purpose. With no Plan B. Art finds a way. It is a necessary part of our collective culture. A Universal need. I have the luxury now to continue to add to this musical soundscape with songs I love and without worrying about ‘becoming a star” I sing for the love of it and to bring to every song my own sense of personal healing with the I hope my audience receives something of value when they hear it.
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