Dave Koz – HuffPost 12.16.11

Mike Ragogna: I asked you this, I think, twice before, but do you have any advice for new artists that you’d like to share?

Dave Koz: I would say that you should know that one side of this business is exciting and the other is absolutely terrifying. It’s just a no man’s land in this business, particularly the record business. It’s just a very different time. Everything about it is different. For guys like me who started in the old business who are now trying to understand the new rules, you’re looking for solid ground that’s just not there. But if you’re a brand new artist, it’s a bit easier to come into it knowing what you’re dealing with. So, I think it’s a great time to be a new artist because the world is at your fingertips. Everything is changing. You can create your own career without those traditional trappings that we thought we all needed before to get your music out there. You can make a record in your bathroom for very cheap. (laughs) You don’t need to spend a million dollars making a record anymore. The music business has become a much more democratic process. We still need to find a way for it to work financially, but the art is going to prevail. This is going to help great art rise to the surface. Someone described the music business to me as a casino–you gotta stay in the game and play smart. You’re never going to get your big jackpot if you throw your hands in the air and give up. Make shrewd moves, bet smart, and hope that one day, all of that pays off.