Steve Tyrell – HuffPost 2.16.12

Mike Ragogna: Now, you’ve had such a long and successful career in this industry including being a part of the successful gang at Scepter Records back in the day. Would you happen to have any advice that you would like to share with new artists?

Steve Tyrell: Well, it’s hard for new artists nowadays because of shows like American Idol or The Voice. You’d think that would be good for the industry, but it’s not. The music business doesn’t nurture new artists and sign new bands now for a multitude of reasons, but it’s mainly because you have substantial prior exposure to the public before anyone wants you. You almost have to get on one of these big national television shows to actually get a record deal, whereas you used to be able to get a record deal by being discovered playing small clubs and working local areas. They would give you a chance to make an album and if the first one didn’t come out so well, they’d let you do a second one. They would actually take the time to develop artists. They don’t do that anymore, so it’s harder for people today. The only advice I can give is to just keep playing music and to try playing as many places as you can.