In some ways, Jonathan Cain's journey in the music industry

[tater1977]

In some ways, Jonathan Cain's journey in the music industry is just beginning.


http://siouxcityjournal.com/entertainme ... _term=news

BRUCE MILLER bmiller@siouxcityjournal.com


Now helping daughter Madison launch her country career, the longtime member of Journey says the business has changed drastically since his first days.

"It's almost dead from what it was," he says. "The record industry cannibalized itself. There used to be an army of people who helped you. You had a label and people guided you through good and bad."

A network of distributors, promoters and radio stations made sure the music got to the people. In turn, careers were born.

"It was like running for governor," Cain says. "Today, hardly anybody is buying CDs."

In Journey's heyday, the band sold 250,000 units a week. "Today, you're big if you sell 50,000."

Shows like "X Factor," "American Idol" and "The Voice" have stepped in. And, that, the keyboardist and songwriter says, is great. "Carrie Underwood wouldn't be the star she is without that boost. It's the same for Kelly Clarkson."

Still, those competition winners often have to give half of their record sales and publishing rights to their benefactors. "It's really brutal...and that's why a lot of them stop being an artist and just write the songs."

Katy Perry and Lady Gaga have been able to succeed largely through the Internet and social networking, Cain says. "It's a different game. Today, you have to be tech savvy -- and ready."

That's where Madison comes in.

In order to give her a leg up in the industry, dad has been helping the 18-year-old with her writing and performance skills. She cut a video (it has gotten more than 40,000 hits on YouTube) and is writing songs for a potential CD.

"If a record company is going to spend a million dollars on you, you've got to be 100 percent ready, performance-wise, songwriter-wise, image-wise. So my daughter is working on all these things," Cain says.

To help out, the former Grammy nominee moved his family to Nashville to be closer to the country business. "She needs to be in that town to make it happen."

Madison, singing since she was 14, naturally fit the country mode. "I hear her voice as total country. She gets country music, she loves the lyrics. It's one of her favorite genres. I said, 'Why not embrace it?'"

And all that other stuff -- the web-based promotional tools? Dad figures he would have used them to make his career happen. "If you want something bad enough, you'll figure it out."

Bands like Switchfoot and Coldplay paid attention and got heard, Cain says. "You've just got to put your head down and be unique."

Journey, he says, benefited from "the army that went before us." Record people, radio people -- "people who gave their hearts and souls to the business" -- paved the way so that the band could play concerts and sell records.

"A day doesn't go by that I don't give thanks to that commitment that the business used to have."

While there are still labels that nurture talent, "it's a big mountain to climb. You've got to chip away at it," Cain says. "In Journey's case, we're part of the soundtrack of a lot of people's lives. We've had records that have been spun for over three million songs.

"It won't happen again. We're the end of an era" and, yes, Cain and company are grateful.

Even though they've performed "Don't Stop Believin'" thousands of times, "you can't get tired of them. They're our lifeblood. You just have to refocus your energy and line up with them -- I put myself in their shoes."

The best-selling song in the iTunes catalog, "Don't Stop" is Journey's "Hey Jude," Cain says. "It's the little song that keeps going. It gives us all permission to dream and hope."

Just like Madison.


About Steve Perry

When Journey has appeared on concert bills with Heart, Cheap Trick and other '80s bands, Jonathan Cain thinks about former lead singer Steve Perry and what a great time he'd have.

"Do I miss Steve Perry every once in a while? Absolutely. Do I wish he was back on stage with us? Absolutely. Did I ever think Steve Perry would be gone? No. I thought he would be singing his entire life."

A reunion? "The door is open for him," Cain says.

An appearance, perhaps, at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? "I don't think we'll get the nod there," he says. "They keep bringing in other bands. But the day that will happen, I've got a red piano for them."

[JRNYMAN]

To help out, the former Grammy nominee moved his family to Nashville to be closer to the country business. "She needs to be in that town to make it happen."

Good article! I have a question though... what the Hell is a "former" Grammy nominee...?!
Is that someone who was nominated but then was later found not to be eligible for the award so their name was removed from the list at some point after the award was presented?

[Arkansas]

... what the Hell is a "former" Grammy nominee...?!

I imagine that there are basically two classes - current & former. And if you don't specify either, the implication may lean toward current. I guess they could be designated by year too. It's just a matter of however the write chooses to write it. There's probably no official definition of any insertable adjective.


later~

[JRNYMAN]

... what the Hell is a "former" Grammy nominee...?!

I imagine that there are basically two classes - current & former. And if you don't specify either, the implication may lean toward current. I guess they could be designated by year too. It's just a matter of however the write chooses to write it. There's probably no official definition of any insertable adjective.


later~

I was just being a smartass basically but after reading your reply and giving it some thought, I concur with what you stated about the writer and the words they chose. In this case I think "previous" or "past" would have been a better and more accurate adjective. "Former" indicates that someone or something is no longer.... Either way, it's still a good article and I think with the right handlers and correct marketing, Madison could be very successful with or without Jon's presence. Although, having him in her corner definitely can't hurt given his name recognition in Nashville not so much for his association with Journey but more for the numerous country and contemp artists he's written for and/or collaborated with over the years.

[steveo777]

He's gonna teach some 'tang to twang.