I like to listen to radio programs such as Randy Bachman, former rocker turned radio host. Even people like BIM, now involved in radio, and others. The same holds true for our neighbors to the south who have many musicians now doing other things, judges on American Idol, evening talk shows or music programs. Singers like Dan Hill turning up at a music songwriting event. Always a place to display your talent or if not, work with those just starting out. Everyone needs a mentor! Now, in my last blog I made a reference to Nelly Furtado and spoke about the boom and bust of her musical journey. Well, the fact is, I like Nelly. Always liked her hit "I'm like a bird" and find her to be a happy person full of ideas, not all of those ideas necessarily involving music, but I think -given time, we will once again hear the sweet voice of Nelly Furtado.In the meantime if she decides to work with a charity, devote time to her Spanish roots, or educating girls in Africa. All is good. Nellie simply realized that not touring on a regular basis was pretty much the cause of that boom and bust situation. She is promoting her Indie Label,Nelstar and perhaps rightfully taking the road less travelled to stay in the music business, and absolutely nothing wrong in that. To work the music system, often singer-songwriters require professional management, legal advice, proper distribution of their product, and the list goes on, as I said - a tough hill to climb, the music business. I am hearing some young men and women are getting hosed really bad by some of those shafty charcters who call themselves record producers. Thats where you need to know about the ad-ons that will catch up to you in a recording studio, extra for back up singers, extra cost for that added guitar, extra drummer, etc. So do strive to know what you are getting into before you get into it. Knowledge is important. Especially where emotion often overtakes logic and that seems to happen all the time in the music industry. Good fortune fellow musicians and songwriters in 2013!!