{"id":105,"date":"2022-03-26T15:19:32","date_gmt":"2022-03-26T15:19:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.andywooler.info\/wordpressw2\/?page_id=105"},"modified":"2022-03-26T22:44:49","modified_gmt":"2022-03-26T22:44:49","slug":"innovation-music","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.andywooler.info\/wordpressw2\/?page_id=105","title":{"rendered":"Innovation &#038; Music"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2>This page contains selected old blog posts that relate my world in Business with my other life as a musician. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2>Innovation lessons from the world of music \u2013 part 6<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the things I find amazing about musicians is their capacity to innovate \u2013 and I don\u2019t just mean new technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One definition of innovation from&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.businessdictionary.com\/definition\/innovation.html#ixzz3FXdJVjb1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Business Dictionary<\/a>&nbsp;is \u201cthe process of translating an idea or&nbsp;invention&nbsp;into a good or&nbsp;service&nbsp;that&nbsp;creates&nbsp;value&nbsp;or for which&nbsp;customers&nbsp;will&nbsp;pay.\u201d \u2013 and there some great examples of people who have done just that: taken a good song and done it in a way that is very different from the original.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of my current favourites is a brilliant cover of \u201cAll about that Bass\u201d \u2013 the Meghan Trainor original is a huge hit out here judging by the amount of video plays on the music channels but the idea of a real bass player covering this is genius! Here\u2019s Kate Davis\u2019s take on the song:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"All About That [Upright] Bass - Meghan Trainor Cover PMJ ft. Kate Davis\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iyTTX6Wlf1Y?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I think we will be hearing a lot more about Kate Davis! There\u2019s also a good parody of this song&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/youtu.be\/hLX77-ZWwTo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Going back to creating something customers will pay for, I would think that getting your new album to \u00a0#2 on Billboard\u2019s Top Jazz Albums chart and going Gold in Canada suggests that Paul Anka got this spot on when he did a great series of swing covers of well know rock songs. Who would have imagined Spandau Ballet\u2019s \u201cTrue\u201d quite like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Paul Anka - True - Live\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/I4ZrfwPGkQU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If there was ever a band that sold millions of records on the back of an ability to craft out fine arrangements of other people\u2019s songs, it has to be J<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/James_Last\" target=\"_blank\">ames Last\u00a0<\/a>who according to Wikipedia, has sold over 100 million records. Of course, it helped he had fine musicians like the late Derek Watkins in the band: (also a song written by Paul Anka!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"James Last feat Derek Watkins - My Way\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pj3W_mOntDg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>So instead of \u201cif it isn\u2019t broken, don\u2019t fix it\u201d, maybe your business should be thinking&nbsp;\u201cif it isn\u2019t broken, make something new out of it\u201d instead to increase product reach and ultimately, sales revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Or what about that product you have that still doesn\u2019t seem to have a use? You know, the \u201csolution looking for a problem\u201d? \u00a0Just like 3m did with their \u201c<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Post-it_note\" target=\"_blank\">pressure sensitive adhesive<\/a>\u201c, thinking of a different use for it could just be your next killer product!. I don\u2019t recall Bruce Springsteen making much out of \u201cBlinded by the light\u201d but Manfred Mann\u2019s Earthband turned it into a massive selling single :<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Manfred Mann&#039;s Earth Band - Blinded By The Light (Watch 1978)\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cgOvpIK_kSA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, it isn\u2019t always someone else improving your song though! There are many examples of a band releasing a totally different version of a song that is very different to the original. In this way, Eric Clapton extended not only the life, of \u201cLayla\u201d but would have increased the royalties on the way! (and with the introduction of payments for musicians if you play any of these video\u2019s, you too will have contributed!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Eric Clapton - Layla (Bonus Unplugged Rehearsal HQ)\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DbFBXxTxXvY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember that your next killer product could be someone else\u2019s dead product or a second lease of life for one of your own older ones! And simply changing the name isn\u2019t enough \u2013 Snickers is still a Marathon bar!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2>Innovation Lessons from the World of Music \u2013 part 5<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This post has been inspired by a brief discussion with my good friend Peter Cook at\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/www.academy-of-rock.co.uk\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">The Academy of Rock<\/a>\u00a0who is a huge Prince fan! Peter saw Prince in Camden recently and he said something like \u201cabove all, be yourself\u201d. This reminded me of a similar sentiment that can be heard from Maestro Leonard Bernstein in this clip of him rehearsing \u201cNimrod\u201d from Elgar\u2019s \u201cEnigma Variations\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Bernstein rehearses &quot;Nimrod&quot; from Elgar&#039;s &#039;Enigma Variations&#039;\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/18sT5D3bKnc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The instruction he gives to the Orchestra is simply \u201clet it happen by itself\u201d \u2013 and whilst many hate his incredibly slow reading of Nimrod, it is arguably one of the most sublime versions you will ever hear. (The complete concert and extracts from the rehearsal were recently released on<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/gp\/product\/B00E5ZFEIY?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=3194&amp;creative=21330&amp;creativeASIN=B00E5ZFEIY&amp;linkCode=shr&amp;tag=brassbandcouk&amp;qid=1395308835&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=enigma+bernstein\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;DVD.)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But what if you \u201cjust let it happen\u201d at work? Sounds likes a recipe for chaos doesn\u2019t it! But not necessarily so! How do you think this company might have been performing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>No mission statement<\/li><li>You chose your own manager<\/li><li>2 seats at board meetings are taken by the first 2 employees who turn up<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s what Simon Caulkin of The Observer said of this company in 2003:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201c..it \u2018rambles\u2019 into new areas by trial, error and argument. Its current portfolio is an odd mixture of machinery, property, professional services and fledgling hi-tech spin-offs.\u201d<br><\/em>(http:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/business\/2003\/apr\/27\/theobserver.observerbusiness7)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Company is Semco and it\u2019s remarkable growth started when Ricardo Semler joined the family business. With growth at that time (2003) being quoted at 30-40% pa against a backdrop of the economy in Brazil at the time, it seems \u201cjust letting it happen\u201d can be profitable after all. His biography \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/gp\/product\/0712678867?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=3194&amp;creative=21330&amp;creativeASIN=0712678867&amp;linkCode=shr&amp;tag=brassbandcouk&amp;=books&amp;qid=1395310577&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=maveric\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Maverick<\/a>\u201d is worth a read to learn more about Ricardo Semler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What we learn about Semco though is more than \u201cjust let it happen\u201d \u2013 it\u2019s a totally different kind of organisation. And they are not alone in this \u2013 check out Premium-Cola in Germany who do things very differently. Here\u2019s\u00a0Uwe L\u00fcbbermann, the \u201cnon-boss\u201d!:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Premium Cola pissing off Coca Cola #greenaddict\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/y4jDAoua44Q?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>To finish on a musical note, the ultimate in \u201clet it just happen\u201d has to be the drum solo! I was once on a gig where the band walked off during the drum solo and left him to it \u2013 no problem for him, he could have been there all night!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"BUDDY RICH IMPOSSIBLE DRUM SOLO *HQ*\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9esWG6A6g-k?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2>Innovation lessons from the world of music \u2013 part 4<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I write this having just returned from the English National Opera production of Mozart\u2019s Magic Flute. As this run ends shortly, here\u2019s a taste of what you missed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Magic Flute trailer\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/m1ZZMXVs7as?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s an interesting take which included modern day language, excellent use of Audio Visual effects, Papageno trying to kiss audience members and even a hash tag on stage! Whilst this will not be everyone\u2019s cup of tea, there is still the great music and a quality cast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite some poor reviews, like<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/music\/2013\/nov\/08\/the-magic-flute-english-national-opera-review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;this one<\/a>&nbsp;in The Guardian<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/music\/2013\/nov\/08\/the-magic-flute-english-national-opera-review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">,<\/a>&nbsp;I enjoyed this approach and if you want to make Opera a more inclusive experience for new audiences then this is a good way to do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This got me thinking: when you consider this work was first seen in 1791, how many other products out there have been around for as long without being adapted to modern surroundings? And what about those that failed to change? Now, I am not suggesting for one minute that all Opera should be staged in modern settings with the language of the day but that sometimes, we do need to inject some freshness into our product lines to make them appeal to new buyers or audiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A visit to&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.retailresearch.org\/whosegonebust.php\">http:\/\/www.retailresearch.org\/whosegonebust.php<\/a>&nbsp;will suggest a few companies who may now wish they had refreshed their product lines before their customers disappeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, it may be necessary to completely re-invent yourself too \u2013 and this can be very successful! Take my former employers at RSA (Royal &amp; SunAlliance) as an example. I spent some time prior to the merger of the old Sun Alliance and Royal Insurance working in a team that were exploring new products and channels to market with a new brand and new fulfillment approaches. I believe that from these seeds, the concept of a new brand emerging from the old one led to the creation of the now highly successful \u201cMore Th&gt;n\u201d brand we know today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And there are parallels in music here too: Who remembers Shane Fenton and The Fentones? No? Here\u2019s a little reminder:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Billy Fury &amp; Shane Fenton - It&#039;s Gonna Take Magic - 1962.\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/QxQfUGz0Fes?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A few years later, a new style and a new name: Welcome Alvin Stardust!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Alvin Stardust - My Coo Ca Choo (Official Music Video)\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/b0ZqNBd_orI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, you don\u2019t have to change your name \u2013 simply taking a new direction can work wonders too as rocker Linda Ronstadt proved when she turned her attention to the arranging skills of the legendary Nelson Riddle for a series of 3 albums of Jazz and Pop standards that bought her to the attention of a whole new audience. I leave you with this brilliant version of a 1939 song, \u201cWhat\u2019s New\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Linda Ronstadt - What&#039;s New (Original Video)\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/A5Rl8BSEdsE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2>Innovation Lessons from the world of music \u2013 part 3<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I never in a million years thought that I would find myself writing about a DJ as a musician! But my mind has been changed to a degree by coming across DJ Ravi, a Las Vegas based performer \u2013 and I mean, performer!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If we take the base idea from my previous post that innovation is about taking something that already exists and adding other ideas &amp; influences to make something new, then this guy does just that with dance music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The starting point is take 2 tunes and mix them \u2013 but all DJ\u2019s do that, right? Right! But not all DJ\u2019s have a drum kit and play along with their mix! And that is what made this guy different. Here\u2019s his promotional video:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"DJ RAVI DRUMS PROMO VIDEO - RPI\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S0N069euvyw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I remember the discussions in the UK\u2019s Musician\u2019s Union magazine on the topic of allowing DJ\u2019s to become members \u2013 I didn\u2019t agree back then but DJ Ravi may have just changed my mind on that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bringing us back to the real world of business, we see this mix of ideas from different places around us all the time \u2013 a great example is the \u201cSwatch\u201d watch company. The Swiss watch market was in serious decline in the early 80\u2019s until a consultant,&nbsp;Nicholas G Hayek, decided to add Italian Fashion thinking to the mix along with a touch of Lego plastic engineering skills. The result was the iconic Swatch range you have today. Or how about Phillips, the electronics giant, working with Italian furniture maker&nbsp;Giulio Cappellini to put televisions and DVD\u2019s into furniture items?&nbsp;<em>(from&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.designcouncil.org.uk\/resources-and-events\/business-and-public-sector\/guides\/innovation\/examples\/\">http:\/\/www.designcouncil.org.uk\/resources-and-events\/business-and-public-sector\/guides\/innovation\/examples\/<\/a>)&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if you don\u2019t innovate, you may just find your business sliding towards closure. Only today, we read about the closure in the US of Blockbuster \u2013 could they have innovated their way out of trouble? We shall never know now. There is of course, the other Blockbuster which will remain with us forever!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Sweet Blockbuster\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BgrYf7VWASE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2>Innovation lessons from the world of music \u2013 part 2<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the areas of musical innovation that has interested me the most over the years has been the fusion of Rock music and the world of the Orchestra. And what makes this really interesting is that the pioneers of the 60\u2019s and 70\u2019s are still doing it today! \u00a0 One of the early adopters in this was of course Deep Purple who performed their epic \u201cConcerto for Group and Orchestra 1969\u201d \u2013 here\u2019s the 3rd movement of this. The opening of this movement wouldn\u2019t be out-of-place in an Orchestral concert today \u2013 love the Horns!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Deep Purple [Concerto For Group And Orchestra 1969] - Third Movement (Vivace - Presto) HD\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jGuxfcHt268?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a real shame the sound quality doesn\u2019t make it obvious but 30 years later, they are still using an Orchestra \u2013 the \u201cSmoke on the Water\u201d riff is perfect for the brass:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Deep Purple - Smoke On The Water (In Concert With The LSO)\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AT7XcYxco4M?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>One band though that found you couldn\u2019t make much money out of this was Pink Floyd whose \u201cAtom\u00a0Heat Mother\u201d is still a favourite of mine, probably because of the huge use of brass! Touring with a brass section and a choir\u00a0wasn\u2019t cost-effective and in recent times, some of the band members themselves have thought it was rubbish anyway! (see\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Atom_Heart_Mother\">http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Atom_Heart_Mother<\/a>) \u2013 I like it though hence its inclusion here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Pink Floyd - Atom Heart Mother Live@The\u0301a\u0302tre du Chatelet HD\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0ra6B5evR2o?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the down sides to this kind of&nbsp;work is that you are unlikely to have the same resources available from one gig to another \u2013 and that can impact on the quality of the performance. Back in the day, I used to do a lot of work at local clubs backing whichever ex-celeb was in town this week. They never knew what they were getting from one night to the next and this was one of the issues that Floyd faced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One band that did make a big commercial success out of using an Orchestra was Procul\u00a0Harum\u00a0\u2013 there won\u2019t be too many record collections from that era that don\u2019t include \u201cLive at Edmonton\u201d with The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. And they are still doing it today \u2013 here\u2019s Gary Booker\u2019s distinctive voice with Procul\u00a0Harum and The Danish National Concert Orchestra with \u201cA Salty Dog\u201d from 2006.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Procol Harum - A Salty Dog, An Old English Dream live in Denmark 2006\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3Gi7Z3-T_qQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Amongst the many&nbsp;lessons we can draw from all of this, there is one that sticks out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Don\u2019t create a service if you can\u2019t control the quality of the localised resources that you may need to deliver it.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>I also can\u2019t\u00a0ignore my all time favourite band: \u201cYes\u201d. I first saw them live in 1974 at Queens Park Rangers FC, Loftus Road, London \u2013 the first tour post Wakeman with new boy Patrick Moraz\u00a0and the \u201cRelayer\u201d album. Much of the 70\u2019s prog rock use of the Mellotron,\u00a0which sampled strings, could have been done using the real thing \u00a0\u2013 so why not do that!?\u00a0 Enjoy the superb slide guitar of Steve Howe in \u201cSoon\u201d from the Relayer album, performed in Amsterdam in 2001.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YES - SOON - Live in Amsterdam, 2001 (Legend Pt)\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/QFj42skgk1c?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>And to finish, I just love this Bill Bailey item from his \u201cRemarkable Guide to the Orchestra\u201d \u2013 as if Ron Grainger and the Radiophonic Workshop weren\u2019t innovative enough, Bill discovers the \u201cDr. Who\u201d theme could easily have been Belgian Jazz! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Bill Bailey - The Doctor Who theme reimagined as Belgian jazz\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Zhv5GVexW2E?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2>Innovation lessons from the world of music<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s been a while since my last blog as I\u2019ve been busy getting stuck into my new job. One of the benefits of my travel schedule though is the amount of time I now have sat in hotel rooms!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today\u2019s blog is not only a follow-up to my earlier post&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/andywooler.info\/wordpress\/?p=340\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cSuccession Planning lessons from the world of Rock Music!\u201d&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/a>but has been inspired by discussions with Peter Cook of&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.academy-of-rock.co.uk\/Music-Biz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cThe Academy of Rock\u201d<\/a>&nbsp; (check out his new book \u201cThe Music of Business\u201d) who has made some great links between Rock and Roll and the Business world. It turns out that Peter was heavily involved in the Open University\u2019s \u201cCreativity, Innovation &amp; Change\u201d module which I did as part of my MBA and much of my thinking about Social Learning &amp; Knowledge Management has its roots in that course and the OU Knowledge Management&nbsp; course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the key ways to get innovation in the workplace is to ensure that staff have access to data &amp; information from both inside and outside of the organisation \u2013 yet I still hear of companies that do not allow staff access to the Internet from inside the firewall! Taking an existing idea and adding to it with influence and fresh ideas from outside of the organisation can refresh an old product and gain new customers but of course, that\u2019s nothing new to us musicians! Take\u00a0The\u00a0Beatles \u2013 great songs, presented in a way that can\u2019t be bettered. Or can they?\u00a0Many would argue that Earth Wind &amp; Fire did a much better version of \u201cGot to get you into my life\u201d:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Earth, Wind &amp; Fire (11\/16) - Got to get you into my life.\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cByrcn4-iAw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>And whilst many more might disagree, The Carpenters had a knack of taking a sad song and making it better! Not, not that song, but this one:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Carpenters - Help\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fD_YJE-MDP4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>But if you are looking for radical change, then look at what happens when multiple external ideas get put together: Led Zeppelin, Reggae and an Elvis impersonator shouldn\u2019t work \u2013 but it sort of does! And even Robert Plant likes these guys:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Dread Zeppelin - Black Dog.mpg\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CZHWy6W00oM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>My final example comes from a different genre altogether \u2013 the world of Shakespeare and \u201cRomeo &amp; Juliet\u201d. This one never had music and wasn\u2019t even an original idea!&nbsp;According to Wikipedia,&nbsp;Shakespeare borrowed heavily from 2 earlier works&nbsp;<em>The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet<\/em>&nbsp;by Arthur Brooke in 1562 and&nbsp;<em>Palace of Pleasure<\/em>&nbsp;by William Painter in 1567.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But what none of those people would ever have come up with was moving the tale to mid 1950\u2019s New York \u2013 the writing of Arthur Laurents, the lyrics of Steven Sondheim and the musical genius that is Leonard Bernstein. So, texts first written in the 1500\u2019s are still producing income today! This clip takes one of those songs,\u00a0<em>Maria<\/em>, into yet another new plane \u2013 the stratospheric trumpet playing of one of my hero\u2019s, the late, great, Maynard\u00a0Ferguson:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Maynard Ferguson, &#039;Maria&#039; (Leonard Bernstein)\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/g6Pj6GCakjo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The world of music is great at innovation \u2013 we see it around us constantly with new slants on an old tune, adaptations of music to the stage (Mama Mia), taking the stage to the big screen (Les Miserables) through to\u00a0Paul Anka making Nirvana swing! Some thoughts for our business life:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Old products needn\u2019t just die \u2013 adapt them to new uses or even simply re-package them. (Lots of re-issue CD\u2019s have \u201cbonus tracks\u201d to make them just slightly different for example).<\/li><li>There may be audiences for your product that aren\u2019t yet aware of it because you are marketing it to a particluar niche customer base.<\/li><li>Licence products you can\u2019t change&nbsp;to someone who&nbsp;can still make money out them.&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/royalenfield.com\/aboutus\/history\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Royal Enfield&nbsp;<\/a>motorcycles still live on, now&nbsp;manufactured in India for example.<\/li><li>Years after its demise, the Stylophone came back! A bit like the tribute acts, don\u2019t forget that there may sometimes still be life in an old product! (and even Vinyl is making a small comeback).<\/li><\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This page contains selected old blog posts that relate my world in Business with my other life as a musician. Innovation lessons from the world of music \u2013 part 6 One of the things I find amazing about musicians is their capacity to innovate \u2013 and I don\u2019t just mean new technologies. One definition of&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.andywooler.info\/wordpressw2\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/105"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.andywooler.info\/wordpressw2\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.andywooler.info\/wordpressw2\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.andywooler.info\/wordpressw2\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.andywooler.info\/wordpressw2\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=105"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"http:\/\/www.andywooler.info\/wordpressw2\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/105\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":116,"href":"http:\/\/www.andywooler.info\/wordpressw2\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/105\/revisions\/116"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.andywooler.info\/wordpressw2\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=105"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}