David Foster – Composer, Pianist, Producer and Songwriter

Foster is an award-winning composer, pianist, producer and songwriter who has collaborated with an impressive list of performers such as Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, Christina Aguilera, Alice Cooper and Josh Groban.

He has composed music for several films such as St. Elmo’s Fire, The Bodyguard and The Secret of My Success.

Who He Is

Foster first gained recognition as a pianist and composer before becoming one of the most prolific producers and songwriters in history, producing hundreds of top-selling records and albums that sold millions worldwide. Additionally, he wrote his best-selling autobiography Hit Man as well as hosting two star-studded concerts which were broadcasted live on PBS Great Performances.

Foster holds 16 Grammy Awards and many other distinctions including honorary doctorates. His talent-spotting expertise led to Celine Dion and Josh Groban becoming mainstream singers, while he also helped craft culture-defining soundtracks for blockbusters such as The Bodyguard and Urban Cowboy films.

Katharine McPhee is an esteemed singer, television and Broadway actress who first achieved prominence during Season 5 of American Idol. Since then she has toured worldwide and co-starred alongside her 16-time Grammy award-winning musician/composer/producer husband David Foster; together they bring an undeniable musical chemistry onto the stage.

Why He’s So Good

He is best known for producing and writing songs for some of the greatest artists of his time, including Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion and Whitney Houston’s hits such as Hard to Say I’m Sorry (Chicago), St Elmo’s Fire (John Parr) and Twist of Fate by Olivia Newton-John (John Parr).

Foster is an exceptional musician; an extraordinary prodigy with skills far surpassing their age. Possessing perfect pitch, playing multiple instruments and singing with remarkable vocal control that allows them to craft songs and set an atmosphere, Foster stands apart as one of a few musicians able to produce such remarkable music.

Michael is always on a quest for more. Recently, he mentored singers on American Idol reality TV show; now, as one of Asia’s Got Talent’s celebrity judges. Plus he is AirAsia’s global grand brand ambassador!

His Philosophy

Foster is best known as a composer, pianist, producer and songwriter; however he has also long dedicated himself to charitable efforts. In 1985, he established the David Foster Foundation to assist children who need lifesaving organ transplants from financial support; additionally he’s been an enthusiastic supporter of Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night; Andre Agassi Foundation events as well as Carousel of Hope fundraising activities have also featured heavily in his philanthropy efforts.

Foster discovered God through new interpretations of modern science after spending 15 years searching for truth through George Gurdjieff’s mystical philosophy. Starting from Eddington’s assertion that our world is comprised of “mind-stuff,” Jeans’ identification of logic with mathematics, Russell’s belief in separate logical laws of nature from physical ones and Foster’s understanding of computers as logical machines are among his starting points.

He created a theory of the universe based on his observation that all atoms can be arranged in any number of ways and that probabilistic laws hold for all possible combinations.

His Style

Foster has written and produced hit songs and albums for an array of music luminaries, from Barbra Streisand and Whitney Houston to Celine Dion, Michael Jackson, Madonna Rod Stewart Diana Krall. In addition, his influence can be found on singers like Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston Celine Dion Michael Jackson Madonna Rod Stewart Diana Krall Natalie Cole Andrea Bocelli Josh Groban as well as many holiday classics written or produced by him.

Foster is presented in this film in an unflinchingly honest light, even while chronicling his highly public personal life (he has been married five times; once to Katharine McPhee from Smash and Waitress on Broadway). Additionally, it explores what drives him towards such massive success; showing both his work ethic and drive while not resting on past laurels.

The music industry made $43 billion in 2017, but artists only took away 12% of it

The music industry made $43 billion in 2017, but artists only took away 12% of it

The music industry made $43 billion in 2017, but artists only took away 12% of itDJ SNAKE Photo By Eva Blue 07

Musicians’ struggles in today’s industry are well-documented. Royalties have plummeted as a result of downloading or streaming, with extended touring taking place of beatmaking as the prime kind of income. On top of all this, the teams behind these artists also have to make a living, cutting profits further.

It comes as no surprise, then, that Citigroup’s latest report on the music industry economy asserts that musicians only took home 12% of the $43 billion in revenue generated industry-wide in 2017. The cycle is a cruel one — creators often rely on publishers, tech companies, and other team members to help get their message out and allow them to make a living through their craft in the first place. However, the cost of this success is that these outside parties suck up greater amounts of income in return.

Citigroup didn’t paint an overly grim picture with its reporting. In fact, it posed potential paths of redistributing some of the revenues to the musicians that helped generate it in the first place. It foresaw two potential vertical integrating models, with one pointing to promoters and platforms like Spotify merging together. Or, Spotify and its ilk will cross into the label space as another form of vertical integration that would benefit artists. Finally, Citigroup also posed a horizontal model where different distribution platforms merge with one another.

Also, the fact that artists are taking a 12% stake in the industry is good news in itself — in 2000, that number was at 7 %. The report shows this to the increase of royalties via streaming subscriptions, and also growth within the concert business. Only time will tell how the industry evolves to tip the financial scales back in the artists’ favors.

 

H/T: Pitchfork

Photo credit: Eva Blu

 

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