A Thought For Our Fitness Businesses From a Billy Joel Album

I recently finished watching HBO's documentary “And So It Goes" about artist Billy Joel's exceptional 50+ year career of writing & performing pop music.  

I was predisposed to love it & I did (I met he & his family many years ago while working for a top NYC wedding planner & found him to be a delight + I love his music for both teaching group fitness & and in general)…

…but there was a scene I wasn't expecting & wanted to share with you.

Picture this: 

1977.

A finished album, shaped by a seasoned music industry producer…who signed onto work with Joel after seeing him play a show at Carnegie Hall.

Columbia Records offices with all key decision-makers.

Album listening session for “The Stranger." 

They listen.

The 9 songs finish…including the 1 which Joel didn't think belonged but was convinced by the producer & 2 other high-profile artists it absolutely needed to be there. (This song went onto win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year AND Song of the Year…)

Everyone is quiet…

…and break the silence by saying it's very nice…but they don't hear any singles to promote to radio. 

Manager says: “Well, you'd better find a single…because we aren't changing one note.”

Noel Nocciolo…click the link, to Spotify, to this album…and listen…I would be willing to bet that you, [no matter in which country you were born or in any year!]…would know (or recognize from a movie or elsewhere) AT LEAST 1 of the first 7 songs.

This album 'without a single' sold many millions of copies worldwide & contained songs which have been a part of his live shows for decades. 

And industry-people who steered the pop music culture…didn't get it at first.

Can you and your business relate to the manager's response or the record label's feedback or both?

Have a great rest of your week!

Noël

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