Opinion

Weekly Survey: Who would be your dream collaboration?

This week’s question is based on the music industry practice of pairing artists with the hopes of cross-pollinating creativity and success.

For example, Morrissey has a new covers album entitled California Son coming out May 24 that features contributions from Billie Joe Armstrong, Ariel Engle of Broken Social Scene and Ed Droste of Grizzly Bear.

This sort of thing is usually constructed at the managerial or label level. The hop is that the karma of one artist will rub off on the other. It’s also sometimes used to boost the cred of a new artist. That’s the thinking behind all these songs by a somewhat lesser artist that “feature” an established” on the track in some form or another. They might never be in the same studio together–tracks are just flown back and forth online–but listening to the result, you’d never know.

So let’s say you’re one of these big-time label executives and you have unlimited power when it comes to pairing two famous artists on a project. Who would you like to see work together?

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 38000 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

2 thoughts on “Weekly Survey: Who would be your dream collaboration?

  • Already accomplished, Deftones and Maynard-The Passenger

    Reply
  • Honestly, I would love it if Daniel from Neverending White Lights went back to doing more collaborations. I think he could make some crazy good music with Matthew Good or Jeff Martin I think Matthew Bellamy could make some great music with Daniel too.

    Reply

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