:: original electronic music radio ::
This is a simple notice to people who submit music to OEM Radio.
OEM Radio is not a business, it is a small project dutifully maintained by a small handful of people. By submitting your work,
we do not guarantee that it will be added to the station's library. However, we will give it a listen, and if it fits in with the
overall sound of the station, we'll get in touch with you. If you don't hear from us, it's only because we felt your work did
not piece in with the overall sound.
This composer, Jerry Gerber took exception with the selection process, and he is a ripe example of the kind of person
who should not, under any circumstance, submit music to OEM Radio.
Here's a picture of Jerry: http://www.jerrygerber.com/images/Jerry-at-Work-3.jpg
(Picture sourced from Jerry's site removed upon his request.)
Now here's the email trail that quickly spun into personal abuse and self-aggrandizing twaddle that spurned this notice:
(reproduced in its entirety)
-----Original Message-----
From: Jerry Gerber [mailto:jerrygerber@earthlink.net]
Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2007 10:38 AM
To: info@oemradio.org
Subject: What's Up?
Dear OEM Radio:
I sent 4 CDs in 2005 to OEM. A few months ago I sent my latest CD.
I have yet to receive even a simple acknowledgment that these CDs
were received. I am very selective as to where I send out my
recordings and since OEM's home page statement is
"OEM Radio plays listening music and not dance music. OEM Radio
seeks to bring original electronic music and recording artists that
are underexposed to a wider audience.."
I felt this would be a good match because my music is highly
original, well-composed and well-produced electronic music that is
meant to be listened to, obviously. Did someone at OEM even bother
to listen to one entire track of my music?
I spend thousands of hours making a recording and it takes much
energy, talent, many skills and much imagination to do what I do.
At the least you could send me a form letter and saying you're not
interested, better yet, return the CDs if you have no use for them.
It's a shame that OEM doesn't have the sensitivity to recognize how
inhumane the music business is and to make a small attempt to be a
bit better than that.
Sincerely,
Jerry Gerber
www.jerrygerber.com
hello jerry,
please accept my apologies for not getting back to you, it's just
not possible to return receipt for the truly immense numbers of
submissions i receive. it's not feasible to send form letters (i
don't even have one written) or return cds.
given time constraints, i'm not able to get in contact with everyone
who sends in submissions. OEM Radio is not a business - it is purely
a pet project. the selection process is handled by merely one
person, myself. the station praddles on based solely on my available
time - which is shared with my full time job and my family.
the mission statement you quoted on the OEM site is accurate, and i
stand by it. however, that statement does not imply or necessitate
that all submissions are accepted.
i can honestly tell you that i listen to _every_ submission that
comes in. my lack of communication signifies that i didn't feel the
work submitted fit in with the overall sound of the OEM Radio library.
it does not speak to the quality of work or production value it contained.
i hope this illuminates the situation.
cheers...
Best,
-Maer...
OEM Radio.
http://www.oemradio.org
From: Jerry Gerber [mailto:jerrygerber@earthlink.net]
Sent: Monday, October 08, 2007 10:06 PM
To: OEM Radio
Subject: Re: What's Up?
Hi Maer,
Though I appreciate your honesty and taking the time to write me back,
I can only suspect you have a bias against orchestral electronic music
that takes a modern classical approach to development and structural
issues; your listeners may or may not share that limitation. My work
belongs on each electronic music station that cares about originality and quality. Period.
My art is among the best of musicians working in the medium today. If
your listening skills are not up to it that is definitely not due to
any inherent lack of communicative power of my music and my recordings.
Genre-based or stylistic preferences are your prerogative, of course,
but with such a young and vibrant medium your refusal to include work
of this caliber is a loss to your listeners.
I hope you reconsider at some future time.
Peace,
J. Gerber
hello jerry,
indeed, as i wrote earlier, not accepting your submission does not
speak to the quality of the music you submitted or the talent used to
create it - merely that it did not piece in with the sound i envision
for this station.
the selection of music on OEM Radio is _purely_ subjective to my
taste and evolving whims. it is, as you said, my prerogative. your
remark about a bias and a lack of critical acuity is a subtle but
crude insult, but it misses the mark and does not help your cause.
you clearly have a high regard for your talent, and that's
commendable only up to the point where you come off as a self-involved twit.
i believe this ends the matter, and i will appreciate no further
correspondence.
Best,
-Maer...
From: Jerry Gerber [mailto:jerrygerber@earthlink.net]
Sent: Monday, October 08, 2007 11:08 PM
To: OEM Radio
Subject: Re: What's Up?
Its not an insult if its the truth, which it likely is. You're a simple-minded twit
when it comes to music, maybe you're a genius in some other area of your life,
but your music tastes are as narrow as they get.
So fuck you too.
Jerry
-----Original Message-----
From: Jerry Gerber [mailto:jerrygerber@earthlink.net]
Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2007 11:34 AM
To: info@oemradio.org
Subject: First Warning
Dear OEM Radio:
Be advised:
The image you placed of me on your web page that is of my likeness
is copyrighted. It must be removed immediately. Furthermore, the vindictiveness
and necessity to show the public how our email correspondence went after
you called me a twit for having confidence in my work is bizarre.
I gave you no rights to use this image on my site. Remove it. At this point
you are guilty of theft of intellectual property.
Sincerely,
Jerry Gerber
www.jerrygerber.com
jerry,
if you view the source of the page, it's sourced from your site. so a copy of
it is not present on my server. also, i did not see a copyright notice, but if you
point to one, i will handle it.
regarding posting the emails, i felt that the only way to handle your barrage of
personal abuse was to expose it for public ridicule. my position is that i answered
your initial query with a detailed explanation that contained no insult. this triggered
your nasty and self-aggrandizing episode. i responded with another explanation and
a comment about your attitude. your abuse continued after i asked not to be contacted
further, and i decided to handle it thusly.
your response on your site is well thought out (though you have skewed the facts
slightly and continue to attack me personally), and i do appreciate your position. what
i did not appreciate is your vitriolic attitude towards me. i can tell you that if you had handled
the situation with a lighter tone, more like the posted response on your site, this would not have
happened. now instead your behavior serves as darkly comical warning.
Best,
-Maer...
jerry,
upon further reflection, i have removed the linked picture and replaced it with a standard
URL link which does not violate your copyrights.
what confuses me is this: reading your bio and credits, you are clearly an accomplished
professional composer and musician. yet despite your professional success, you have
become intensely upset by not being included in the library of a small non-commercial
internet radio station. though i admit i'm not necessarily interested in the answer.
i have worked with nearly 200 artists in the past 7 years both in radio and live concerts
and i have never witnessed such a stunning lack of professionalism.
best of luck in your future endeavors. i consider the matter closed and i ask that you do
not contact me any further.
Best,
-Maer...
Please, if you find yourself in a similar mindset as Jerry Gerber, please do not send your work.
