In this podcast, Robert John Hadfield discusses a newspaper article from July 2, 1950, which he found intriguing and relevant to today's world. The article, from "The Evening Star" in Washington D.C., reviews a book titled "The Loud Literary Llamas of New York" by Jack Woodford, where Woodford criticizes the publishing industry.
Woodford, a successful author, expresses his dissatisfaction with publishers, arguing that they do not cater to public demand but rather dictate what the public should read. He describes publishers as "unnecessary middlemen" and believes authors should self-publish to let the public directly judge their work. He criticizes publishers and editors for being gatekeepers who influence content based on their standards and the interests of advertisers.
Hadfield relates this concept of gatekeeping to his experiences in the music industry. He shares an anecdote about his band's dealings with record companies, illustrating how these companies acted as gatekeepers, deciding what music reached the public. This parallels Woodford's observations about publishers in the literary world.
The discussion then shifts to how the advent of the internet and platforms like Amazon have democratized content distribution. Hadfield shares his personal experience of self-publishing a book during the pandemic through Amazon's print-on-demand service, emphasizing how these new technologies have eliminated traditional gatekeepers in publishing, music, and other creative fields.
Hadfield argues that in today's world, the primary gatekeeper is no longer external entities like publishers or record companies, but the individual themselves. People now have direct access to a global audience through the internet, and the only thing stopping them from publishing a book, making music, or creating content is their initiative and willingness to utilize available resources.
He encourages viewers to realize that they have the same amount of time as everyone else and that prioritizing their goals and actions is crucial. In a world where traditional gatekeepers have lost their stronghold, the responsibility and power to create and share one's work rest with the individual. Hadfield concludes by motivating viewers to recognize their role as their own gatekeepers and to seize the opportunities that modern technology offers for creative expression and distribution.
