Thursday , March 28 2024

Diane Warren Speaks Out Against “Pirating”

Perhaps the most profoundly loathsome songwriter of her generation, Diane Warren whines about P2P:

    As a kid, I listened to the radio all the time. I didn’t dream of becoming a rock star. I dreamed of becoming a songwriter. My dream has come true.

    Sadly, the growing epidemic of illegal downloading and CD burning may make it a lot harder for a dream like mine to come true for other songwriters.

    I struggled for more than 10 years, making the rounds of every music publisher and suffering countless rejections before I began to make a decent living from writing music. With my dad encouraging me, I persevered and made sure my songs were heard by everyone in the music industry I could reach.

    I believe in what I do and work hard to craft the best songs possible. And though I don’t write songs just for the money, I do expect to be rewarded for my hard work. Certainly, it wasn’t just my love for writing music but also the promise of being able to make a living from my craft that helped keep me going in the beginning.

    Will today’s young talent have the same opportunities I did? If people are not willing to pay for the music they love, why should anyone be willing to spend the money it takes to make the music?

    Record companies put hundreds of thousands of dollars into producing and promoting our songs for one simple reason: They expect to earn it all back and then some. But if the fans are stealing music instead of buying it, what incentive do the labels have to continue? Would a housing developer lay out millions of dollars building a new subdivision if he knew that squatters were going to move in and live there for free?

    Fans may think that everyone in the music business is rich, but that simply isn’t true. A lot of great songwriters (and bands) get only one commercial hit in their career. Their real interest may be in creating alternative or ethnic music, material that is wonderful but simply not commercial. The money from that one popular hit makes it possible for these artists and writers to devote themselves to the music they really love. To the extent that illegal downloading robs them of those royalties, it robs them of this freedom.

    In addition, there are the technicians, session musicians, backup singers and others who play an essential role in helping to make the music you enjoy. If big-name bands and singer-songwriters start spending less time in the studio because pirates are stealing their music, these people will suffer the most.

    Music pirates aren’t just stealing people’s music; they are stealing people’s livelihoods. To put it another way, illegal copying not only threatens the entire music business, it also threatens everyone who works in the recording industry.

    It’s illegal to walk out of a record store with a CD you didn’t pay for. Why should downloading the same music be any different?

What a grim, self-serving pile of crap: she doesn’t write songs for money? My God, that was her only excuse for the litany of tripe she has unleashed on the world. Check out this collection of unbridled schlock and soul-crushing banality:

    “A SMILE AS BEAUTIFUL AS YOURS” NATALIE COLE #8 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD

    “ALL I WANT IS FOREVER” JAMES “J.T.” TAYLOR & REGINA BELLE #2 HOT R&B/HIP HOP SINGLES & TRACKS – BILLBOARD

    “ANY OTHER FOOL” SADAO WATANABE FEATURING PATTI AUSTIN #6 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD

    “BECAUSE YOU LOVED ME” CELINE DION #1 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD
    #1 ADULT TOP 40 – BILLBOARD
    #1 HOT 100 AIRPLAY – BILLBOARD
    #1 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD
    #1 HOT 100 SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #1 THE BIG PICTURE – BILLBOARD
    #1 TOP 40 MAINSTREAM – BILLBOARD
    #4 RHYTHMIC TOP 40 – BILLBOARD
    #5 UK

    “BLAME IT ON THE RAIN” MILLI VANILLI #1 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD

    “BLUE EYES BLUE” ERIC CLAPTON #4 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD
    #5 FINLAND

    “BY THE TIME THIS NIGHT IS OVER” KENNY G./PEABO BRYSON #1 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD

    “CALL ME GONE” PATTI LaBELLE #9 URBAN AC – R&R

    “CAN’T FIGHT THE MOONLIGHT” LeANN RIMES #1 COUNTRY SINGLES SALES- BILLBOARD
    #3 HOT DANCE MUSIC/MAXI-SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #4 HOT 100 SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #6 CANADIAN SINGLES – BILLBOARD
    #8 TOP 40 MAINSTREAM – BILLBOARD
    #9 TOP 40 TRACKS – BILLBOARD
    #9 CHR POP – R&R
    #1 AUSTRALIA, BELGIUM, FINLAND, HOLLAND, IRELAND, SWEDEN, UK, AUSTRIA, GERMANY, HUNGARY, & NETHERLANDS
    #2 JAPAN, NORWAY & SWITZERLAND
    #3 DENMARK, FRANCE, JAPAN

    “CAN’T TAKE THAT AWAY” (MARIAH’S THEME) MARIAH CAREY #2 SOUNDSCAN
    #2 ASIA/SINGAPORE

    “COMPLETELY” MICHAEL BOLTON #9 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD

    “COULD I HAVE THIS KISS FOREVER” WHITNEY HOUSTON/ENRIQUE IGLESIAS #3 CANADIAN SINGLES – BILLBOARD
    #10 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD
    #1 SWITZERLAND
    #2 HOLLAND
    #4 SPAIN
    #5 GERMANY
    #7 UK
    #8 ASIA/SINGAPORE, AUSTRIA, BELGIUM, & ITALY
    #9 FINLAND

    “DON’T TAKE AWAY MY HEAVEN” AARON NEVILLE #4 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD

    “DON’T TURN AROUND” ACE OF BASE #1 HOT 100 AIRPLAY – BILLBOARD
    #1 TOP 40 MAINSTREAM – BILLBOARD
    #4 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD
    #6 HOT 100 SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #6 RHYTHMIC TOP 40 – BILLBOARD
    #7 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD
    #5 UK

    “DON’T TURN AROUND” ASWAD #1 UK

    “FAITH OF THE HEART” ROD STEWART #3 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD

    “FOR YOU I WILL” MONICA #1 R&B ADULT – BILLBOARD
    #2 HOT R&B/HIP HOP SINGLES & TRACKS – BILLBOARD
    #2 R&B MAINSTREAM – BILLBOARD
    #3 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD
    #3 R&B/HIP HOP AIRPLAY – BILLBOARD
    #3 RHYTHMIC TOP 40 – BILLBOARD
    #4 HOT 100 AIRPLAY – BILLBOARD
    #4 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD
    #5 HOT 100 SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #5 HOT R&B/HIP HOP SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #5 THE BIG PICTURE – BILLBOARD
    #6 TOP 40 MAINSTREAM – BILLBOARD

    “FROM THE HEART” ANOTHER LEVEL #2 ASIA/SINGAPORE
    #6 UK

    “GIVE ME YOU” MARY J. BLIGE #9 R&B ADULT – BILLBOARD

    “HAVE YOU EVER” BRANDY #1 HOT 100 AIRPLAY – BILLBOARD
    #1 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD
    #1 RHYTHMIC TOP 40 – BILLBOARD
    #2 HOT R&B/HIP HOP SINGLES & TRACKS – BILLBOARD
    #2 HOT R&B SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #2 TOP CROSSOVER – BILLBOARD
    #3 HOT 100 SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #3 TOP 40 MAINSTREAM – BILLBOARD
    #3 TOP 40 TRACKS – BILLBOARD
    #4 R&B ADULT – BILLBOARD
    #4 R&B MAINSTREAM – BILLBOARD
    #4 THE BIG PICTURE – BILLBOARD
    #6 HOT R&B/HIP HOP AIRPLAY – BILLBOARD
    #8 AUSTRALIA

    “HOW CAN WE BE LOVERS” MICHAEL BOLTON #3 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD
    #3 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD
    #10 UK

    “HOW DO I LIVE” LeANN RIMES #1 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD
    #1 COUNTRY SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #1 HOT DANCE MUSIC/MAXI-SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #2 CANADIAN SINGLES – BILLBOARD
    #2 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD
    #2 HOT 100 SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #3 HOT 100 AIRPLAY – BILLBOARD
    #3 THE BIG PICTURE
    #4 TOP 40 MAINSTREAM – BILLBOARD
    #10 ADULT TOP 40 – BILLBOARD
    #7 UK

    “HOW DO I LIVE” TRISHA YEARWOOD #2 HOT COUNTRY SINGLES & TRACKS – BILLBOARD
    #3 COUNTRY SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #10 HOT 100 SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #3 AUSTRALIA

    “I COULD NOT ASK FOR MORE” EDWIN McCAIN #3 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD
    #6 ADULT TOP 40 – BILLBOARD
    #9 MODERN ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD

    “I COULD NOT ASK FOR MORE” SARA EVANS #2 HOT COUNTRY TRACKS – BILLBOARD

    “I DON’T WANT TO LIVE WITHOUT YOUR LOVE” CHICAGO #3 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD
    #5 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD

    “I DON’T WANT TO MISS A THING” AEROSMITH #1 HOT 100 AIRPLAY – BILLBOARD
    #1 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD
    #1 HOT 100 SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #1 THE BIG PICTURE
    #1 TOP 40 MAINSTREAM – BILLBOARD
    #2 ADULT TOP 40 – BILLBOARD
    #4 MAINSTREAM ROCK TRACKS – BILLBOARD
    #5 LATIN POP AIRPLAY – BILLBOARD
    #5 LATIN TROPICAL/SALSA AIRPLAY – BILLBOARD
    #1 GERMANY & ITALY
    #4 UK
    #8 JAPAN

    “I DON’T WANT TO MISS A THING” MARK CHESNUTT #1 COUNTRY SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #1 HOT COUNTRY SINGLES & TRACKS – BILLBOARD

    “I GET WEAK” BELINDA CARLISLE #2 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD
    #9 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD
    #10 UK

    “I LEARNED FROM THE BEST” WHITNEY HOUSTON #1 DANCE MUSIC/CLUB PLAY – BILLBOARD
    #1 HOT DANCE MUSIC/MAXI-SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #3 R&B ADULT – BILLBOARD
    #6 R&B/HIP HOP SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #8 HOT 100 SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #6 FINLAND
    #8 SPAIN

    “I TURN TO YOU” CHRISTINA AGUILERA #1 HOT 100 SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #3 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD
    #5 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD
    #6 HOT LATIN TRACKS – BILLBOARD (SPANISH VERSION)
    #8 TOP 40 MAINSTREAM – BILLBOARD
    #10 CANADIAN SINGLES – BILLBOARD
    #10 RHYTHMIC TOP 40 – BILLBOARD
    #1 ASIA/SINGAPORE
    #9 MALAYSIA

    “I WANT YOU TO NEED ME” CELINE DION #1 CANADIAN SINGLES – BILLBOARD
    #7 HOT DANCE MUSIC/MAXI-SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD

    “I WILL BE HERE FOR YOU” MICHAEL W. SMITH #1 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD

    “I WILL GET THERE” BOYZ II MEN #8 HOT 100 SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD

    “I WILL GET THERE” J-FRIENDS #1 JAPAN

    “I’D LIE FOR YOU (AND THAT’S THE TRUTH)” MEAT LOAF #6 HOT 100 SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #2 UK

    “I’LL BE” REBA McENTIRE #4 COUNTRY SINGLES & TRACKS – BILLBOARD

    “I’LL BE YOUR SHELTER” TAYLOR DAYNE #4 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD

    “I’LL NEVER GET OVER YOU GETTING OVER ME” EXPOSE #1 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD
    #3 TOP 40 MAINSTREAM – BILLBOARD
    #8 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD

    “I’LL STILL LOVE YOU MORE” TRISHA YEARWOOD #6 COUNTRY – R&R

    “IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME” CHER #1 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD
    #3 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD
    #6 UK

    “IF YOU ASKED ME TO” CELINE DION #1 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD
    #3 HOT 100 AIRPLAY – BILLBOARD
    #4 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD

    “IF YOU ASKED ME TO” PATTI LaBELLE #10 HOT R&B/HIP HOP SINGLES & TRACKS – BILLBOARD

    “JUST LIKE JESSE JAMES” CHER #8 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD
    #9 ADULT CONTEMPORARY

    “JUST TO HEAR YOU SAY THAT YOU LOVE ME” FAITH HILL & TIM McGRAW #3 HOT COUNTRY SINGLES & TRACKS – BILLBOARD

    “LIVE FOR LOVING YOU” GLORIA ESTEFAN #2 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD
    #9 HOT DANCE MUSIC/MAXI-MUSIC SALES – BILLBOARD

    “LOOK AWAY” CHICAGO #1 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD
    #1 HOT SINGLES – BILLBOARD

    “LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING” CHER #3 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD
    #10 UK

    “LOVE CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS” CELINE DION #3 HOT DANCE MUSIC/MAXI-SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #5 HOT DANCE MUSIC/CLUB PLAY – BILLBOARD
    #8 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD

    “LOVE WILL LEAD YOU BACK” TAYLOR DAYNE #1 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD
    #1 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD

    “MI PRIMER AMOR” CHAYANNE #8 HOT LATIN TRACKS – BILLBOARD

    “MISS ME SO BAD” SON BY FOUR #1 HOT LATIN TRACKS – BILLBOARD
    #4 LATIN POP AIRLAY – BILLBOARD

    “MISSING YOU NOW” MICHAEL BOLTON #1 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD
    #10 HOT 100 AIRPLAY – BILLBOARD

    “MUSIC OF MY HEART” GLORIA ESTEFAN AND *NSYNC #1 HOT 100 SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #2 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD
    #2 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD
    #8 CANADIAN SINGLES – BILLBOARD
    #4 MALAYSIA
    #6 ASIA/SINGAPORE

    “MY FIRST NIGHT WITH YOU” MYA #9 RHYTHMIC TOP 40 – BILLBOARD

    “NOT A DRY EYE IN THE HOUSE” MEAT LOAF #7 UK

    “NOTHING BROKEN BUT MY HEART” CELINE DION #1 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD

    “NOTHING’S GONNA STOP US NOW” STARSHIP #1 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD
    #1 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD
    #1 FRANCE & UK

    “PAINTED ON MY HEART” THE CULT #5 PORTUGAL

    “PUEDES LLEGAR” VOCES UNIDAS #2 HOT LATIN TRACKS – BILLBOARD

    “QUIEN ERES TU” YURI #8 HOT LATIN TRACKS – BILLBOARD

    “QUAND J’AI PEUR DE TOUT” PATRICIA KAAS #1 BELGIUM

    “REACH” GLORIA ESTEFAN #2 HOT DANCE MUSIC/CLUB PLAY – BILLBOARD
    #5 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD

    “REFUGIO DE AMOR” VANESSA WILLIAMS & CHAYANNE #3 HOT LATIN TRACKS – BILLBOARD

    “RHYTHM OF THE NIGHT” DeBARGE #1 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD
    #1 HOT R&B/HIP HOP SINGLES & TRACKS – BILLBOARD
    #2 HOT DANCE MUSIC/MAXI-SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #3 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD
    #3 HOT DANCE MUSIC/CLUB PLAY – BILLBOARD
    #4 UK

    “SAVING FOREVER FOR YOU” SHANICE WILSON #4 HOT 100 AIRPLAY – BILLBOARD
    #4 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD
    #4 RHYTHMIC TOP 40 – BILLBOARD
    #6 HOT 100 SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #6 TOP 40 MAINSTREAM – BILLBOARD
    #9 HOT R&B/HIP HOP SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD

    “SET THE NIGHT TO MUSIC” ROBERTA FLACK/MAXI PRIEST #2 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD
    #6 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD

    “SET THE NIGHT TO MUSIC” STARSHIP #9 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD

    “SOLITAIRE” LAURA BRANIGAN # 7 TOP 40 MAINSTREAM – BILLBOARD

    “SPANISH GUITAR” TONI BRAXTON #1 HOT DANCE MUSIC/CLUB PLAY

    “SWEAR TO YOUR HEART” RUSSELL HITCHCOCK #9 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD

    “TAKE IT TO HEART” MICHAEL McDONALD #4 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD

    “THE ARMS OF THE ONE WHO LOVES YOU” XSCAPE #3 HOT R&B/HIP HOP SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #4 HOT R&B/HIP HOP SINGLES & TRACKS – BILLBOARD
    #5 HOT 100 SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #7 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD
    #7 R&B MAINSTREAM – BILLBOARD

    “THE ONE I GAVE MY HEART TO” AALIYAH #6 HOT 100 SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #6 HOT DANCE MUSIC/MAXI-SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #6 HOT R&B/HIP HOP SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #8 RHYTHMIC TOP 40 – BILLBOARD
    #8 R&B/HIP HOP SINGLES & TRACKS – BILLBOARD
    #9 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD

    “THERE YOU’LL BE” FAITH HILL #1 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD
    #10 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD
    #1 CANADA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, MALAYSIA & SWEDEN
    #5 AUSTRIA, HOLLAND & SWITZERLAND
    #8 GERMANY
    #10 ITALY

    “THROUGH THE STORM” ARETHA FRANKLIN & ELTON JOHN #3 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD
    #6 ITALY

    “TIME LOVE & TENDERNESS” MICHAEL BOLTON #1 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD
    #7 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD

    “UNBREAK MY HEART” TONI BRAXTON #1 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD
    #1 HOT 100 AIRPLAY – BILLBOARD
    #1 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD
    #1 HOT 100 SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #1 HOT DANCE MUSIC/AIRPLAY – BILLBOARD
    #1 HOT DANCE MUSIC/MAXI-SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #1 RHYTHMIC TOP 40 – BILLBOARD
    #1 THE BIG PICTURE – BILLBOARD
    #2 CANADIAN SINGLES – BILLBOARD
    #2 HOT R&B/HIP HOP SINGLES & TRACKS – BILLBOARD
    #2 HOT R&B/HIP HOP SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD
    #2 TOP 40 MAINSTREAM – BILLBOARD
    #3 R&B ADULT – BILLBOARD
    #4 ADULT TOP 40 – BILLBOARD
    #5 HOT R&B/HIP HOP AIRPLAY – BILLBOARD
    #6 R&B MAINSTREAM – BILLBOARD
    #1 BELGIUM & SWEDEN
    #2 AUSTRALIA, NORWAY & UK
    #3 DENMARK
    #4 AUSTRIA & SWITZERLAND
    #5 ITALY & GERMANY
    #6 FINLAND
    #8 FRANCE

    “WE’RE NOT MAKING LOVE ANYMORE” BARBRA STREISAND #10 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD

    “WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH A FOOL LIKE ME” JOE COCKER #9 ITALY

    “WHAT IF” REBA McENTIRE #3 COUNTRY SINGLES SALES – BILLBOARD

    “WHEN I DIE” NO MERCY #1 AUSTRIA & HOLLAND
    #2 AUSTRALIA
    #7 GERMANY

    “WHEN I SEE YOU SMILE” BAD ENGLISH #1 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD
    #10 MAINSTREAM ROCK TRACKS – BILLBOARD

    “WHEN I’M BACK ON MY FEET AGAIN” MICHAEL BOLTON #1 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD
    #7 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD

    “WHEN THE NIGHT COMES” JOE COCKER #6 MAINSTREAM ROCK TRACKS – BILLBOARD
    #1 ITALY

    “WHO WILL YOU RUN TO” HEART #2 MAINSTREAM ROCK TRACKS – BILLBOARD
    #7 HOT 100 SINGLES – BILLBOARD

    “YOUR BABY NEVER LOOKED GOOD IN BLUE” EXPOSE #9 ADULT CONTEMPORARY – BILLBOARD

This list makes me physically ill. Out of 80+ songs, I like “Don’t Turn Around,” “Rhythm of the Night,” and “Unbreak My Heart” – not a very good percentage. How can so much artery-clogging, over-produced, mind-numbing, relentless dung be squeezed out of one person?

The woman has been so consistent, so successful and so awful that she deserves to have her name associated with hideous, overblown pop ballads henceforth: we will call them “Warrens.”

About Eric Olsen

Career media professional and serial entrepreneur Eric Olsen flung himself into the paranormal world in 2012, creating the America's Most Haunted brand and co-authoring the award-winning America's Most Haunted book, published by Berkley/Penguin in Sept, 2014. Olsen is co-host of the nationally syndicated broadcast and Internet radio talk show After Hours AM; his entertaining and informative America's Most Haunted website and social media outlets are must-reads: Twitter@amhaunted, Facebook.com/amhaunted, Pinterest America's Most Haunted. Olsen is also guitarist/singer for popular and wildly eclectic Cleveland cover band The Props.

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