Music Business Lessons From The Village People

Just saw Can't Stop the Music, which is the Villagegiven them their original break. You don't have to
People's big screen debut...go too far to see plenty of gay references
What a great movie. Lots of inside jokes, a goodthroughout their songs, album covers, image, or
"time capsule" of disco culture, and a great lessonanything else the group is involved with.
on the music business.The very first album I owned was 1978's Crusin'.
The movie wasn't entirely true, but the VillageI played it hundreds of times.
People has been a business from Day One andYears later, I asked my mother if she knew they
there is plenty to learn from these guys.were gay...
For one, they started with a market and then put"Of course," she said.
the band together. The first album, a self-titled EP,Good to see Mom was on top of things. I'd hate
was recorded by studio musicians and madeto think she would miss that with songs like "I'm a
specifically for the gay audience and featuredCruiser" and "My Roomate."
songs like "San Francisco" and "Fire Island."People did miss it though... The Daily Association
When that took off, the "band" was putused "Milk Shake" in its ad campaign and the US
together...Navy used "In the Navy." At least for a little
And even though the Village People went on towhile...
mainstream success, they didn't forget who had