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Music has basically followed a shallow route for 50 years. People come along, do something really cool and different, everyone copies them, the original gets diluted, distorted, and eventually the diluted, in most cases, achieves more success than the thing that started it. And I kinda thought the alternative scene was gonna be different: We thought 'Brave new world!' So it's really weird to be competing against the imitators. It wasn't always comfortable competing against Nirvana, and it was certainly not healthy living under that shadow at times. But at least there was honor in it. We always respected that it was a great band - Pearl Jam too. But competing against Bush?! It's nothing to get your dick hard about, you know what i mean? There's no mojo in that!

Billy Corgan#49

MusicImitationIndustryInnovationOriginality

About this quote

What does it mean?
The music industry copies originals until they are diluted, favoring imitators over the innovators.
In plain terms
Copies succeed more than the original ideas.
What can you take from it?
Originality often loses to imitation.

Where it applies

  • creative industries
  • innovation

Putting it to work

  • protect original work

Questions to consider

  • How do you value originality?

Another view

Sometimes imitation evolves the original successfully.

More from Billy Corgan

  1. This is war, motherfucker, and don't you forget it. It's us versus them, and if you're giving in you're giving up.

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  2. As a 28 year old who's lived long enough to know the difference, I know now that the feelings I felt at 16 were not necessarily correct. But however overly dra…

    Permalink to quote #50
  3. You see all those empty seats? That's not who we play for -- we play for you. I want you to remember we won't forget you -- so don't you forget about us.

    Permalink to quote #47

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