[croutonwagon]

We are definately on the opposite ends of the spectrum then... but I will say, as a fan of their work, i completely, 100% understand why you may feel that way.

Ill just say i dont appreciate them for their lead singer in the slightest. In fact i like them in spite of that fact.

>He's literally the most famous producer in the world. Nobody engaged him for cost-cutting purposes. :)

100% agree today. But back in 1991 he was still an up and comer of sorts, at least much less established than he is now. He is definately one that made bank and benefitted off the consolidation of radio (and was smart enough to pivot that into more modern forms of production and distribution). And i feel that is point that was being made by Beato. The clear channel consolidation and Telecommunications act paved the way for producers like this to make a killing. If they had an ear for what the masses would like, they had a platform to blow up (and rick did exactly that).

[tptacek]

He had founded and then left Def Jam in the late 1980's --- he was an up-and-comer in rock in the early 1990s, but by 1993 he was already Tom Petty's go-to producer, and by the time of the Telecom Act in 1996 he had produced AC/DC, NIN, Johnny Cash, and Joan Jett. He was a monster by the time of radio consolidation, is all I'm saying. :)