NICE THINGS PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT
THE HOURS ARE LONG, BUT THE PAY IS LOW
"Rob Miller paints a glorious, detailed landscape of how it feels to be transformed and elevated by music. He bestows heartfelt and moving reverence upon the grimy, unique scenes that make art, music, and community possible. I have never read better descriptions of what it meant to “search for” the music you needed, and how difficult, DIY and exciting that search can be. I don’t think anyone could have done a truer job of describing the times we all had in the Chicago music scene as Rob does here. He is gifted with such a sincere and un-jaded (no matter how hard he pretends. . .) appreciation of what music and community can do and where it can take you. He has never forced the wide-eyed music fan inside him to ‘grow up.’ Thank goodness!”
—Neko Case, musician, author, and producer
“Rob Miller’s book The Hours Are Long, But the Pay Is Low delivers a gripping insider’s account of a truly special moment in music and culture. Thanks, Rob, for living to tell the tale.”
—Rhett Miller, Old 97’s
“Do you possess that perfect combination of idealism and insanity that it takes to evade the minefields evergreen to independent labels—dyspeptic musicians, low budgets, chronic overwork, and blasé audiences? The foolhardy soul contemplating whether indie label life is for them would be wise to pick up Rob Miller’s The Hours are Long, but the Pay is Low, detailing the heady highs and subterranean lows of co-owning Chicago’s Bloodshot Records for 25 years. The through line is Miller’s singular devotion to discovering and propagating great music, learning the hard way that the only way to do it, is to do it.”
—Lisa Fancher, founder and owner of Frontier Records
“A vibrant, informative, and often hilarious look at a crucial—if undervalued—slice of the music industry. Rob Miller’s book also serves as a moving coming of age story and a richly detailed description of life in Chicago during the 1990s, a time of upstart artistic explosions and the last vestiges of venerable institutions. The Hours Are Long, But the Pay Is Low stands above the slew of books by bigger-name record company founders. While those entrepreneurs seem driven by egos and cash flows, Miller sharply focuses on what the music is all about.”
—Aaron Cohen, author of Move on Up: Chicago Soul Music and Black Cultural Power
“Wow, what a great read/ride. I found Rob Miller’s journey through the music industry fascinating and fun, and when not giggling I was laughing out loud. While obvious in hindsight, the marriage of punk and country was anything but. Yet Miller and his cohorts identified with the punk attitude coursing through many of their favorite bands in Chicago’s underground country scene and thought they could help introduce their music to a wider audience. The musical husbandry of Bloodshot Records produced many musical masterpieces over the next twenty-five years. Bloodshot made the world a better place, and Miller was at the center of it all.”
—Jeff Nelson, Minor Threat and cofounder of Dischord Records
“Rob Miller’s pseudo-bio of his years with Bloodshot Records covers much musical ground that no foot has yet set upon. He does it with both wisdom and positive enthusiasm for the real and authentic music he played a guiding role in launching. A real treat to read!”
—Peter Greenberg, Barrence Whitfield and the Savages
“Back in the day, I used to own a hot dog stand. More importantly, I used to trade hot dogs for Bloodshot CDs. I easily won those deals. Being introduced to Bloodshot’s stable of artists was an incredible gift - it was like having the coolest record store delivering its stock direct to my hands every month.”
—Doug Sohn, former owner of Hot Doug’s
“I very much enjoyed reading this book. The tone was entertaining, and I loved the storyline. The writing is emphatic, authentic, and brainy. Miller’s story is one of an outsider—someone who was really struggling, and then slowly becomes enlightened to a whole world that was already there to accept him.”
—Rose Marshack, author of Play Like a Man: My Life in Poster Children
“A gritty, authentic stroll through Chicago’s indie music scene told through the eyes of a fan who loved the music so much he built his life on it. For anyone who wants a glimpse into the scene, the time, the music, or Chicago itself, this book is written for you.”
—Kenn Goodman, CEO and cofounder of Pravda Records
“I’ve always been so proud to be involved with the Bloodshot Records movement and to witness the impact that Rob Miller has had on the arts community in Chicago and ultimately the world. Everyone who shares his love for the moment and his heart first perspective will delight in this musical journey!”
—Mike Miller, owner of Delilah’s
