SAN ANTONIO — Shelly Lares still lives in the studio. However, the award-winning Tejano artist isn’t pushing out a new album, she’s holding class as a part of her artist-in-residence with the University of Texas at San Antonio.
The Tejano legend is lecturing on music technology, enhancing the mariachi singers’ Tejano abilities and coaching vocal classes. “It takes them about a couple years to get a job in what they are studying, or if they are an artist, they have no idea what to expect,” Lares said.
Lares is transparent about the realities of the music industry — emphasizing music and writing ownership.
She says many new artists don’t know how to copyright their music: lessons she learned the hard way growing up in the music industry. “My parents were my managers. We got burned. We didn’t know how to do things. We were green going into the music industry,” Lares said.
Marvin Palacios says he seen the horrors in the music industry like artists not owning their music and performing until they die. He helps artists establish themselves as publishers and writers through BMI.
“Send them a letter and say, “Hey, I control, this is the license. Agree or don’t. They can drop or I can file suit,” Palacios said.
Palacios says artists have to protect themselves in this digital age.
UTSA recently extended Shelly’s residency for another year.
“I always tell the students don’t be afraid of something you don’t know,” Palacios said.
Next year’s syllabus will have a lot of Tejano and all of the sub-genres within while still having those important conversations about the music industry.
“I’m also consulting as far as teaching, I’m consulting from 40 years of experience,” Lares said.
Shelly Lares and Selena Quintanilla in 1989. Photo by Ramón Hernández
